Live Streaming: 5 Tips to Do It Like a Pro
Live streaming has become a popular way to present or broadcast events. It allows viewers to tune in in real-time anywhere in the world. With the convenience it gives to users, there is no doubt that it has been a major hit on the internet in recent years. It is also making its way into marketing where live streaming is becoming a major game-changer. In this article, I will be sharing with you how you can live stream your event like a pro.
What is Live Streaming?
Simply put, live streaming is the process of broadcasting video and audio over the internet. This means that viewers can tune in at any time and watch the event unfold in real-time. It has become a popular way to present or broadcast events such as sporting events, news reports, and concerts. It has also been used to stream cooking shows, talk shows, and other types of presentations. It is done through a website, an app, or a broadcaster’s own platform.
What are the Benefits of Live Streaming?
Live streaming is becoming increasingly popular. People are going to new lengths to share their lives and their experiences with the world. From meeting friends in exotic locations, or sharing an intimate moment with a loved one, live streaming has become a new way of communicating.
But beyond that, live streaming offers numerous benefits to your business. Here are the things you can get when you do live stream.
Grow Your Fan Base
The primary benefit of live streaming is its ability to reach a wider number of viewers including the global audience. It also increases engagement that helps you grow your fan base. When fans can see and interact with your product or brand directly, it creates a stronger connection between you and them. This fosters loyalty which can lead to higher viewership, more leads, and even greater sales.
Videos Can Be Monetized
The most common way to monetize your video content is through advertising. Advertisers can place ads on the stream itself as well as in pre-roll and post-roll content. Another method for monetization is through subscription services. This gives viewers access to exclusive content or features after paying a monthly fee.
Cheap Way to Advertise Your Business
More importantly, live streaming can be used to advertise your business. You don’t need to pay for editing or post-production work because everything is live and in the moment. This makes it much easier and cheaper to produce than traditional video content. Plus, you don’t need any specialized equipment. All you need is a webcam and an internet connection.
Different Types of Live Streaming Channels
Live streaming has become a popular way to engage with audiences. A wide range of platforms makes it easy for anyone to broadcast their content live. If you are looking for live streaming channels, you can take advantage of the following.
Youtube
YouTube is one of the most popular live-streaming platforms on the internet. With millions of users, it makes sense that it would offer an expansive platform for live streaming. You can start a live stream by clicking on the “Live” button in the top right corner of any YouTube video and selecting “Start a Live Stream.”
Facebook is an online social networking website with a large user base. It allows users to connect with friends, family, and other individuals they know. They can upload their photos and videos on this platform. And with Facebook Live, they can start their live events with a time limit of 8 hours.
Instagram is among the huge social media platforms where users can upload their photos and short videos. With the incorporation of Instagram Live, live streaming has become even more popular. Users can live stream up until 4 hours.
Twitter is an online messaging and social networking service where users post short 140-character messages called “tweets.” Users can follow other individuals or organizations on this platform in order to receive updates. They can also go live through Twitter Live Stream Feed for 6 hours.
Twitch
Twitch is a live streaming platform that allows gamers to broadcast their gameplay sessions. It is used by streamers, commentators, and others mostly in the video game industry. It is also home to “The International,” the world’s largest professional video game tournament. Millions of viewers tune in to watch the best players compete. If you want to start your own live streaming business, this platform is a good place to start.
5 Tips for Smooth Live Streaming
Live streaming is a great way to increase your audience, engage with your audience, and have fun. However, it requires a lot of effort and time to prepare a good live stream. If you are interested in doing it, here are a few tips you can try to improve your live streaming.
Invest in Professional Live Streaming Equipment
Professional streamers have one thing in common: they own high-quality equipment. The tools you are using have a bigger impact on your output. For example, the quality of a video that is taken from a professional camera is a lot better than the one taken using the camera of a phone. Though selecting the right hardware, software, audio mixer, plug-ins, etc can be costly, it is still worth getting and upgrading. You can make changes and tune your live stream the way you want it. Not to mention, it increases the production value of your audiences’ live streaming experience.
However, as much as professional equipment is good to have, if you lack funds to purchase, you can still deliver a good live streaming experience for your viewers. The most important thing is to have a nice background and a quiet room to start with.
Use Ethernet Connection
The quickest way to improve your live streaming is by using an Ethernet network. If you are streaming from a wireless network, your video quality suffers simply because the connection fluctuates. If there’s too much traffic over one limited connection, for example, this may disrupt the stream quality. However, if you use ethernet connections, you can get a higher bandwidth for the streaming. You can ensure that everything will run smoothly and be viewable when connected in full.
Check the Audio and Video Quality
The quality of the sound and video is important during live streaming. A high-quality live stream or live content allows viewers to get an amazing experience and enjoy the whole broadcast. So to make sure you can provide high-quality output, you need to constantly check the audio and video levels before your actual live stream. Remember that viewers can easily switch channels when the quality of a live stream is poor.
Select the Optimal Resolution
Selecting optimal resolution means choosing a configuration that delivers a high-quality image with minimal signal fluctuations. For example, if you are broadcasting on Facebook, select 1080p as it is one of their recommended resolutions but also offers high-quality broadcast. Although there is no specific limit for the optimal resolution to use for live streaming for an online stream, you should make sure that the resolution is equal to or higher than your laptop’s display. If you have a 15-inch laptop with a 1080p screen, then try at least an HD (720p) or full HD (1080p).
Use a Reliable Live Streaming Platform
As a live streamer, you must use a reliable live streaming platform that can transmit a high-quality complete broadcast with fewer issues. A dedicated professional tool is recommended to ensure a safe and smooth broadcasting experience because sometimes your stream may appear messed up or it might be interrupted suddenly due to glitches. In the succeeding section, I will be discussing my most recommended live streaming tools.
My Recommended Live Streaming Tools
Watching live streaming is a unique experience. The moment you tune in, there is something that compels you to watch the stream for hours. Live streaming platforms have been growing at an exponential rate. There are hundreds of live streaming services, but only a few make it big and stay relevant for a long time.
OBS Studio
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is an open-source platform for live streaming and video recording. Once you installed the app on your computer, you can instantly start streaming for Youtube, Twitch, Instagram, and other streaming platforms. You get to enjoy also its features such as high-performance real-time video/audio capturing and mixing, audio mixer with per-source filters and VST plugin support, Streamlined settings, and Modular “Dock” UI.
Streamlabs OBS
Streamlabs OBS is another live streaming and recording software that allows its users to live stream or broadcast live video for free. With this platform, you can go live and multistream to Twitch, Youtube, and Facebook in seconds. Plus, your video will be automatically backed up to the cloud. You can also take advantage of the professional-looking overlays.
Be.Live
Be.Live is a cloud-based live streaming tool that lets you simplify live streaming. With this platform, you can do multistreaming and custom branding. It also has a Smart Comment Assistant that makes your live streaming more engaging as it automatically picks the best comments and shows to your viewers.
Restream
Restream is another good live streaming tool that helps you go live and broadcast your virtual events. With this platform, you can do multi-streaming to 30+ social platforms simultaneously. It has a Cross-Platform Chat feature that allows you to read and reply to messages from various streaming platforms in one place. Plus, you can customize your chat box to make it fancier or professional-looking. Through its analytics, you can also evaluate your stream performance and get insight into which streaming platform has the highest viewers.
ManyCam
ManyCam is both a live streaming tool and a virtual camera that allows you to go live. Some of its notable features that help you improve your live streaming are virtual background, whiteboard, green screen, multiple video sources, and video playlist.
ECamm
ECamm is a live streaming tool specially created and designed for Mac. It has advanced camera effects that you can use to add green screen background. You can also customize your overlays that are tailored to fit your branding. It supports Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, Twitch, Twitter, and Restream.
VMix
VMix is a software video mixer and switcher that allows you to produce, stream, and record videos. It uses the most advanced computer hardware so you can produce high-quality videos your target audience can enjoy watching. You can also do multi-streaming to Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and Ustream.
Switchboard
Switchboard is a user-friendly streaming tool that does not only help you to go live but to grow your audience as well. Through its StreamShare feature, your viewers can also go live to stream your virtual events.
Videolinq
Videolinq is a streaming platform that is built to help online streamers and producers broadcast their works through live videos. When you use this, you will get to enjoy its features such as Scheduler, Closed Captions, Multi-Streaming, Player, and Studio. You can also monetize your streams as it allows you to insert advertisements on your live events or on recorded streams.
Onestream Live
Onestream Live is a cloud-based streaming software that allows you to schedule and go live your pre-recorded videos to Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, Periscope, and many more. Another plus factor is that it supports all the most common video formats and qualities. With its powerful features, you can take your live streaming to the next level.
Final Thought
Nowadays, live streaming is one of the most practices to share video content. Its popularity even makes it into marketing. Undeniably, its impact on your business is far-reaching. It allows you to reach out to a wider audience. It also helps you communicate and interact with them. With some creative ideas and reliable tools, you will be able to stand out among your competitors, deliver a truly amazing experience for your viewers, and make money from live streaming.
