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Live Streaming for Events: The Ultimate Guide

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!

Live streaming for events: Instagram.
Instagram lets you add team members to the live stream

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.

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.

Live streaming for events: Twitter.
You can monetise your live stream with Twitter

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.”

Live streaming for events: Facebook.
Use Facebook’s live stream insights to optimise your ads

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.

Live streaming for events: YouTube.
YouTube has a low latency option for more interactive live streams

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.

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!

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How to Live Stream an Event on Instagram in 14 Easy Steps

There are many reasons you should know how to live stream an event on Instagram. The first one is that Instagram is the social media platform with the largest organic reach.

That means you’ll be able to broadcast to a large audience for no money at all. That’s music to the ears of any event planner with a limited budget.

Instagram is also home to a younger demographic. So if that’s the audience you want to attract, Instagram is a must.

Finally, there is any number of things that could prevent people from attending your event in person. They could be busy, in another country, or—hopefully—your tickets are sold out.

So today we’re going to teach you how to live stream an event on Instagram.

We’ll cover the following points…

  • How to prepare for your live stream
  • How to actually begin the live stream
  • Which Instagram Story settings you can configure
  • Who can view and comment on your live stream
  • How to allow others to share it as a message
  • What to do once you’re live
  • Optional steps like face filters and team members
  • How to share your video once you’re done

Hopefully, your event is highly Instagrammable, so let’s dive right into it.

How to live stream an event on Instagram.
How to live stream an event on Instagram. Image credit: Daily Dot.

1. Check WiFi and phone camera

You should make sure you have a fast and stable WiFi connection before you go live. Nothing can make you lose momentum more than a buggy connection. Check also that there are no smudges on your phone or tablet camera.

2. How to start a live video on Instagram

Open the Instagram app and tap the button with your profile picture that says “Your Story”. Alternatively, you can tap the camera button in the top left corner of the screen.

3. Choose the Live option

You’ll now access your camera where you can choose between several options. We don’t need Normal, Boomerang, Rewind, or Hands-free, so swipe left to the Live setting.

4. Access your Instagram Story settings

You are now able to go live, but hold your horses for a moment. Before you start the stream, you should check the Instagram Story settings. Tap the gear icon in the top left corner to access them.

5. Choose privacy settings

Under the Instagram Story settings, you’re able to change who can see your live stream. You can hide it from specific people, which can be handy for a private event. You can also set who is able to reply to your story: everyone, people you follow, or no one. Tap “Done” once you’ve made the changes.

6. Allow your stream to be shared

Instagram also gives you to option to let other people share your live story. That’s a handy feature because your live stream can be sent as a direct message to others. Because Facebook owns Instagram, you can also opt to share your Live Story on Facebook.

Tip: You should encourage the guests at your event to share the event stream with their friends who couldn’t make it. They’ll be well jel.

7. Go live!

You’re now officially ready to go live on Instagram. Tap the button that says “Start Live Video”, and then you’ll get a three-second countdown. Your followers will automatically be notified that you’re streaming live so they can tune in.

8. Interact with your viewers

Once you’ve gone live, you’ll be able to see how many people are viewing your live stream. Comments will appear at the bottom in reverse chronological order. You should do your best to respond to as many as you can—they’re the reason you’re live streaming in the first place.

9. Get real-time insights

If you want more information on how many are watching your live stream (and who), then tap the eyeball icon in the top left corner. Instagram will give you a view-count in real time.

10. Add a face filter (optional)

Tap the smiley face icon to access Instagram’s face filters. Whether or not you use any of them depends on the kind of event you’re hosting. Maybe dog ears and butterflies aren’t appropriate for a business summit broadcast.

11. Add team members (optional)

You’re able to add a friend to your Instagram live stream. In the context of your event, that friend will probably be a team member. It can be useful if you’re hosting a big event and want to cover two separate parts of it at the same time. Tap the icon with two smiley faces and then select who to add from your friends list.

12. End the live stream

You can broadcast your event for a total of 60 minutes. After that, Instagram will cut your live stream. So make sure you end it properly and thank your followers for watching. Tap the End button in the top right corner of the screen to finish the live stream.

You’ll see the final statistics of how many watched, as well as their profile pictures. Use these insights to better target your Facebook and Instagram event ads.

13. Save your video (optional)

Most other social media platforms give you the option to save the live stream video on your phone. Instagram does it automatically. Therefore, you should make sure that you have enough free space on your phone or cloud drive.

Once you’ve saved the video, you can easily upload it to other social media platforms like YouTube. You can also chop up the video into an event highlight reel that showcases the best part of your event.

14. Share your video (optional)

You now have the option to share your live stream video as a regular Instagram Story. That gives people an extra 24 hours to watch it if they didn’t make it for the live broadcast.

You can also turn the Instagram Story into a Highlight, which means it stays on your profile until you remove it. That will be very useful for promoting future events of the same kind — people can already see what they can expect before they buy a ticket!

Get ready to stream

Instagram is a great way to reach a broader audience than you normally would. However, as social media platforms go, it’s a bit more limited than others.

YouTube and Twitter, for example, don’t have a time limit on live streaming. Then again, Instagram allows for much more accurate targeting with ads.

Which platform you choose to live stream on is a matter of taste. A good rule of thumb is to broadcast on the platforms where your target audience spends their time.

Happy Instagramming!

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How to Live Stream an Event on Twitter Live: 14 Steps to Follow

If you were wondering how to live stream an event on Twitter Live, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a quick guide to get you off the ground.

This article will walk you through…

  • How to prepare for your Twitter Live stream
  • Where to do a test stream before the real one
  • What to include in your live stream tweet
  • Which hashtags to include
  • How to engage with your viewers
  • How to save your live stream video
  • Where to view insights from your stream
  • How to promote the live stream

Donald Trump will be green with envy once you’ve mastered these Twitter skills. Stretch your thumbs and get ready.

1. Make sure the venue has WiFi

No Internet connection, no live stream. That’s why the first step is to make sure that your event venue has excellent WiFi.

If you plan on streaming to other platforms in addition to Twitter, then you need a perfect connection.

You should also ensure that your phone or tablet is working correctly. If you’re using a camcorder and microphones, they also need to be tested ahead of time.

2. Advertise your live stream

It’s a good idea to advertise your upcoming live stream. That way, you’ll increase the number of people who actually watch it.

Use your mailing list and your social media channels to announce the live stream. But don’t do it too early if you still need to sell tickets to the actual event.

3. Do a dry run on Periscope (optional)

Twitter Live is really an extension of the Periscope app. It was initially a live streaming platform that Twitter acquired a few years back.

Your Twitter Live stream will automatically be available on Periscope as well. Since you can’t perform a dry run on Twitter Live, you should do it on Periscope first.

How to live stream an event on Twitter: This is the difference between Twitter Live and Periscope.
This is the difference between Twitter Live and Periscope. Image credit: Cnet.

4. Tap “What’s happening?”

Open up the Twitter app and start a new tweet by tapping on “What’s happening?”. You’ll be presented with a new screen where you can compose a tweet.

Tap the photo icon in the bottom left corner of the new screen. If you haven’t given Twitter access to your photos before, you’ll have to authorise it now.

5. Tap on the Live button

You’ll see a new screen once you’ve tapped the photo icon. There are a couple of buttons and then an overview of the photos and video on your device.

Tap the Live button to start your live stream. If you haven’t given Twitter access to your camera and microphone, then you’ll again have to authorise it.

There is no option to choose the front-facing camera, so you’re stuck with the back-facing one. It’s not about you, anyway—it’s about your event.

6. Compose a tweet

You’re ready to go live! But before you click the big red button, you should write something about the live broadcast.

Include the details for the event and tell people why they should tune in now. Treat the tweet like copy that sells the live stream on Twitter.

7. Include some hashtags

Twitter is the platform that made the hashtag so famous that no one knows what a pound sign is anymore. In other words, you need to use hashtags.

You should definitely create your own event hashtag and have everyone involved use it. But you should also include other relevant ones (i.e. #livemusic if your event is a concert).

8. Go live!

Okay, you’re now ready to go live…for real this time. Tap the big red Go Live button, and you’re on the air.

No one can stop you now. And everyone can see you. If you’ve done everything right, you should start seeing some comments from viewers of your live stream.

How to live stream an event on Twitter: This is how your live stream will appear.
This is how your live stream will appear. Image credit: Rapid TV News.

9. Engage with the Twitterati

Now that you have the attention of the Twitterati, you need to engage with them. After all, they’re the reason you’re doing the live stream in the first place.

It’s likely that you’ll have many other things to do at your event. That’s why you need a dedicated person to reply to all the comments you get.

10. End the live stream

When the event is over, it’s time to end the live stream. Remember to wind down your broadcast correctly, and thank people for watching and commenting.

You should also include a call to action when you wind down. Tell people what to do next, like subscribe to your newsletter or go to your website.

11. Save the live stream (optional)

Once you end the live stream, you’ll see a new screen. You can watch the replay of the live stream and access insights.

Before we do that, tap on the three dots in the bottom right corner of the screen. You’ll be given the option to “Save to Camera Roll”.

The reason you should save the video is so that you can use it to promote future events. Feel free to repurpose the video as shorter clips, still images, or even GIFs.

12. View Twitter insights

Tap the Insights button to see all the statistics for your live stream. You’ll see the number of live and replay viewers.

You’ll also see how long people watched for, how long the stream was, and how many comments you got.

That data can be put to good use. If you ever use paid Twitter ads (see #14), then use the insights to target your ideal audience.

13. Pin the tweet to your profile (optional)

Once the live stream is over, you’ll see it on your Twitter feed as a tweet with a Periscope link. You can pin this to the top of your feed, so it’s the first thing people see.

14. Promote the live stream with Twitter ads (optional)

You should consider using Twitter ads to promote your live stream. Use the live stream insights from #12 to target the people most likely to engage.

Since it’s a representation of your event, you might get new people interested in attending future iterations.

BONUS: Twitter Media Studio

Twitter Media Studio follows in the footsteps of YouTube. It’s where you can get really creative with your content on Twitter.

It has a range of cool features that will definitely add to your live stream. You can, for example, include a link to your website as metadata.

If you’re a more extensive business, you can also add team members to your Twitter Live Studio. Go back to #9 to see who you should give access.

Finally, you’re also able to monetise your content on Twitter via the Media Studio. How about that? Make money from ads on Twitter in addition to your event’s ticket sales.

Stream away!

You now know everything you need to start a live stream on Twitter. Hopefully, you’ve also come away with few tips to make your stream stand out from the crowd.

Happy tweeting!

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How to Live Stream an Event on Facebook Live (In 20 Steps or Less)

Why do you need to know how to live stream your event on Facebook Live? And what is it anyway?

Facebook Live is a feature that allows you to broadcast live video from your event.

You’ll be able to reach your existing online following plus attract new potential guests for future events.

Best of all, you’ll also be able to repurpose the video as content for your other social media accounts.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go through how to set up your first Facebook Live stream. There are only a few required steps from start to finish, but you might want to go through the optional steps as well.

1. Check WiFi and equipment

Check that your camera and microphone work, and that you have a stable Internet connection. It’s a good idea to check WiFi connectivity with the event management before you book it. It will be a terrible look if you go live and your video suddenly cuts out.

2. Announce your live video

All your Facebook followers will be notified the moment you go live. But you should still announce your live stream well in advance. Email everyone on your event guest list as well as previous attendees. That way, you’ll maximise the number of viewers who tune in.

3. Open Facebook Live

There are two ways you can access Facebook Live. The first one is to start composing a new status by clicking “What’s on your mind?” in the News Feed. The second way is to click the camera icon in the top left corner next to the search bar.

4. Enable camera and microphone access

If you’ve never used your camera or microphone on the Facebook app, then it’ll request access. Click “OK” when prompted. Then you’ll be able to use Facebook Live on the app.

5. Choose the right phone camera

Your phone will most likely have a front- and a back-facing camera. Make sure you’ve selected the right one for your live stream. Click the camera icon in the top right corner to toggle between the two.

6. Switch your camera to Live

Your camera will automatically be set to “Normal”. Click on “Live” in the bottom left corner of the screen to enable Live mode. You’re almost ready to begin the live stream.

7. Choose who sees your live stream

Next to the lock icon in the top left corner, you’ll see “Only Me”. Leave it like that if you’re doing a test run. Otherwise, click and change the setting to “Public.” Now anyone on or off Facebook can see it.

It can be useful to set viewer restrictions if you’re organising a private event. That way, you can keep the event private while still enjoying the social media aspect.

8. Write a description for your video (optional)

You should write a bit of copy to accompany the video, just like a regular Facebook post. Your status will appear above the video, so here’s your chance to grab people’s attention.

Include all selling points for your event. What’s happening, who’s attending, where is it taking place, and what are people missing out on?

9. Use tags, location, and emotion (optional)

Next to the description box, you can choose to tag people, set a location, and add emotion. Use these features to drive extra attention to your live stream.

It’s a good idea to tag the venue you’re live streaming from. You should also tag anyone else involved, such as the catering company or performers.

10. Add filters, text, and graphics (optional)

Tap the magic wand in the bottom left corner of your screen to add additional effects. It can either be attention-grabbing or distracting depending on the context of your live stream. How much you add will depend on your audience and type of event.

11. Start the live stream

Tap the “Start Live Video” button…and off you go! You’ll get a countdown from Facebook, and then you’re live. Your live stream can last for up to 90 minutes. After that, Facebook cuts it off. So remember to wind down the broadcast before that happens.

How to live stream a Facebook event: What you will see when you live on Facebook.
What you will see when you are live on Facebook. Image credit: Video Blocks.

12. Engage with your viewers

You should engage with your viewers both via video and text. Speak directly to them and encourage them to leave comments and share the video. Make sure you announce key event details, such as the food being served or the performer going on stage.

Reply to as many comments as you can. It’s a good idea to have a dedicated person to reply to comments. (You’re able to block any abusive comments if you need to.)

13. End the live stream

Once you’re closing in on the 90-minute streaming limit, it’s time to wind down. Thank all your viewers for watching, and give them a call to action.

That could, for example, be sharing the video or going to your website. If you have other events lined up, now is a good time to sell extra tickets for them.

14. Save your video and create a post (optional)

Click the button in the bottom right corner to save the video to your phone. You’ll also be able to post the live stream to people who missed, so they can watch the replay. You can edit this like any other Facebook post.

You should also use the video as a trailer for any future events you have planned. If you’re putting on a comedy show or a music concert, use the footage to build up hype around the next event.

15. Use a custom thumbnail (optional)

You can add a custom thumbnail to your replay video just like on YouTube. Take a screenshot from the video and some text to make it look more appealing to later viewers.

Tip: Use a website like Canva to easily format the thumbnail to Facebook’s specifications.

16. Pin the post to your News Feed (optional)

One of the ways you can maximise views on your Facebook Live video is to pin it to the top of your feed. That way, it’s the first thing new visitors see when they go to your Page.

17. Add captions to the video (optional)

Most Facebook videos, including live streams, are watched with the sound off. That’s why it’s a good idea to add captions to the video. Captions will also help if the music is a bit off in some places.

18. Make it a featured video (optional)

You also have the option to make your replay video Featured on your Facebook Page. That will make the replay of your last event the first video visitors see when they go to your Facebook video section.

How to stream an event on Facebook live: Make your video featured and pin it to the top of your feed.
Make your video featured and pin it to the top of your feed. Image credit: WCCF Tech.

19. Check Facebook insights (optional)

Once your live stream and promotion are over, it’s time to check out the stats. See how many people you reached and how many engagements you got.

This information will be invaluable when you promote your events with paid Facebook ads. You can more easily target potential attendees when you know if they’ve engaged with your stream.

20. Promote the video (optional)

If you really want to maximise your exposure, you should consider paid ads. You can click Boost Post to set up a Facebook ad for the replay video. Ads will give you even more detailed insights than you already have.

Facebook is one of the best social media platforms for targeted ads. Why? Because no other platform gathers as much information on their users. Now that you’ve live streamed your event, you’re in an event better position to sell tickets for future events.

You’re all done!

That’s it! You’ve successfully done your first live stream on Facebook. Now everyone can see what a roaring success your event was—and what they missed out on. Talk about fear of missing out.

Remember that you can chop up the video and post smaller segments on your Facebook, too. That way, you can make many pieces of content from just one live stream. It’s a good way to drip-feed potential event-goers some ads to generate interest in your future events.

Good luck, and happy live streaming!