Have you ever thought about getting into live streaming? Maybe you have a talent to show off, or a niche that you love? Or maybe you’ve got a full production in mind and streaming would be the best way to get it out there. Well, we have the guide for you. Keep reading to find out the best tips for streaming content.
Choose the right platform
As per The Small Business Blog, there are lots of different ways you can live stream, and some of them might be more suited to certain genres of streamers than others. For example, Twitch is known for its gaming content, Spotify its podcasts, YouTube for anything and everything, but there are outliers that are possible.
For instance, there is TikTok, which, depending on the algorithm seems to favour simple streams, like reading or studying just to have some company, or you can use the tools of media company Red Bee to stream over a TV channel, and there’s Instagram, which is always a popular live streaming option.
Set up your space
Streaming is, mostly, a stationary experience. Sure, anything can be streamed, including recorded content, you have vloggers that go out into the world and livestream, and there are other exceptions, but for the most part, what is synonymous with the idea of a streamer is someone in front of the one set up, with the one camera, making conversation while they do something.
Your fans are going to see a lot of your setup, so make sure that it’s pleasing to the eye. You also want it to fit the genre of content you’re making, so for example gaming live streamers have the chair and the LED lights, crafters use bright colours and natural light to work against, etc.
But the mark of a streamer taking this seriously is one that thinks about the background. Don’t get us wrong, a lot of streamers make a point of not bothering, because they’re not taking it too seriously, but if you want to stand out, give users something more to look at than your unmade bed.
Find your niche
If you’re an influencer just trying to do something you love, this will be an easy choice, but if you’re a brand or looking to create a TV show or podcast, you might have to put a little research into it.
Influencers should take the advice of simply doing what they love most. You’re about to do it a lot so it might as well be something you love. And, more importantly, doing something you don’t love is going to show in the content pretty quickly. Users turn to influencers for an “authentic” experience with someone genuine, so hiding the hard days isn’t the best idea, but if every day is a hard day, that’s no viewing experience. Instead, find something obscure and niche that you love and the people will follow. You’re likely to find that what you love isn’t that niche at all, fans just didn’t have an outlet before.
Whereas a studio company looking for their next big hit might need to do some research into demographics. What has worked in the past? Who are the kinds of people watching those hits? What appealed from those hits? How can they be applied to something new?
Promote engagement
And of course, no streaming service is worth anything without viewers. You can use social media marketing to encourage engagement in your live streams. Use clips of your favourite moments and post them to short-form video content platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Encourage user-generated content with challenges. Use curated content to create connections between other creators.