YouTube is known to be the undisputed king of video. It isn’t Netflix, it’s YouTube. There are billions of people around the world from all demographics that use YouTube. Known for its almost infinite library of videos on every subject under the sun, YouTube has another product that is not heard of as much – YouTube Live.
YouTube Live does not intend on replacing pre-made content. In fact, it plans on building a different hype compared to pre-made content. When it comes to an audience, YouTube has nothing to worry about – there are 2.1 billion of them at any given point. This translates to roughly 14 billion visits a month.
YouTube Live – What Is It?
When we hear the word live streaming, we think of Twitch, and for good reason. For many years, Twitch has sat at the top of the list of live streaming services. However, sitting pretty at number two is YouTube Live and the gap isn’t as wide as you would believe. Similar to Twitch, YouTube Live allows you to live stream just about anything you can think of.
Going Live – How Does It Work?
Getting started on YouTube Live is incredibly simple. Here’s what you need to do:
- You start by creating a YouTube channel for yourself. If you have a Gmail account, all you need to do is go on YouTube and log in.
- Next, go to youtube.com/dashboard from your browser of choice.
- Click on the camcorder icon. You’ll find it in the top right-hand corner.
- Click on ‘Go Live’ and select the webcam you want to use.
- Choose a title of your choice and set the privacy settings as you want.
- When you click next, YouTube uses the webcam to take a thumbnail photo. This can be changed.
- Click on ‘Go Live’
- To end your stream, click on ‘End stream’
Use an encoder to add another layer of customization to your livestream. An encoder is a streaming software that allows you to create custom backgrounds, emotes, overlays, and add many other things to make your stream look more lively and exciting. Using an encoder also allows you to use multiple audio and video sources as well.
Getting the Most Out of YouTube Live
Similar to pre-made content on YouTube, if you want to get the most out of your stream, you need to follow certain steps to ensure that. Here’s what you need to do:
Have Clear Goals
Before you click live, make sure you know what you want it to be about. You don’t need to have it all figured out and this preference isn’t set in stone. However, you need direction to get it going and growing. Take some time and mull over what you would like out of your stream before getting into it. Look at what others are doing in the same space and see how you can do it better or differently.
For instance, if you want to review your favorite team place, you can have your TV set up across you while you Livestream your thoughts about what is happening. Using services from Directv can do well for you in this regard. Their DIRECTV Ultimate and DIRECTV Choice programs let you access entertainment to your heart’s content.
Ensure Preparation
After goals, you need to have a system in place for your stream. Based on what your target audience is, you need to prepare. Are you going to show your face or your craft? Who will moderate your chat? Yourself or a moderator? Will there be guests at any point? While streams are certainly rawer and unfiltered, it helps if you have a loose script in place.
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Promote It Aggressively
It has never been easier for someone to promote their stream thanks to social media. When you get started with streaming, use YouTube analytics to who is watching your content and when. By reviewing your analytics, you will get an idea as to who you should promote your content to, how you should do it, and when it should be done. Using the stories feature on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook is a good way to get the word out.
If you want to take it a step further, you can create ads or posters and publish them across your social media. Promote your stream like it is the best in the business and surely you will bring in the views today, tomorrow, or in the near future.
Invest in Your Stream
Everyone has a rocky start to their stream. You’re still learning and different details need to be ironed out over time. Moreover, you are constantly upgrading your stream and equipment to ensure your stream is performing to the best of its abilities. This includes but is not limited to a better webcam, microphone, green screen, audio or video mixer, lighting, etc.
Keep It Fresh
In 2022, we have the shortest attention spans of all time. The moment we see something that we find boring or redundant, we move on to the next. To prevent this from happening, try not to let your stream run stale. Repetitive content, lack of substance, and redundant conversations will have you losing viewers. Evaluate your content and see where you can do better to keep your audience entertained for long periods of time.
