10 Tips to Make Your Periscope and Facebook Live Broadcasts Successful
From your looks of it, 'live' video on social networking has become a thing. And also to help it not turn into a monstrous thing in the deep I've come up with this list of 10 tips to make your live Periscope and Facebook Live broadcasts successful which help you connect with your audience.
1. Your Title Should Grab their Attention
Consider the title of your Periscope-like a newspaper headline. Write an excellent title that tells the viewer what it's about and what they are going to see or learn. It should entice them to tune in. 'Untitled' isn't an option for success.
facebook live stream
2. Don't Spend your time
Don't spend the outlet seconds of the broadcast swinging your camera around the room showing us stuff, print out a copy of your custom logo and slogan and shoot that when you welcome us towards the broadcast and verbally inform us what's going to happen.
3. Stay relaxed
When you point the digital camera towards you don't act amazed at the people logging in to watch, it's what you were expecting so go with it. Likewise, don't start giving shout-outs to viewers unless someone of note turns up... like The Pope. It could happen...
4. Don't Wait to begin
You should be starting the actual content of your live video broadcast inside the first:60 seconds, remember that people who joined late can watch the replay for what you may have missed.
5. Horizontal Please!
It's certainly one of my biggest pets peeves. My eyes are side-by-side on my face, not one over the other. Also, make sure you keep your head during the frame with your eyes on the imaginary line between the top 3rd and middle third with the frame. In the case of Periscope, if the comments and hearts begin to fly we will be able to still see your head.
6. Provide an Agenda
As a guy who spent 25+ years doing work in radio and TV and doing hours of show prep before each broadcast... please, please have an agenda. Before you go live, outline what you are going to say and also the points that you intend to make. Then follow that outline.
7. Do A Midstream Recap
If you notice a huge spike in viewers, it's OK to do a quick recap for those who just joined you, but again remember they can watch the replay later. Be brief about it and unless your broadcast is going to be "an epic", don't recap more often than once.
8. Questions At the conclusion
During the broadcast, if audience members start asking questions let them know that you will take questions at the end of the broadcast. This will help you stick to your agenda. And if you don't have a fantastic memory (I do not) have them re-ask their question later. Just like your midstream recap be brief and acquire on with the task accessible.
9. Leave Them Wanting More
Once you have finished your presentation stay on to answer a few questions from your audience but don't permit this to drag on. A good broadcaster knows to leave on a high note. Inform them if they have any further inquiries to contact you by email or via Twitter.
10. Use Graphics
Any URLs, contact information, Twitter handles, etc. that you simply mention during the broadcast ought to be printed out on a notepad and held up to the camera for people to take note of. Finish off the way you started with your company logo and slogan. Why not a URL for your products or services.
Use a graphic In your Periscope Facebook Live Broadcasts
Bonus Tip
Make an appointment with viewers. Either do your broadcast on a regular schedule (though this may not always be ideal) or Tweet 30 minutes in advance to your followers and friends that you have a broadcast coming up. Mention the title too!
It's a brave new world out there and everybody has the various tools to be a broadcaster. As I've said before, the artist, broadcaster or craftsperson knows it is not about the tools... but wait, how you use them.
Let me know basically can help you or if you have other tips to increase my list.
David Tyler can be a creative communicator and voice over talent with 25+ years of experience in the broadcast world of TV and radio.
His mantra of 'Stop Communicating and Start Connecting' is his counsel to anyone attempting to use media, old or new, broadcast or online.
He writes and lectures on "The Art of Communicating Ideas".