A few years ago, live streaming was informal and the quality didn’t matter much. However, today it has become a powerful communication tool for organizations as it allows them to connect with their audiences. Therefore, everything must be as perfect as possible. Make sure you avoid committing any of the 8 most common streaming mistakes.
8 live streaming mistakes to avoid
1. Failing to plan ahead
Even if you’re experienced in streaming, improvising is never a good option. You need to prepare and ensure you provide good content. From preparing all the materials you’ll use (images, pre-recorded videos, etc.) to knowing what you’re going to say, everything needs to be in place.
2. Poor video, audio, or connection quality
If the technical aspects of your stream are poor, people will quickly abandon it. Everyone wants a satisfactory experience, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve it! You can make a small investment in a good camera since almost all cameras on the market today have Full HD quality. Most of them have a built-in microphone, but you can also purchase an external microphone for better audio quality. As for the connection, just make sure you have enough bandwidth.
3. Insufficient lighting
Some people tend to forget to check if they have good lighting. Remember to test for sufficient or excessive light before streaming.
4. Failing to promote the live stream
This mistake is quite simple: if you don’t promote your stream, you won’t have an audience. You need to announce it and then regularly promote it through the social media platforms where your target audience is present. Engagement is a key factor for the success of your stream.
5. Choosing the wrong topics
What matters to you and what matters to your audience can be very different. You have to choose a topic that is valuable to your viewers and avoid self-promotion. Therefore, when choosing the topic for your next stream, keep your audience front and center in your mind. Study your audience’s needs, concerns, interests, and preferences.
6. Lack of creativity
This is a very common mistake. Most streams consist of one person or a limited number of people talking to a camera, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. By using good streaming software, you can add widgets, overlays, themes, custom images, and more. There’s a lot of competition, so you need to stand out.
7. Failing to engage your audience
Having constant feedback between the viewer and the speaker is crucial. Doing a live stream is a direct opportunity to connect with your audience and understand their interests. You can start by allowing comments, creating polls, or having a question and answer session. If you don’t address the comments, viewers may feel ignored and may not return to your future content.
8.Choosing the wrong platforms for streaming
It’s not wise to randomly choose a social media platform for your streaming. You should know which social media platforms your audience is on.
However, you can aim high and simultaneously share your stream across all your channels. Platforms like Watchity allow you to distribute your stream on all your social media, websites, and apps. This way, you’ll reach your maximum number of viewers.
If you’re interested in creating great live video experiences, send us a message or request your free trial of Watchity.