How to Improve Your Live Videos

Have you tried hosting live videos to boost the visibility of your brand?

Live video is everywhere!

Facebook. Instagram. LinkedIn. Periscope. YouTube.

Live video is hot right now. It is also expected to continually increase in its importance and marketers in every niche are taking advantage of it to reach more of their target audience.

Let's be honest; some of them are good. The videos are well attended, fun to watch, and you feel like you benefitted from attending. However, some of them feel like they’re an afterthought, put together at the last minute, and don’t bring out the best in the host.

If you’re thinking of hosting your first (or next) live video, you don’t want to fall flat as a host and damage the image of your brand! Here’s how to avoid it and deliver a highly engaging video that will amplify the exposure of your business.

Promote the Videos

On each of the platforms, a live video event is just a few clicks away. You can plan and host a video in only a few minutes, and an impromptu event can be fun. However, with a little planning, you’ll have a much better turnout. So that planning must include promotion.

How do you promote a live video to your audience?

To start, let your private Facebook groups know about any upcoming events or livestreams that you plan on hosting. Email your list, post a blog article, and schedule social media posts. You could even consider running paid ads for your future videos if there’s the potential to grow your list or increase your sales.

In short, don’t just throw a party without passing out invitations to all of your friends!

Interact with Your Audience

Additionally, one of the best benefits of hosting live video is the opportunity to interact with the host either in real-time or on the replay. Your viewers want to get to know you better, connect with the other viewers, and ask questions. By doing so, you are able to build genuine connections and build trust.

Please don’t make the mistake of ignoring them. To do so is saying, “You’re not important to me.”

Instead, make it a priority to connect with your audience, acknowledge their presence, and answer their questions. Even if it takes you out of the flow of your live video and you lose your place momentarily, it’s worth it to make viewers feel respected and a part of the experience rather than just a passive viewer.

Once the live video is complete, remember to check later so that you can respond to any comments missed or received by the replay viewers. Also, don't forget to encourage the conversation in the comments.

Repeat What Works

There are several options to hosting live video. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the others all have their place; which is why it's encouraged that you to try them all. However, in the end, you will want to focus on what’s working versus what isn't.

For example, if your audience loves Facebook but can’t figure out YouTube, it makes no sense to broadcast there. The same goes for length, topic choices, and day and time of broadcast. Additionally, you will want to test all the variables, track your results, and do more of what’s working so that you can move the needle of success forward.

Lastly, there is no need to worry about perfection when it comes to live video. No one expects perfection, for you to look like a cover model or to speak like a news anchor. In fact, if you do look too perfect, it might negatively impact your results, because your audience isn't able to connect with you. They know they aren’t perfect, and if you can show off your imperfections, it will help create a stronger connection and build the know, like, trust factor; which is ultimately what they desire.  To see that you are like them, imperfect.

Share in the comments: What's the biggest hurdle you need to overcome to host your first (or next) live video that engages your audience and converts viewers into clients?

Read my article How to Eliminate Nervousness and Deliver an Amazing Live Video