So, why should you use live video? 

It’s a great way for your fans and social media community to get to know you better and build a more personal connection (which ultimately leads to increased sales because people inherently want to buy from people they know). 

Live video is also a great way to increase your exposure. Because each social media channel is really pushing the video feature they reward you for using it by showing your video and profile to more of your fans than you’ll reach through regular posting.

It also keeps you top of mind by showing up first in the top of your fan's Instagram and Facebook feeds...for example:

A little planning goes a long way

Before you jump into a live video just for the sake of it, think about what you want to say, how it adds value for your audience and why they will care. Do you have something to teach them, something they would find exciting or entertaining? Maybe you’re giving them an exclusive peek behind the scenes into your process.

Also, if you’re doing a demonstration, or creating live, make sure you have all your supplies gathered and within arms reach. You don’t want to have to leave your viewers to go off and grab different paints or markers!

Make a cheat sheet

Don’t write everything word for word, but having a few bullet points will work wonders in keeping you on track and to keep you from freezing up and forgetting what you wanted to say in the video. Stick your points up somewhere where you can see them but they’re outside the camera or phone’s field of view.

Be repetitive

There is a bit of a delay from when you start your live video, to when people are notified and have a chance to join. This is the case for Periscope, Instagram, and Facebook. So introduce yourself and tell your audience what you’re planning to talk about, then do it again for all the newcomers a minute or two later. For example “For everyone that just joined, I’m unboxing XYZ product today and showing you a few different ways to use it”.

Involve your audience

Ask them questions, where are they from, what is their favorite medium, what are they doing this weekend, have they ever tried XYZ product etc. Just because you can’t hear them doesn’t mean you can’t engage in meaningful conversation. It will also be more fun for your viewers and takes some of the pressure off of you to be scripted and on-point the whole way through.

Roll with the punches

Spammers and trolls live on the internet, it’s hard to escape them completely. But you can learn to roll with the punches, laugh it off and block them without breaking your stride. Say a ‘gentleman’ from Turkey asks you to take your top off while you’re in the middle of a watercolor tutorial on Periscope. Laugh, tell him you’re flattered, then block his ass.

You don’t have to show your face

Don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera? Haven’t done your hair today? No problem! It’s totally acceptable to point your camera or phone at your desk and show what you’re working on, flip through a sketchbook, give a mini tutorial, unbox a cool new product etc. 

Schedule your ‘go live’ time

Think about when your audience is likely to be online, is it really 5am on a Sunday, or should you wait a few hours? If you have an Instagram Business account or a Facebook Page you can pop into the analytics / insights and see where most of your audience is based and what time they are most often online.

Scheduling when you'll go live also gives you a chance to promote it to your fans ahead of time if you'll be talking about something particularly interesting or news-worthy.

Ask for what you want

If you have a new online class, an event or something else going on ask people to check it out and give them the link. If you don’t ask, how will they know what you’d like them to do next?

Promote Your Live Video

Most social media channels now let you save your live video once you're done, so get the link and share it in other places, on your website, in additional social media posts and push more people to go and watch it. In other words, get more use out of that video you've already created!