The Time To Go Live!

In our most recent blog posts, we've talked about the importance of why you should be using stories and live streaming in your company's workflow. This blog is going to be dedicated to actual tips on how to make these videos and what you need to be thinking about while you do! 

We've made it to May, Summerville! Our quiet little town turned into a ghost town as the pandemic set it, but it is turning back into a vibrant and beautiful city as we all slowly open our doors again. We are so thankful to see so many of our fellow small businesses open their doors again and return to full operation. We know this has been a difficult time for our amazing town, but getting back to a sense of normal proves just how tough Summerville is! While we work to get back up to speed, we do encourage you to continue to stay safe and smart. We are still in this together! 

Have you been playing with adding Facebook and Instagram videos into your workflow since we shared so much information on why you should be doing so in our last few blogs? Have you been even more daring and tried live streaming on either platform? Remember, now is the perfect time to use these tools to your advantage. You can stay in touch with your followers, keep them up to date with when you might be reopening, what safety precautions are going to be taken, what might be changing, and check-in them in real-time! This gives them a true sense of connection when they get to see the real you in a very real, not directed or perfectly edited, live video. Let them fall in love with all the reasons why they love your company and brand all over again! So, throw away your fears and worries that your videos or live streams won't look right, that they won't look good enough, or you'll look funny. That will never be the case. You are a professional who is passionate about your company and brand. The rest just takes a little planning, practice, and care. Follow these tips and suggestions to make seamless and effortless Livestream videos that you will be proud of and will no longer dread doing them! 

• Let's Get Started

Some of the biggest things that can affect your Livestream videos on Facebook and Instagram are things you might not even think about until one pops up and ruins a video. These little details can pop up and destroy the quality of the video or could abruptly stop the video in the middle of the broadcast, wasting all of the effort and connection you've made. If you don't think about these very important little details before you even press record, then it'll be too late. When setting up and preparing, remember to: 

• Turn your phone on silent.
• Put your phone on do not disturb. 
• Make sure it's charged with plenty of battery. 
• Make sure that you have a good wifi connection. 
• Be aware of the sights and sounds around you that could disrupt the video or distract your audience. 
• Choose a good location that provides a professional and comfortable setting for you and those watching. 
• Decide ahead of time if it will look better and be more appropriate for the subject of your Livestream for you to hold your phone while recording or for someone else/a stand to hold it while you are recording. A hands-free approach will give you more options, less to worry about, and a more relaxed feel throughout the recording of your Livestream. 

• Attention to Detail 

Like we've said time and again, going live is a great opportunity to show your audience who you are in real life. The lighting and the backdrop don't have to be expertly executed. But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a plan for the Livestream. You need to know what you will be talking about, why you're talking about it, and have a goal of what you want from your audience during this Livestream. Also, it never hurts to practice. Even though you will be recording and streaming in real-time, being well rehearsed in what you're saying and being comfortable on camera is very important. Looking uncomfortable, constantly stumbling over your words, and rambling until you finally reach your point turns your audience off very quickly. Remember to promote the fact that you will be going live. Post about it a few days in advance on all of your social media platforms. Remind your audience multiple times about when you'll be going live and what you'll be talking about. This builds your audience for the Livestream. Just showing up on their feeds as a live video without any warning could run the risk of not being seen at all. 

• Action! 

It can be very strange and awkward to talk on camera, even more so if it's live. But try as best as you can to treat your time on camera like a comfortable conversation. The more relaxed and relatable you are, the more you'll draw in your viewers. Don't plant yourself in front of the camera and blast through facts and information like a news broadcast. One of the greatest things about Livestreaming is the fact that your viewers can interact with you. You, in turn, need to respond to them just like anyone would in a real-life conversation. Laugh, joke with them, and answer and acknowledge the questions they're asking during your stream. The less painful you can make it for yourself, the better! Also, always give context throughout the entirety of the stream. Don't dump the topic and the purpose of the going live right at the beginning and then push past it, never touching it again. It's a good refresher to people who turn in late to the Livestream, and it helps those who have been with you the whole time to reconnect and stay focused. Don't forget, it never hurts to get creative! Have a theme to your videos (like Hawaiian day!), have a happy hour with your viewers, have live music, or have a pet join you in your Livestream. The more you invest in the topic and the video, the more your audience will enjoy the stream, and the more likely they will follow your requests to buy something on sale, follow them online, join them for an event, and so on. 

Livestreaming is accessible for everyone and is an incredible tool to connect you with your audience in seconds. You want to inform them, connect with them, and converse with them on a real human level. You need to put in a little work and practice before you press record, making sure that your phone is charged and that your mom's call won't disrupt the video. But if you follow these simple steps, your Livestream videos will be outstanding. Don't hesitate! We are starting to make moves towards some sort of normalcy, so get back to what you're good at - running your business! Use this tool to show off what you do best, and why you enjoy doing it. We are here for when you need us, Summerville! We are so impressed with your resiliency and are proud to be apart of the Summerville family. Stay safe and be well everyone!