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How to do your first Live Video!

Before I presented my own Live videos I participated in 100s, well maybe 1,000s from lots of people.  Here are a few tips that I’ve learned on my journey:

First -there's never been a perfect Live video ...ever.  Technology will always fail at some point in EVERY CALL!  This happens with everyone -even Tony Robbins.  So don't sweat it.

There is an 18-second delay between what you say and when it is heard.  So when you ask a question expect a delay before they even hear it and additional time for them to type a response.  Have some ‘filler’ talk ready to give them the time they need.  In fact, use that talk to encourage them.  Something like, “While we wait for your response, I’ll share ____”

90% of Live videos are watched in Replay.  So if you have 10 that join Live you will typically have 100 that watch later.

Lives pop up on people’s news feed if they are on FB (or other platforms).  They typically will watch for a minute and decide if they are going to 

Watch now, 

Watch later (cause they are doing something else), or 

Not ever watch it.  

So that first 1-5 minutes are key to retention.  So have 5 minutes of something on topic to discuss -like sharing the outline of what you are going to discuss in the call (agenda) but realize you are 'selling' the viewer to watch the whole thing.  So always mention in the beginning something exciting that you are going to share, offer or give away at the END.  (Remember the vast majority of people will watch later.  You will have to ‘hook’ them too.)

So you have to POUNCE on giving good content in those first few minutes with no dead air time.  You'll bore them off and they won't come back to watch it later.  :) 

When you first start the Live immediately ask for someone to put in the chat that they can hear you so you know your audio is working.  Repeat that instruction a minute later -then a minute after that. At the end of your prepared 5 minutes intro (filler) if no one has commented you might have a tech issue.  I then take the time to check a second device that I have watching the Live so I can check it myself.  I turn the sound on briefly.  Don’t leave the sound on as you will create a horrible feedback screeching noise!

Don’t act discouraged or mention the number of people watching.  Anyone that watches later probably won’t know that there weren’t 100s of people watching!  

If you want to bring a guest you can bring them on FB or use a streaming service (I use Streamyard -it's has a free version free.  This is my affiliate link: https://streamyard.com?pal=5717087204933632 )  Having the guest already there when you start the Live helps a lot.  It gives you someone to have a dialogue with so there is no dead air space.  People scrolling down their newsfeed will see instantly that two people talking and find this much more engaging and interesting than just one person monologing.  

After you are done, go back and watch your video.  Most people hate doing this but I watch every video I do at least once because I learn something every time.  I never knew I did certain mannerisms until I started doing Live videos.  

As you watch pay attention to the details.  Notice your lighting, were you too strongly backlit?  Backlit is a window or light behind you being brighter than the light in front of you.  Reverse that, a little indirect light shining on the wall behind you and warm bright light in front of your camera.  Ring-shaped likes are popular -but can be distracting if you wear glasses as the viewer can see this two lighted rings reflected.  Soften lights with a diffuser or using them indirectly by pointing them at the wall or ceiling instead of directly at you. 

Framing: you want a few inches above your head and your shoulders in frame.  Also, mount your camera so it's fixed and still.  You can move a bit but you don't want your camera moving as you make your viewers seasick!  Ha!  :) 

Give-a-ways, prizes, and contests winners are incentives to get people to watch the video (usually for Live attendees only) so market that beforehand don’t spend too much time on it during the video unless it’s for the purpose of promoting your next Live.  Streamyard has a fun automated picker that actually shows a picture of the winner in game show fashion.  They have to participate in the chat by putting in a hashtag, so they are active and present, and then they have to reach out to contact you for the prize afterward.  BTW often they don’t and you can get the promotion value for free! 

Advanced skills:  Try to get interaction going on in the chat by saying “Hi” to people as they come on, ask questions, take a poll with results for them to put in comments, etc.  This is the ‘room to grow’ for newbies as it usually takes time to get comfortable enough to juggle several tasks at one time while doing a Live.  But you will be amazed that after you do a dozen Lives it will start feeling natural.  

Keep at it. Take risks.  Fail a lot.  Fail quickly. Pay to go fast!  100 Lives from now you will be a pro!  You can get there quickly -or slowly -it just depends on how uncomfortable you are willing to feel to accomplish your goals!