Do you want to level up your impact, authority and profits confidently by going live on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram?
But maybe you’re just too scared?
Maybe you don’t know what tech and gear you need to get started?
Maybe the idea of getting in front of the camera makes you very nervous?!
Well, do not fear, this article will help!
But first ask yourself. Why?
It could be because so many other people are doing it?
Or maybe you want to embrace a new shiny tool?
It’s vital to find out a reason why YOU should be doing it.
Here are some examples of why live video could work for you…
- Once you become confident, it’s a quick and easy way to create content quickly.
- It’s a medium where you can be more spontaneous.
- You can create a more intimate experience with your audience.
- You can be more authentic and direct with your audience.
- By being more you, your audience can have more empathy for you and your business.
- It can create a powerful emotional human connection with your audience
- It allows viewers exclusive access to you – this makes them feel special.
Creating Content Quickly
There is no question, blogging has totally changed my life. I’m doing what I am doing now through the content I’ve created. My business started through content.
One blog post I wrote on Facebook Live, has had nearly 5 million page views and helped me achieve over 300 course sales without any ad spend.
And another blog post helped launch my speaking career and helped me speak at conferences such as Social Media Marketing World.
For me, writing a blog post takes a huge amount of time and effort. Most of my blog posts are well over 5,000 words and take days and possibly weeks to put together. The great thing about live video is that it’s a quick way to create content. Once you’ve got the tech sorted, you can create killer content quickly in the form of a live video.
Then there is the power of repurposing! You can repurpose your live videos into podcasts, social media posts and much more!
Reach Expansion
Are you depressed with the reach of your Facebook Page posts? It’s harder now for our messages to be heard on Facebook pages.
But live video can help here!
In a study from Buzzsumo, it was found that found that Facebook Live videos attract a much higher number of comments relative to overall interactions – around 25% !
In another study from Agorapulse, they found that live videos receive 75% more shares than uploaded videos.
But it’s not just on Facebook. Most social networks have their own algorithm. LinkedIn have just announced LinkedIn Live, and have their own algorithm. Instagram, Twitter and YouTube all have their feed algorithms. Video posts with a lot of engagement are far more likely to do well and have an extended reach.
The 2 Things
But what do you need to go live? Do you need to invest $$$$ in a state of the art live video studio?
No!
You only need to things – and you already have them…
- A smartphone
- The internet (upload speed important)
Yes, there are other things you can do to increase the professional quality of your broadcasts, such as live video tools, lighting, cameras and more. But don’t let that get in the way you starting!
What’s Your Excuse?
I hear the same excuses all the time and I’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs around the world.
I’ll let you into a secret (just don’t tell anyone), I come up with the same excuses!
Confident Live Video is a journey. It’s a journey with the tech and a journey with the content, but most importantly, it’s a journey with your mindset. Let’s look at ways to get you moving…
The Barriers
In my experience, there are 3 main barriers that stop people from going live.
I call these the three pillars of confident live video:
#1 Camera Confidence
You are able to communicate your message to your audience via the camera. You’ll need clear diction with no mumbling! You can project your voice with energy, while being authentically you.
#2 Tech Confidence
Being able to use your live video tech and gear confidently so that you are free to communicate your message. When things go wrong, you’ll have a clear checklist to follow and a backup you can rely upon.
#3 Content Confidence
You’ll know exactly what you are going to communicate and why. Although you won’t need to rely on a script, you’ll have a clear structure and be able to give real value to your audience. And of course, a strong call to action!
How to become more Camera Confident
But how do you improve?
It’s actually ok to be nervous.
Most people doing things out of their comfort zone get nervous.
Instead of giving in to the fear, why not use it to channel your energy into your live video shows? Let those butterflies and the adrenalin allow you to give of your best.
I love this quote from Seth Godin…
“I do not think you can get rid of the fear. I think that the harder that you push back against the fear, the louder it becomes. But I think you can dance with it and you can welcome it in. You can say ‘thanks for coming’ because that means that I am on to something.” Seth Godin
Back in the day, I trained to be a professional classical singer at the Royal Northern College of Music.
One time, I was singing a challenging piece with a choir and orchestra at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. During the rehearsal, I had to sing 16 high notes and my voice cracked. I was so embarrassed. When it came to the actual performance, I was very nervous! However, as the adrenalin kicked in, I gave what was the best performance of my life. It was buzzing afterwards. But, the next week was a totally different experience. I performed a solo at a much smaller concert. I was complacent and did not feel nervous at all. Unfortunately, my performance was pretty terrible!
So, I wanted to share with you some ways to become more confident with live video. These are from my experience as a live video broadcaster and consultant, and also as a professional performer.
#1 Keep it simple
Before creating your state of the art live video studio, start with the basics!
Remember – you only need two things. A smartphone and a decent internet connection.
Once you’ve started with your basic setup, you can add extra gear or tools to your set up.
Unless you have the funds, are totally committed to live video and can guarantee an amazing return on investment you don’t need to spend a lot of money on an expensive set up.
You can bootstrap your live video studio. Just start slowly and simply and build your live video studio over time. For me, I started with my computer and a basic webcam. Over time I added a nicer microphone, a better camera and added lighting. You can also level up by using live video software such as Ecamm Live, Wirecast or vMix.
Don’t let the tech get in the way. Don’t let the tech become an excuse not to go live.
#2 Practice Practice Practice
Live video is not about being perfect. Actually, people love the raw and real quality of live videos. There is a rebellion against traditional marketing (the “Marketing Rebellion” as Mark Schaefer calls it). People are getting put off by slick marketing videos. Live video is a way to be part of that rebellion.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should just go live without preparation.
It’s so important to practice the art of live video. With practice you can become confident with the your delivery.
Today, Live video tech is a lot easier than it used to be. But there is still a lot to think about!
If your internet connection fails, it can be a disaster.
If your sound is bad, then people won’t bother to watch you next time.
The only way to become more confident in front of the camera is by actually doing it – regularly.
A great way to practice going live in a safe environment (such as a Facebook Group) as part of a live video challenge. You can do this with other people that are wanting to practice.
When I first started off, I had the mad idea of going live twice per day in the twelve days running up to Christmas. I did a “Christmas Carol of the Day” where I performed a cryptic version of a well-known Christmas carol live and asked people to guess what it was. In the evening I went live and revealed the answer and performed the carol with my family.
It was a lot of fun, but boy did a lot of things go wrong!
Over those twelve days I learnt so much from mistakes and the tech going wrong. The only way to get started and improve is to actually practice.
#3 Go Live to yourself
A great way to practice at the start is to go live just to yourself
Before you go live to a group, did you know you can go live just to yourself? This is a great way to practice the art of live streaming
Just head on down to your Facebook profile on your smartphone, and create a live video post. Then change the privacy setting to “only me”. Now the only person that can watch your live video is you – when you watch the replay.
Even if you’re a seasoned live streaming professional, it’s still worth using this feature for testing. I regularly use this feature before I go live publicly to test that my internet speed, video and sound are ok.
A few minutes after you click that “end broadcast” button, head back and watch the replay. If you’re like most of us, you will HATE watching yourself.
But be strong and learn from the experience. When you do this, write down THREE things that you did well. Resist the urge to focus on the negative. Once you’ve done this, then write down THREE ways you could improve this for next time. Be constructive!
#4 Use Instagram stories to practice
Instagram or Facebook stories are a great way to become more confident in front of the camera.
Instagram story videos are only 15 seconds long and are only visible for 24 hours. So, what’s the worst that is going to happen?
Why not share little video snippets of what you are up to each day? Share what you are working on, your latest product or service, or what you’re doing for fun.
Commit to producing video stories consistently for 7 or 14 days so that you can get into a routine.
Instagram or Facebook stories are not live video. But sharing regular Instagram video stories is a great foundation for confident live video.
#5 Warm up your voice
It’s important to always be you.
But you need to amplify you.
This is what I called heightened authenticity.
The quality and strength of your voice are so important as you communicate to your audience. It’s vital to keep it fit and healthy, and to improve the energy, diction and vitality of your voice.
Your voice isn’t just your vocal chords or your larynx. It’s also your body. So, check your posture! If possible, stand when you’re going live – it’s easier to put more energy in and support your voice if you are standing. I recommend doing vocal exercises each day and 10-20 minutes before you go live. This will give you more vocal strength, energy and better diction. And it’s also great to have a bit of fun and energy before you go live!
There is a great app called Voice warm up from my friends at Vocal Process. It gives you 1 minute exercises designed to help you with breath control, releasing tension, diction and interesting voice. It’s available for iOS and Android.
#6 Have a Tech Checklist
You’ve practiced loads and you feel much more confident.
You press the go live button, but it’s a disaster.
Maybe you get a “your internet connection is unstable” message. The kids are watching Netflix and consuming all the bandwidth!
Maybe someone calls you on your phone. Or your computer crashes. Or your cat jumps on the table and knocks over your webcam, or something else!
I’ve had personal experience with all of those things, and they could be avoided!
Pilots have a checklist they have to stick to before they can fly the plane. It’s vital to check everything is working and to do many safety checks. It’s important to have a live video checklist that you follow every time you go live.
Always check your internet speed before you go live. If you find out that your internet speed is too low or unstable once you are live, it’s too late. I recommend downloading the Speedtest app, which is available for iOS and Android as well as Windows and Mac.
Aim for at least 4 Mbps upload speed for Facebook Live, but preferably higher just in case your speed fluctuates. If you’re having issues, then testing before hand allows you to explore alternatives such as switching to 4G or going to a different location.
Here is part of my checklist. Feel free to copy, tweak and make it your own.
- Hardware Check: Reboot your computer or phone. Close down as many apps running in the background as possible.
- Audio check: Check microphones and other settings are working
- Camera check: Make sure camera is at the right height and angle
- Background check: Check your background. Set up backdrop (if needed) and lighting. Preview with camera.
- Switch off internet devices: If possible, disconnect any devices around your house or office from the internet. For example, other computers and tablets. You won’t want one to be downloading the latest version of its operating system while your live!
- Speed Test: Check your internet upload speed. It should be at least 4 Mbps, but preferably higher
- Live Test: Practice a test live by going live just to yourself on your Facebook profile. Watch back to check audio and video are good.
- Switch off interruptions: mute devices such as alarms, phones etc. If at home or your office, alert people that you’re going to be going live. Switch off notifications on your computer.
- Notes: have your notes ready
- Warm up: Check your posture and do 1 minute of vocal warm up
Now What?
Have you not yet pressed that go live button?
If you follow these steps then they will help you become consistent and make an impact with your audience.
If you have started, then it’s time to level up your impact and authority using live video – communicating more effectively with your audience.
I’d love to know you you get on, so please let me know. And of course, there are loads more things you can do to improve your live videos.