Organizing livestreams is a strong way to increase the connection with your target audience or reach a wider audience, provided that you put on a professional broadcast of course. But how do you organize a successful livestream?
In this blog, we would like to explain what a good preparation consists of, how you make sure your livestream gets attention, and what is important during the livestream itself.
The preparation
Putting together a successful livestream requires good preparation. Of course you can only go live once, and then you want to come across professionally. The following action points will help you organize a good livestream:
Determine the goal of the livestream
To set up a successful livestream, it is important to determine the goal of the livestream. For example, do you want to generate more registrations? Do you want to reach a minimum number of participants or secure a minimum number of votes? So think carefully about what success means in the case of your event. In addition, it is also good to map out what the message is that you want to convey and to which target audience you want to convey it.
Create a run-of-show
Make sure it is clear for every participant, meaning everyone in front of the camera, what is expected of them. For example, work out a script or a list of frequently asked questions and make sure everyone is clearly briefed about the structure of the online event. Include a clear division of roles as well. For example, do you work with a second presenter who can read out the chat or communicate with the audience? Or do you work with a producer who selects responses that you can then read out or who answers questions in the chat.
Choose the platform
There are different platforms on which you can offer your livestream. Make sure you are well informed about the possibilities and the pros and cons of each platform. The choice of platform depends on the wishes of your target audience, and it is also good to consider which platform best suits your organization. Below is an overview of the most commonly used platforms for organizing livestreams:
Free social media platforms such as:
- YouTube
- Twitch
Paid livestream platform:
- Vimeo
Real webinar platforms where you can seek interaction, such as:
- WebinarGeek
- GoToWebinar
Online event platforms such as:
- Hopin
- BigMarker
- Orbits
- Invitado
- ON24
But you can also deliver a professional livestream in videoconferencing tools such as:
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Cisco Webex
- Google Meet
- Skype
And you can also choose to broadcast your livestream or (interactive) webinar via the platform of a technical partner, other than the parties mentioned above.
Test test test
To leave as little as possible to chance, it is important to test as many factors as possible in advance. Think of it as a general rehearsal. Testing the image and sound quality is of course super important, but also pay close attention to the quality of your internet connection. Other facets to try out are your camera setup or the angle at which you film, the lighting, and any background noise at different locations. If you want to include elements in your livestream, such as video material or a presentation, it is good to take this into account in advance.
Take copyright and privacy regulations into account
When you want to use music, images or other third-party content, it is important to make sure in advance that this will not cause problems. For example, you can ask for permission or buy out the copyrights. Especially larger free platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitch actively screen for the use of copyrighted material. There is also a good chance that you will process personal data when you use a webinar platform.
Promoting your livestream
Besides determining the platform on which you want to livestream, it is also important to know on which channels you want to promote your livestream. When you have defined the target audience in the preparation phase, it is useful to do a short study of your audience’s preferred channels. You also want to know what the format and type of content will be with which you are going to promote the livestream. For example, will you record a short promotional video? Or will you go for an image with text? You should also align this with the wishes of your target audience.
In any case, start well in advance (at least four weeks before the event date) and make sure to send regular reminders. Do you mainly want to reach a new audience? Then you may want to consider using paid advertising campaigns to promote your event. Do you mainly want existing relationships to take part in the event? Then email marketing and your own social media channels are suitable promotional tools.
In any case, make sure your livestream is given a clear title and description so viewers know what to expect.
During the livestream
Everything is well prepared and your livestream is about to start. Here are a few more tips that will help you get the most out of your livestream:
- Be authentic; working with a script ensures that the livestream runs smoothly, but make sure the text does not come across as rehearsed. It is fine if you do not know an answer sometimes or say ‘uh’ once in a while.
- Ensure interaction; ask questions to the audience, make sure viewers can respond via the chat, organize a poll etc.
- Look into the camera; this creates the suggestion of eye contact and helps you keep the viewer’s attention.
- Speak calmly and clearly.
