Mastering The Art Of Instagram LIVES
Nearly every time we mention to a client that they should try an Instagram LIVE, we always get the same look of terror in response. And we get it. It is daunting. When we first started doing our Monday Musing LIVES we would get the camera set up, press LIVE and suddenly our mouths would go dry and we would start stumbling over our words…. But actually the more we did it, the more relaxed we became. And now we don’t even think twice before jumping on a LIVE.
Photo via Pinterest
What is Instagram LIVE?
Instagram LIVE is a functionality that enables users to broadcast real-time videos to their followers. It is different to Reels or Stories where you upload pre-recorded video to Instagram.
Once you initiate a live session, your followers have the opportunity to join in, watch, comment, and engage with you in real time. The experience is authentic and provides a unique 'in-the-moment' feel that sets it apart from other types of posts.
Why you should be doing IG LIVES in 2024
The one key reason you should be doing Instagram LIVES in 2024 is that in the crowded social media platform that is Instagram, Instagram LIVES can be your key to standing out.
Instagram Live is all about authenticity and making genuine connections. No edits, no scripts – just you and your followers. It is your opportunity to let your followers really get to know you and let your personality and expertise shine.
But if you need more convincing:
Quick content creation: Instagram Live is, in m opinion, one of the quickest and easiest ways to share content to your Instagram page. Seriously, you don’t need to find the perfect image or write the perfect caption. No filming video and editing it together for a reel. You just go LIVE.
Authenticity Sells: Instagram LIVE offers an unfiltered and authentic way to connect with your followers. It feels authentic and lets your personality shine and your followers get to know and trust you.
Boost Visibility: When you go LIVE your profile image moves to the front of the Story line with the word ‘LIVE’ splashed across it and gets YOU noticed. So it helps boost your visibility on this crowded platform.
Instant Feedback: Interacting with your followers in real-time means that you get instant feedback, and you can answer their questions directly. Again this is a great way to build trust.
Have I convinced you yet? Are you ready to go LIVE?
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Our Top Ten Tips for a Successful Instagram LIVE
Get your set up right
You don’t need a fancy studio to film your LIVE but there are a few things to consider. Think about your background - you don’t want it to be too distracting and you want it to be well-lit. Try to have your face towards natural light or invest in a ring light (we have ring lights that we bought from Aldi for a tenner so this is not an expensive investment) Ensure you have a stable internet connection. Make sure your camera is steady or try putting it on a tripod (I still remember when Lara’s tripod failed at the last minute and she had to hold her phone for the whole LIVE - the worst). Make sure the camera is facing you - and yes, we have started a LIVE before with the camera facing the wrong way - it happens to the best of us. And finally check you have enough battery on your phone! You don’t want it dying on you mid-LIVE.
Plan Your Content in Advance
You don’t need to write a script but it helps to have an idea of what you want to say. Maybe jot down some key points just to keep you on track, and keep the conversation flowing and overcome any brain fog moments.
And if you are thinking, I really have no idea what I would talk about if I went LIVE, here are some ideas:
Q&A session: this is one of the most popular types of IG Live broadcasts, and you can use this to directly engage with your followers in real time. You can even hype them up and let them know in advance so that they can prepare questions to ask. It also shows you’re accessible to your followers.
Promote Products or Services: Use Instagram LIVE to showcase new products or services, or provide demonstrations, or offer exclusive discounts and make the announcement directly to your followers.
BTS: people love to check out what’s going on behind all of the pretty Instagram content. Use the Live feature to show your followers what’s going on in your life, in the office, in your WFH setup— whatever gives them an inside look at your brand.
Collaborate with Others: Partnering with other users or influencers for a joint LIVE session can introduce your content to a new audience. Think of it as your own chat show. It's a win-win situation: your guest gets exposure to your audience, and you get the same from theirs. Who would you invite on your chat show? Think of brands of influencers who are not competitors but aligned with your brand. Do you share the same target audience? And remember you can invite up to 3 guests.
Think about what time you will go LIVE
Schedule your LIVE sessions for when your followers are most likely to be online. Look at your insights to get an idea of times when your followers are active. You can also spend a few days checking when your followers are online. Press the + button on your profile page and tap on LIVE from the drop down menu. You can then see on the top of the page how many followers are active right now. Don’t worry, you won’t go live until you actually hit the button at the bottom of the page but it might be worth checking in regularly to see when lots of your followers are active.
Promote in Advance
Let your followers know in advance when you are going LIVE. Promote it on the grid and put a story on Instagram Stories and use the countdown button. Maybe create a regular time to go LIVE. We tend to go LIVE on Monday lunchtimes but life does sometimes get in the way.
Practice Makes Perfect
With Instagram's “Practice Mode” tool you can test out your Live setup in advance. Before you go live, select the eye icon on the left-hand corner of the screen. Toggle from "Public" to "Practice." That's it! This feature is perfect for ironing out any kinks before you go live to the masses.
Photo via Pinterest
Go LIVE and have fun
Don't forget that the beauty of Instagram Live is its informality. Sometimes, these sessions don't go as planned, and is okay! We occasionally get the giggles, forget what we are saying mid-sentence, a dog or child may stroll through the back of the shot. But I think that all adds to the charm. Just go with the flow and enjoy it. You never know, going LIVE may become your jam and you might find that you actually love doing them.
Engage with Your Audience
Don’t ignore your followers. Acknowledge your followers when they join at the start, give a few shout outs and encourage viewers to ask questions and leave comments during the LIVE session. And if you are unfortunate to get an annoying troll (it happens) just ignore them.
Utilise Visuals and Props
Keep your audience visually engaged by using any props that complement your content. If you are launching a new product, have the product to hand and talk through how it works. This adds an extra layer of excitement to your LIVE sessions.
Save and Share
After the LIVE session ends, save the video to your profile. This allows users who missed the LIVE to catch up later, extending the lifespan of your content. We always save our LIVE to the gird. Top tip: create a LIVE cover in Canva to use on your grid.
Reflect and Refine
Take time to review your LIVE sessions, and take notes about what went well and what you could do better on your next LIVE. It can feel a bit cringe but the more you do it, the less cringe it is.
And finally, don’t forget that we go LIVE every Monday lunchtime (well, we try to go LIVE every Monday lunchtime but you know…life sometimes has other plans) with our top actionable Instagram tips - our MONDAY MUSINGS - we aim to keep it short and sweet and you will always leave with an easy action point to go away and implement to improve your Instagram. We always save the LIVE to our grid so if you don’t catch us LIVE you can always watch back on the grid.