Tips to Make the Most of Your Next Instagram Live

Instagram Live can be an excellent way to boost engagement with your brand and expand your reach. But there is more to a successful Instagram Live than just logging into your Instagram account and starting a live video. To get the most from this type of content, you will want to keep a few tips in mind.

Understand Why Instagram Live Is Useful

Before we get into making the most of Instagram Live, make sure you understand why you should be using it at all.

To put it simply, Instagram Live makes your brand seem more authentic and transparent than other types of content. After all, it is unedited, giving your brand a fresh and authentic way of creating content.

On top of that, Instagram Live lets your audience comment, ask questions, or react in real time, making it an interactive experience.

The Basics: How to Use Instagram Live

Make sure you know the basics of using Instagram Live before getting into more advanced tips.

• Check Your Live Settings

  Before going live, check your camera settings. Open the view for Instagram Live and select “Camera settings.” This is the wheel at the top right corner of the screen.

  You will have the ability to hide the Livestream from certain people if you want. You can also choose where you want the camera toolbar to appear. This screen is where you title your Instagram Live and choose whether you want to be Public or Practice Mode. You can even schedule the Live stream for a future timeslot.

  While checking settings, consider toggling on the options to:

  • Save your video
  • Allow sharing
  • Automatically add the video to Instagram Stories
  • Automatically add the video to Facebook Stories

• Check for Comment Filters

  You can set up your Instagram Live stream to hide comments with offensive content automatically. You can even use advanced settings to filter comments with specific phrases or words.

  To do this, go to your settings and scroll to the section on privacy. You can toggle “Hide comments” under “Offensive words and phrases.” This is also where you will find the advanced settings.

• Use Practice Mode

  Confirm that all your settings are ideal and that you like the camera view via Practice Mode. Just toggle the eye icon to switch it to “Practice” from “Public.”

• Going Live

  When you are ready to start your Instagram Live, select the “Live” icon at the bottom of the screen. It’s that simple.

  When you are done, just tap “End” at the top right corner. You will be asked to confirm by pressing “End Now.”

Choose an Engaging Topic

When preparing to do Instagram Live, always be sure to choose an engaging topic. An interesting and relevant topic is the best way to encourage people to watch and interact with you. Some common options include virtual tours, interviews, Q&As, and new product launches.

Promote It Before You Go Live

If you want to maximize attendance for your Instagram Live, make sure to announce it ahead of time. Include the announcements in your Stories and Instagram Feed as well.

Choose the Right Time

When planning your Instagram Live, be sure to schedule it for a time when your audience is highly active. If you aren’t sure what time that is, check your Instagram Insights. The times your audience is most active will be shown in the “Audience” tab.

Set Up Your Background and Lighting

Like any other Instagram content, take the time to plan your background, lighting, and other elements for your Instagram Live. Think about your brand aesthetic and create a background or space that matches it.

Include Branding

As you plan the background or your space, try to work in some subtle branded elements. A simple example is drinking out of a mug with your brand logo.

Assign a Moderator

As mentioned, you can set up Instagram to automatically filter out certain comments during your Live stream. But you can also set up a moderator to manage the comments and viewers. The moderator isn’t a co-host and stays behind the scenes.

To assign a moderator, just tap the three dots next to the “Comment” part at the bottom. You’ll see the option to add a moderator. Select their account and tap “Confirm.”

Have a Plan

Though you want your Instagram Live content to be authentic and natural, you still need a plan for maximum results. Identify the kind of content you want to cover, ideally as a bullet point list for easy recall and reference.

You should also have a backup plan for certain scenarios. For example, prepare a list of FAQs for when you open the Livestream to questions and no one participates.

Take Full Advantage of Interactive Features

Instagram Live tends to have such good engagement because the content is highly interactive. To maximize this benefit, use the various interactive features offered on the platform. Some tips include:

• Tapping the question mark speech bubble icon to encourage viewers to ask you questions
• Pin a comment to the top of the Live feed
• Add a comment to the Live stream
• Invite a co-host
• Add a friend to the Livestream
• Use a Stories filter
• Send direct messages about the Instagram Live
• Share an image or video

How to Share an Image or Video

If you want to screenshare a video or image to your Live screen, tap on the photo icon at the top right corner of the screen.

You can use this to share infographics or other visuals that will enhance your Livestream.

After Instagram Live

Your work isn’t done when you end an Instagram Live. Maximize your new content by posting it to your Stories. You should also review the comments and direct messages you received while you were live, so you can respond if needed.

Conclusion

Using Instagram Live can boost your engagement. For the best results, plan the Livestream for a time when your audience is active, announce it ahead of time, and save it to repurpose the stream. Use various features in the platform to make the stream as interactive as possible.