Welcome to the ultimate guide to live streaming for events! The Internet era has lifted the restrictions on who can see and hear what goes on at your event.
Not only will you be able to reach a much wider audience than ever before, but you can also earn an extra income from live streaming your event.
What you’ll learn in this guide:
- Introduction to live streaming an event
- Instagram live streaming
- Twitter live streaming
- Facebook live streaming
- YouTube live streaming
- The pros and cons of each platform
Ready to reach the masses online? Lights, camera, action!
1. How to live stream an event
Here is a brief look at what you need to do to live stream an event:
- Make sure the venue has a good WiFi connection
- Get the right camera and microphone for live streaming
- Choose a live streaming platform
- Promote your live stream in advance
- Do a test live stream before the real one
- Monitor social media and engage with your viewers
Advantages of live streaming an event
- Reach a much wider audience than your physical event attendees
- Capture all the best moments from your event
- Create raw footage you can use for social media content
- Use it to promote future events online
Disadvantages of live streaming an event
- It takes preparation and technical know-how
- Everyone will see it if something goes wrong
Want to know more?
We’ve put together an in-depth guide on the basics of how to live stream an event. Click the link below to learn about what equipment you need and how to promote your live stream ahead of the event.
Further reading: How to Live Stream Your Event: The Basics.
2. How to live stream an event on Instagram
Allow Instagram to access your phone’s camera and microphone, and then tap the “Your Story” button. Choose the “Live” option from your camera interface, and then choose which camera to use. Set up privacy and sharing settings, tap the “Start Live Video” button…and you’re live!

Advantages of live streaming on Instagram
- Privacy settings let you restrict your viewership
- Viewers have the option to share your live stream
- Add team members to help you engage with viewers
- Cross-stream to Facebook
- Use live stream insights to improve your Instagram ad targeting
Disadvantages of live streaming on Instagram
- Live streams are limited to a maximum duration of 60 minutes
- Instagram is optimised for vertical rather than horizontal videos
Want to know more?
Our guide to live streaming on Instagram walks you through how to do it in 14 easy steps. Read more about it by following the link below.
Further reading: How to Live Stream an Event on Instagram in 14 Easy Steps.
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3. How to live stream an event on Twitter
Open the Twitter app and start composing a new tweet. Tap the photo icon, choose the “Live” option, and give Twitter access to your camera and microphone. Write a caption for your broadcast and then tap the “Go Live” button to start your live stream.

Advantages of live streaming on Twitter
- Perform a dry-run of your live stream on Periscope
- Monetise your live streams with Twitter Media Studio
- Allows for 360 degrees live streaming
- No time limit on live streaming
- Use live stream insights to improve your Twitter ad targeting
Disadvantages of live streaming on Twitter
- Only allows you to live stream with the back-facing camera
Want to know more?
We’ve covered Twitter live streaming in a separate article that runs through all the steps you need to follow to broadcast your event. Read it by clicking the link below.
Further reading: How to Live Stream an Event on Twitter Live: 14 Steps to Follow.
4. How to live stream an event on Facebook
Open Facebook Live by either composing a new status update or tapping the camera icon next to the search bar. Enable camera and microphone access, and then choose which camera to use for your live stream. Tap the “Live” option and choose who can view your stream. Now write a caption and press “Start Live Video.”

Advantages of live streaming on Facebook
- Privacy settings allow you to restrict your viewership
- Add custom thumbnail and captions to your live stream once it has ended
- Use live stream insights to improve your Facebook ad targeting
Disadvantages of live streaming on Facebook
- Live streams are limited to a maximum duration of 90 minutes
Want to know more?
All of the above is covered in greater detail in our dedicated guide to Facebook live streaming. Head over to it by clicking the link below and learn all the steps you need to know.
Further reading: How to Live Stream an Event on Facebook Live (In 20 Steps or Less).
5. How to live stream an event on YouTube
Verify your YouTube account and install a third-party encoding software. Then tap the camera button to enable live streaming. Add a video description, select a category, and choose privacy settings. Start your video encoder, go to “Live Streaming” and tap the “Stream Now” button.

Advantages of live streaming on YouTube
- Allows for low latency setting to reduce broadcast delay
- Add custom thumbnail before your live stream starts
- Privacy settings allow you to restrict your viewership
- No time limit on live streaming
- Allows you to monetise your live stream in five different ways
- Enables you to share your stream on other social media platforms
Disadvantages of live streaming on YouTube
- Requires account verification and video encoding software
Want to know more?
We’ve fleshed out the steps you need to take to live stream your event on YouTube in a more comprehensive guide. Follow the link below to learn more.
Further reading: How to Live Stream an Event on YouTube: 10 Actionable Steps.
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Get ready to live stream
Live streaming on Facebook and Instagram can help you improve your paid ads, but it also restricts your streaming time and monetisation options.
YouTube and Twitter offer unlimited streaming time and several monetisation options. The former can be cumbersome to set up, however, and the latter lacks privacy options.
There are pros and cons to each live streaming platform, but your main priority should be to focus on your target audience. The different bells and whistles won’t matter without viewers.
Key takeaways
Here are the main takeaways from what we’ve covered in this article on live streaming for events:
- Invest in a quality camera and microphone for the best results
- Make sure the venue has a strong WiFi connection
- Choose the social media platform where your target audience lives
- Enable monetisation if you’re using Twitter or YouTube
- Engage with your viewers to build interest around your event
Hopefully, you’ll now have a better understanding of what each platform can offer you. Let us know what you think of each of them in the comments below!