Key Takeaways
Qualifying for LinkedIn Live: Meet criteria like having over 150 followers, sharing original content, and adhering to LinkedIn’s policies. Remember, LinkedIn Live isn’t available in mainland China.
Starting a Live Stream: After application approval, set up your stream with a title, description, and region. Use streaming software with the provided URL.
Streaming Tools and Settings: Choose from OBS Studio (customizable), Restream (multi-platform), or Be.Live (user-friendly). Adhere to recommended encoder settings like 720p/1080p resolution and 30 fps for quality streaming.
Streaming Etiquette and Best Practices: Focus on audio and lighting, engage with viewers, and maintain professionalism. Avoid over-promotion and unprofessional behavior.
Advantages of LinkedIn Live: Enhances real-time engagement, content creation, audience interaction, and brand image. Can lead to new professional opportunities.
Content Ideas & Performance Tracking: Utilize diverse content ideas like Q&As and product demos. Track performance with key metrics like views and engagement to align with your strategic goals.
LinkedIn Live Access Criteria and How to Apply
LinkedIn Live isn’t automatically available, nor are applications indiscriminately approved. To qualify, you must meet specific criteria:
- Your Profile or Page must have at least 150 followers/connections.
- You must have recently shared original content (text posts, images, videos, articles, etc.).
- You must be in good standing with LinkedIn and comply with its policies.
- LinkedIn Live is not available in mainland China.
Before applying, ensure your profile is public.
LinkedIn also recommends enabling two-step verification for live broadcasters.
Live content must align with LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies.
To apply, go here and click “Apply.”
How to Go Live on LinkedIn
Step 1: After approval, revisit the application link – the interface will be different.
Step 2: Click “Go live now” under “New stream.”
Step 3: Create a post with a description and hashtags. For user profiles, set visibility to Anyone, Connections, or Group members.
Step 4: Add your stream title under “Your stream details.”
Step 5: In “Stream settings,” select your region and click “Get URL.”
Step 6: Copy the Stream URL and Key into your streaming software.
Step 7: Click “Go live” to start streaming.
Recommended Streaming Tools
Choosing a live streaming tool depends on your needs. Here are three diverse options.
OBS Studio (PC/macOS/Linux)
OBS Studio is a powerful, open-source broadcasting software widely used by professional live streamers.
It’s free and offers immense customization, tailored to your specific needs, thanks to its large, dedicated community.
However, OBS Studio isn’t the most beginner-friendly and lacks a dedicated support team.
But, if you’re willing to learn, it becomes an unmatched solution.
Restream (PC/macOS/Linux)
Restream stands out for its multi-platform streaming capability, allowing you to broadcast on over 30 platforms simultaneously.
It’s easily integrated with OBS Studio for enhanced functionality.
The downside of Restream is hard to pinpoint, especially given its affordability.
It’s ideal for less technically-savvy users or businesses looking to stream on multiple platforms, like LinkedIn.
Be.Live (PC/macOS/Linux)
Be.Live is notable for its intuitive design and user-friendliness, specifically catering to entrepreneurs and business professionals.
It offers features like file and video sharing, and the ability to add a CTA (call-to-action) button in your stream, which effectively drives audience engagement.
Recommended Encoder Settings
To ensure your stream maintains high quality, LinkedIn advises a minimum 10 MBPS upload speed.
It’s wise to perform a speed test to check your internet connection. Also, proper Encoder Settings are crucial:
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 720p Recommended; 1080p Maximum
- Frame Rate: 30 fps
- Key Frame: Every 2 seconds (60 frames @ 30 fps)
- Video Bitrate: 3.5 Mbps Recommended; 6 Mbps Maximum
- Audio Bitrate: 128 Kbps audio
- Audio Sample Rate: 48 KHz sample rate
- Encoding: H.264 video, AAC audio
- Protocol: RTMP
Streaming Best Practices and Etiquette Tips
While overthinking isn’t necessary, certain aspects of streaming setups and etiquette are worth considering.
Remember, live streaming offers no second chances like pre-recorded videos do.
Mistakes can happen in live streaming, but being aware of best practices and etiquette can prevent common errors and save you from embarrassment.
- Keep your setup simple. Enhance production value only if you’re committed to regular live streaming. Basic equipment can achieve decent quality streams.
- Test your equipment before going live. Even if nothing changed since your last stream, unexpected issues can arise. Ensure everything works properly.
- Prioritize audio quality and lighting. Poor audio can lead to viewers missing your message, especially in noisy environments. Ideal lighting should be in front or to the sides of you, not behind.
- Be conscious of your camera and mic status. It’s easy to forget to turn off your stream or reactivate your mic or camera. This oversight can lead to unintentional streaming of private moments.
- Engage with your audience. Ignoring live viewers defeats the purpose of streaming. Foster a streamer-audience connection by acknowledging your viewers.
- Consistency is key. Regular streaming helps build a base of habitual viewers, essential for growing your live stream audience.
- Set up two devices. While not essential, a second device can enhance your streaming experience. It allows you to monitor your stream, interact with your audience, and be alert to technical issues. Both aspects are significant for a successful stream.
Detrimental Things to Avoid While Live Streaming
Understanding what to avoid while live streaming on LinkedIn is crucial, especially for newcomers.
LinkedIn, like every platform, has its nuances:
- Not Everything is About Self-Promotion. Remember, moderation is key. Avoid being overly pushy, salesy, or excessively promotional. A good approach is to provide value first, subtly direct your audience to your offer, then move on.
- Avoid Meta Topics. Discussing your LinkedIn content strategy on LinkedIn itself is a meta topic. Such content is better suited for other platforms.
- Minimize the Size of Sponsored Logos. Ensure sponsored logos are not the focal point of your video. Having sponsor logos is fine, but keep them smaller and tasteful.
- Avoid Being Late and Breaking Your Schedule. Don’t keep your audience waiting with an extended “starting soon” screen. A brief starting period is acceptable, but minimize it.
- Avoid Swearing and Unprofessional Behavior. This is crucial, particularly for business and work-related streams. Be personable, but maintain professionalism.
- Don’t Use Live Streams for Brief Appearances. Audiences expect LinkedIn live streams to offer long-form, informational content. Abruptly ending a stream can leave your viewers confused and frustrated.
- Don’t Live Stream Pre-Recorded Videos. Using pre-recorded content to supplement a discussion is fine, but it shouldn’t dominate your live stream.
- Don’t Ignore Audience Comments. Engage with your audience, unless you’re delivering scripted content like an interview. Even then, integrating relevant audience questions can greatly enhance your live stream.
Reap the Benefits of LinkedIn Live Video
Real-time Engagement: Live streaming on LinkedIn enables immediate interaction with your audience, fostering personal relationships like never before!
Create More Content: With LinkedIn live streaming, you’re never short of new material to create and share, ensuring a steady flow of content!
Stand Out from the Competition: Live streaming on LinkedIn helps in crafting a distinctive and engaging experience for your viewers, attracting more attention from potential customers on the platform!
Increase Engagement: Live streaming significantly boosts viewer involvement, making them feel part of the action, which can lead to more shares and views!
Enhance Your Brand Image: Live streaming showcases your professionalism and reliability, making customers remember they’re dealing with a 100% committed company.
Get Speaking Engagements: Demonstrating your expertise through LinkedIn live streams can lead to speaking opportunities at conferences and events!
LinkedIn Live Streaming Ideas
LinkedIn Live offers an excellent platform for businesses and individuals to engage with their audience more personally and engagingly. Here are 22 ideas for LinkedIn Live content:
- Live tour offering an insider look at your company or industry.
- Advice or tips related to your business.
- Live Q&A session with customers or clients.
- Sharing breaking news or announcements about your company.
- Live demo of a new product or service.
- Behind-the-scenes footage of your business in action.
- Panel discussion or interviews with industry experts.
- Sneak peek of an upcoming business event.
- Live from a trade show or conference.
- Teaching a class or workshop on a passionate topic.
- Office space tour or workplace overview.
- Career advice for job seekers and industry professionals.
- LinkedIn learning tutorial.
- Thoughts and reactions to current industry news or trends.
- Highlighting a LinkedIn success story from your business.
- Live “ask me anything” session with LinkedIn members.
- Live product unboxing or review.
- Highlights from a recent company trip or retreat.
- Introducing new team members at your business.
- Sharing customer testimonials or success stories.
- Update on your company’s performance or progress.
- Live “day in the life” tour, showcasing a typical day.
LinkedIn Live Analytics and KPIs for Marketers
As a marketer, understanding the performance of your LinkedIn Live video is crucial to tweak your strategy and achieve your goals. LinkedIn offers detailed analytics for tracking your video’s success.
Analytics
Key metrics available in your video analytics include:
- Total number of likes
- Total number of comments
- Total number of shares
- Peak viewership number
- Total minutes watched – cumulative time your viewers have watched the video
- Total number of views – sessions where the video is watched for more than 3 seconds
- Total number of unique viewers – those who watched the video for over 3 seconds
- Demographic analytics
Note that analytics are not available for content shared exclusively with your connections or in LinkedIn Groups.
KPIs
Not all KPIs (key performance indicators) are equally significant. The importance of KPIs hinges on the goals of your LinkedIn content strategy. Many analytics metrics can serve as KPIs, but only when contextualized properly.
For instance, if your goal is brand awareness, focus on Peak concurrent live viewers and Total viewers numbers to maximize brand exposure.
Conversely, if aiming for thought leadership, engagement metrics become key, as they help build an engaged audience and community.
Remember, prioritizing certain metrics doesn’t mean neglecting others. All are important, but some are more aligned with specific goals.
FAQs
Q: Can you live stream a pre-recorded video on LinkedIn?
A: Yes, you can by streaming your desktop screen to play any video. However, LinkedIn advises against it as it may confuse and betray the trust of your audience.
Q: Can you go live with audio only on LinkedIn?
A: Yes, Audio Events are available, inspired by the success of apps like Clubhouse.
Q: Can you live stream a Zoom meeting on LinkedIn?
A: Yes, you can use Zoom’s streaming functionality or other streaming tools for added functionality.
Q: Can you re-stream other live streams on LinkedIn?
A: No, re-streaming others’ live streams is not currently possible.
Q: How long does it take to get approved for LinkedIn live video broadcasting?
A: The approval process typically takes about a week.
Q: How to do a live video on LinkedIn on a company page?
A: Once approved for live broadcasting, use a streaming tool to connect with LinkedIn, create the event, set up the stream, and you’re ready to broadcast.
Q: Why is my stream of poor quality?
A: For optimal quality, ensure you have at least a 10MBPS upload speed and your Encoder Settings are properly set up.
Q: What is the minimum and maximum stream time?
A: There’s no minimum stream time; the maximum is four hours. Recommended minimum is 10-15 minutes, and maximum is 1-2 hours. Shorter streams may go against best practices, and longer ones tend to lose viewers quickly.
Q: Can I stream to LinkedIn and another platform simultaneously?
A: Yes, but you’ll need third-party streaming software with simulcasting, like Restream.
Q: Can I download a live stream after it’s over?
A: No, LinkedIn doesn’t offer this functionality. Third-party tools are needed for downloading completed live streams.