Instagram Live allows its users to stream live videos to their audience through Instagram Stories. Actually, Instagram Live is considered as a great way to connect directly with your audience, build engagement, improve your brand’s awareness and generate leads.
According to social media studies, 80% of people prefer to watch Instagram live video rather than to read a post. What is more, 64% of users are more likely to buy a product online after they view a livestream.
Now you see why it is important for your brand to figure out how to use Instagram Live.
Because otherwise, if you don’t go live on Instagram, you will be missing out on an opportunity that your competitors are going to pick up on.
So, are you interested in adding Instagram live videos into your Instagram marketing strategy?
In this article you will discover how to start using Instagram Live, the reasons why you should go live on Instagram and several ideas that you may use in order to create an engaging Instagram Live video.
Let’s begin!
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Why Instagram Live?
First of all, using Instagram Live makes your profile stand out. Every time you go live on Instagram users will receive a notification message that you are broadcasting live. This will encourage your audience to come and check your video out.
Secondly, as users know that live videos disappear just after someone end the broadcast, that is why Instagram Live evokes your audience’s sense of FOMO (the fear of missing out) and induces them to see what is going on!
Thirdly, Instagram Live provides you with a whole new way of engagement with your audience. It is a two-way interaction. Viewers can ask you questions in the comments that pop up on your screen and you will be able to reply in real time. In this case, you will show your brand’s human side and create strong relationship with your audience.
Finally, at the end of your Instagram Live, you have an opportunity to save it to your Story by including hashtags or location stickers that, consequently, will make your post visible to users who don’t follow you or missed your live video.
Now let’s look at how you can set up an Instagram Live broadcast.
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How to go live on Instagram?
Actually, going live on Instagram isn’t difficult. Here are 5 main steps in order to get started.
Step 1. Prepare for your live video
The first task what you need to do is to think and clearly understand what you want to talk about. It is advised to write out a list of the main points you want to mention in your live video. However, don’t write a script to read from.
In this case, you will never have inconvenient situations and will always know what to say next.
Step 2. Promote your live stream
Don’t just go live hoping that audience will show up immediately. Instead of this, provide your followers with some excitement beforehand.
For instance, you can make a simple post on your Instagram account to announce the start date and time of your live video. In this way, you will boost the chances of users actually watching your stream.
Step 3. Log in to your Instagram using your mobile device
While it is possible to use the desktop version of Instagram to look at and comment on Instagram posts, you can go live only from the mobile app. So, you will need to download Instagram app if you haven’t already.
Step 4. Navigate to a camera
Once you logged in to your Instagram profile, go to the home page and tap the camera icon above your Instagram profile/Story icon at the top-left corner of the screen or just swipe to the right side.
If you haven’t used Instagram Stories before, you will need to allow Instagram to access your phone’s camera and microphone.
Step 5. Start you live video
In this step you need to swipe along the menu at the bottom of the screen until you see the “Live” option. Actually, this is the same menu where you can insert various effects to your Instagram Story photos or videos and choose popular Boomerang feature.
Once you reach “Live” option, tap on the “Start” button when you are ready to go live.
Step 6. Configure your live video settings
Before you start your live stream, it is recommended to check your live video settings. In order to do this, just click on the settings gear icon at top left corner of your screen.
In the appeared window you will have an opportunity to hide your live stream from particular Instagram users.
Moreover, you can choose who can comment during your live video. You can let everyone or only the people who follow you to leave their thoughts or questions. Or you can simply turn off commenting feature for everyone. However, better set that commenting would be available for everyone and you will show that you are open to your audience and want to interact with them.
And finally, Instagram allows you to automatically save your live video to your camera roll or archive. That’s a great feature to use.
Step 7. Live streaming
After a short connection test, you will be broadcasting live! Keep in mind that your audience is hearing everything what you say and see all your movements.
Instagram will notify your followers, who haven’t turned off notifications from Instagram, that you have started a live video.
If you want to check how long you are already streaming, just click on the “Live” icon on the top of the screen and it will show you the time.
What is more, if you tap and hold your viewer’s comment, it will let you pin it to the top, so other viewers may see it more easily. However, if you want to turn off comments during your stream, click on the three dots icon and choose “Turn off commenting”.
Also, you can use face filters that will make your Instagram live video more interesting.
Step 8. End your live Instagram video
When you have said everything you wanted to say and want to end you live video, just tap “End” at the top right corner of your screen. You will be displayed the total amount of viewers who watched your live stream.
Remember, that you are able to save your live video to your camera roll or post it to your Instagram stories. I highly suggest you to post all of your live videos to Instagram Stories, as this would give people a chance to watch it if they weren’t online when you were live.
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I hope that you found this guide helpful and will know how to start live streaming on Instagram from now on.
If you have any questions related to this topic, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
