We live in a world of technology, we wake up to it, we use it all day and we even go to bed with it! So more and businesses and business owners are also using it to stand out, differentiate and remain top of mind.
Why live stream?
Live streaming is relatively new, so it’s also not overcrowded just yet, unlike some other forms of media, which we don’t need to mention. But live streaming gives you the opportunity to interact with your audience in real time with a live video feed, chat and more.
It also has some great benefits to help you build your brand:
- It is an authentic way to show up and deliver content differently, to break through the clutter
- It is an opportunity to repurpose your content, because this very blog was written from a live stream on LinkedIn
- It allows you to stay top of mind with your audience because they get notified that you are live and if you have relevant and engaging content then why wouldn’t they want to listen
- I personally love lives because it gives us the opportunity to build trust and brand loyalty with our audience, because what they see is what they get
- Lastly, it is a great way to establish credibility and thought leadership in your area of expertise, if you do it consistently of course
Do you need software?
First things first, before even looking at the software available, you’ll need a camera, microphone, lighting, and a stable internet connection. Then you can start doing your homework on the number of different live stream software available to use, because there are a few.
Some to mention, as I currently use Streamyard because of their ‘free’ offer I am able to test it and see if I like it before formerly committing to a monthly investment. But I have already learnt they only allow you to stream to one channel on their free offering, however, Restream allows you to stream over two channels. Check out their pricing here: https://streamyard.com/plan
Restream also offers a freebie but with the option to stream across two channels, for example LinkedIn and YouTube, check out their pricing here: https://restream.io/pricing
Although there are many to choose from, another one to mention is Vimeo, who also have a free offer, check out their pricing and packages here: https://vimeo.com/upgrade
Then just a note to self, not all the streaming software are affiliated partners with LinkedIn just yet, so be sure to check before diving into a software that they do broadcast to your preferred platform or platforms.
When to go LIVE?
A big question everyone always asks, when is the best time to post, when is the best time to go live. The answer will always be the same, each platform is different, and it is always worth testing when you get the most engagement and post then.
But according to Streamyard, these are the best times to go live across the different platforms:
- YouTube – Weekdays from 12 pm to 2 pm.
- Facebook – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 4 pm.
- Instagram – Weekdays from 7 pm to 9 pm.
- Twitter – Mondays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 4 pm.
- Twitch – All days from 12 am to 9 am.
- LinkedIn – Weekdays from 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm.
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