Do’s and Don’ts in Live Streaming

   Live video and audio streaming are becoming more and more popular these days. Live streaming enables a message to reach a global audience simultaneously. It is a great way for people to tell their story to the world and it is becoming a powerful tool in the business world for marketing purposes. Live streaming is cost effective and works great in reaching and engaging the customers.

   As with any type of video production, creating a professional and engaging live stream involves handling multiple broadcast media elements. But when you’re able to make everything work, it can be a very rewarding experience.

   To help you in having a good production and good show, here are few live streaming pointers to remember prepared by Hubient:

Do a Test Video

Before performing a live event, you must practice the video first. You can do it by making your live stream set up to “Only Me” to prevent your video from going public. Make sure to be in a quiet place with good lightning. Check your surroundings and make sure you aren’t broadcasting anything you don’t want people to see. Once you’re satisfied with your video quality, choose ‘Public’ in your privacy settings and go live.

Do ensure that you have good internet connection.

One of the things we all must consider in starting a livestream is our internet connection. When you have low and inconsistent upload bandwidth, the resolution and quality of your video is at risk of fluctuating in the middle of your live stream. To avoid turning off your audience with choppy and pixelated videos, know your network and test your upload speed beforehand. Make sure your network is fast and consistent enough to produce smooth videos.

Don’t start an unplanned live stream.

            Avoid posting a status stating you’re going live in 30 minutes. Give Facebook at least two hours to properly serve fans your message. And make sure that before starting a live stream you should have plan about it.

Don’t overlook the audio quality aspect.

             Apart from having good quality video, it is also important that the audio is good. Your audience must hear and understand every word you are stating. You should always test all the equipment before starting the live streaming to avoid any type of problems that can affect your show.

Do mind your lighting effects and camera angles.

As with every visual media, you’re lighting and composition matters. So, if they are to be shown to a wider audience, you must ensure that it is pleasing to see from your viewers eyes. With live streams, your general intention is to connect to your viewers, so spend time and effort in making sure that your scene is well lit and pleasing to look at. Also keep in mind that your camera view is your viewer’s eyes, so keep the camera steady and the lens fixed on where the action is.

Don’t Forget to have your back-up equipment.

            Technical difficulty is one of the most common and worst things that ruins a live stream. You will never know when it will happen. Any equipment and gears are always at risk to fail, mostly cables, monitors and microphones. To lower the chance of cutting or ending your session, play it safe by keeping a backup for all your essential live streaming equipment.

Do engage with your viewers.

Having good equipment can earn you more followers, but you can attract even more if you spend an effort to really connect with your viewers. You can ask for topic suggestions, leave them with questions, and respond to comments live or right after the show. Think of what your target audience wants to see and consider tackling those during your upcoming streams. This will make them feel more engaged and keep them coming back for more.

Don’t strive to be perfect.

             Perfection will kill any broadcast/livestream. Provide constant feedback to your viewers without demanding perfection to reinforce positive habits. And remember that they always say “Nobody is Perfect”, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just don’t repeat and better if you are learning from it. Keep in mind that some mistakes will teach you great lessons and make you a better person.

Do have someone to watch and monitor your live stream.

            When it’s finally time to start streaming, don’t go blind. Have an extra set of eyes by asking a friend or family member to tune in and instantly inform you of any problems that you may not be able to see, such as: sound sync issues, fluctuating video quality, and choppy frame rates. You can always monitor it yourself, but it’s still better to outsource the help so you can focus on your flow and your audience.

Don’t Insult your viewers.   

Everyone knows that when there are fans on the internet, there are just as many haters and trolls too. And they’ll definitely be commenting on your live-chat posting mean comments about how your gaming is, or maybe just want to talk about how bad your outfit looks. Instances like this can have serious damage on an influencer’s brand, especially if they end up saying something incredibly offensive and racist. So as nice as it is to talk to your live-chat, it’s also important that you watch what you say around them, so as not to start a whole thing.

   A successful live stream comes down to thorough preparation. Making a schedule livestream, plans and investing in quality equipment. These are some of the things you need to take note. But the best thing that you should do is being consistent on what you are doing and just enjoy it.

   We hope you find these livestreaming clues very functional. Comment your favorite Do’s and Don’ts imparted by Hubient that you find especially useful for shows and presentation. Thank you for reading and good luck to your upcoming live streams!