Are you struggling to stay on top of the competition and be exactly where your potential customers are? Then it’s time to go live and kicking on Instagram.
Instagram has been gaining popularity as a global marketing and advertising platform. The dedicated mobile app has reached more than 500 million daily active users globally. As of January 2021, it was identified as the most important social platform by 24% of B2C and 16% of B2B marketers.
Since 2016, Instagram Live has allowed users to stream live videos through Instagram Stories. It’s an effective way to connect directly with your audience and create a virtual event.
Moreover, it was found that eight out of ten users would rather watch a live stream than read a blog post or see a social media post. Also, seven out of ten followers bought a ticket to a similar event after watching a live stream.
In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly how you can establish your brand presence on Instagram Live. We’ll share some useful tips so you can start creating your fascinating Instagram Live stream today.
Let’s get down to some details and go live on Instagram right away.
What Is Instagram Live?
Instagram Live is a feature working within Instagram Stories that lets users broadcast live videos to other users on the platform. Going live on Instagram is an excellent strategy for building engagement and brand awareness in an unobtrusive and direct way.
Instagram Live has become the second most popular live-streaming platform, after Facebook Live, and is used by 17% of marketers.
The same MarketingCharts survey reports of 70% of B2C and B2B marketers planning to expand their video marketing efforts on Instagram.
As live video broadcasting shows no signs of decline in popularity and is obviously here to stay, it’s essential to know how you can leverage this opportunity to connect with your audience on one more channel.
So, how can you go live on Instagram?
It’s simple. You only need to have an Instagram account and a phone. With the mobile app installed, you’re able to stream live directly without a third-party solution, which is required for live broadcasting from your desktop. Note that many of the features are available on mobile only.
In addition, Instagram allows you to post live photos, a medium between still photos and a video. Using the special “Boomerang” feature, you can create a “moving” image enriching your visual context. You can post it either to your photo wall or to your story.
Let’s dig into live broadcasting using the Instagram mobile app.
How to Go Live on Instagram on iPhone
You have different options to start a live stream and connect with your followers in real-time.
Follow the next steps to go live on your iPhone:
- In the Instagram app, tap your profile image at the bottom right of the screen.
- You’ll see your profile view. Tap your profile picture at the top left to enter the Add to Story screen.
- Tap the blue camera button and swipe at the bottom of the screen to Live. You can tap the “Camera Switch” button to switch between rear and front-facing cameras.
- Tap the “Go Live” button to start streaming live.
- To end your broadcast, tap “Finish.”
Another way to start your live broadcast is through your Instagram mobile app home screen:
- Start the Instagram app, tap the Plus button at the top, and select Live in the menu that will appear.
- Tap the “Go Live” button at the bottom to start streaming live.
- To end your broadcast, tap “Finish.”
How to Go Live on Instagram on Android
The steps required to start a live broadcast on Android are the same as those we discussed above. You can also do that in the following way:
- Open the Instagram app on your Android device and swipe right in your Feed.
- At the bottom, scroll and locate Live and hit the “Go Live” button to start streaming live.
- To end your broadcast, tap “Finish.”
You can also just tap on your profile picture in the top left of your app home screen, select your camera roll, and scroll to Live at the bottom. Tap the “Go Live” button and voila! You’re streaming live.
Pro Tips:
✅ Before you tap the “Go Live” button to go live and start broadcasting, use the menu on the left to adjust the settings of your broadcast. You can add a title, schedule your live, select the audiences, or opt for a practice broadcast.
✅ At the bottom of your screen, you have a number of different filters you can use.
✅ While livestreaming, you’ll be able to see the number of viewers at the top of your screen as well as their reactions as flying hearts, smiles, and other emojis. Don’t let them distract you.
Now that you’re ready to go live, let’s go over another exciting option Instagram offers.
How to Post a Live Photo on Instagram
Sharing a live photo is a way to make your post more animated and livelier while allowing your followers to view more of your image aspects and surroundings. Here’s how you can use this Instagram Live feature.
How to Post a Live Photo to Your Instagram Story
To share a live photo, open the application first.
- Tap the Plus button at the top of your screen.
- Select Story on the menu and camera roll from the options. Locate “Boomerang” on the left of your screen and tap it.
- Hit the “Record Video” button at the bottom of the screen to take a live photo.
- Tap Your Story in the bottom left when you’re ready to share.
Note that Stories last 24 hours and then disappear from your feed, profile, and Direct inbox. To avoid this, you can add them as story highlights to your profile.
Pro Tip:
✅ You can share a live photo from your story as a post in your feed:
Go to Your Story and hit ⋯ More (on iPhone) or ፧ More (on Android) in the right corner at the bottom of the photo or video that you’d like to share. Then, tap Share as post.
You can edit your photo by cropping it and adding filters or effects. Tap Next (on iPhone) or → (on Android) to proceed with optionally adding captions and location. Share your photo by hitting Share (on iPhone) or Done (on Android).
How to Post a Live Photo to Instagram from iPhone
An iPhone 6s or newer lets you capture live photos using your camera app. Posting them on Instagram is easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Open your photos app and select the live photo you wish to share on Instagram.
- Swipe upwards and select Save as Video.
- In the Instagram application, hit the Plus button at the top of the screen.
- Out of the photo library options that will appear, select the video you saved and tap Next.
- Add an optional caption and tap Share.
- How to post a live photo to Instagram from Android
If your Android phone supports motion photos, the steps you need to take are pretty similar. You simply…
- Open the Instagram mobile app and hit the Plus button at the top of the screen.
- Out of the photo library options that will appear, select the motion photo you want to post.
- You have the option to edit your photo and add a caption. Tap Your Story to share your motion photo as a story.
You can also check the Instagram Help Center and look for any particular extra details you may need.
Congratulations! You’re now live and thriving on Instagram Live, ready to engage with your audiences. But it may turn out it isn’t all roses.
You may still find it difficult and experience issues when trying to go live. Fear not. Here’s a brief discussion of the possible reasons and solutions.
Why Can’t I Go Live on Instagram?
Imagine the stress of not being able to go live precisely when your event starts or at the time of your scheduled live broadcast. This is a serious issue if you rely on Instagram Live for your growth and you’ve already announced your live stream.
What are the possible reasons for Instagram Live failures? There are different scenarios:
- You may have previously violated Community Guidelines
- You may have violated a copyright law
- You may be using an older version of Instagram
- You may be experiencing some hardware or software issues with your mobile
Here are several approaches you can try to fix the problem:
- Restart the app: Close the Instagram app, remove it from the recent tabs, and relaunch it after several minutes.
- Restart your mobile: Doing so can help eliminate some abnormal behaviors of your phone and repeated crashes of applications.
- Use another device to log into your Instagram account: This will help you in case your phone is experiencing some hardware issues you’re not aware of.
- Check for any released updates: Keeping your app updated is essential for its smooth performance.
- Uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app on your device: In this way, you can make sure to provide all the necessary permissions and have the application functioning properly.
- Contact Instagram through their Help Center: Select the issue you’re experiencing in the library or report the problem using the app. You can find the Help section under Settings.
How Do You Join an Instagram Live as a Guest?
When a user that you’re following is live streaming, you can see a colorful ring around their profile picture and Live at the top of Feed. You can watch the live broadcast either on the Instagram app or on your desktop on Instagram.com. To do so, tap or click the profile picture of the live streamer.
If you want to join the live broadcast as a guest, however, note the following rules:
- You can join as a guest only if the broadcaster allows guests to join
- The broadcaster can allow up to 3 guests to join a live video
- To ask to join someone’s live broadcast as a guest:
- Hit the down arrow next to the username and tap the Request button at the bottom right of the screen.
- Tap Send request.
- In case your request has been accepted, you’ll be notified that you’re about to join the live room.
- Note that you can only join a live room on your mobile and you may be asked if you want to send a request in the comments section.
Can You Watch an Instagram Live after It’s Over?
After the end of your live stream, you can tap Share at the bottom of the screen. In this way, your broadcast replay will appear on Instagram Stories and will be visible for 24 hours.
Your live broadcast is saved in the stories section of your profile. This enables people who are not following you to view it in case your profile is not set to private.
How Long Can You Go Live on Instagram?
You can be live up to 1 hour, but this length can be extended up to 4 hours.
Also, you have the option to save your live broadcast to your profile for up to 30 days. So, followers that weren’t able to see it in real-time can watch it later.
How Many Followers Do I Need to Go Live on Instagram?
First of all, what counts as a follower on Instagram? These are the Instagram users that follow you. They can view your stories and send you direct messages. Your posts show on both your profile and on their feed, and if your account is private, your followers are the only people who can see what you post.
Livestreaming on Instagram is a great way to engage with your audience, share a story, promote a new launch, or broadcast tutorials. The good news is that there isn’t a lower limit for the number of your followers to go live.
So, whether you have just five or 5 million users following you on Instagram, you’ll be able to use this tool to build brand awareness. It goes without saying, of course, that the more, the better.
Is Instagram Live Only for Followers?
Yes, as a rule, your live broadcasts can be watched by your followers only. However, users can still see your live videos without following you. All they need to do is either search for your username or look for “Live” on the top of their apps. When they find your live video and tap on it, they can start watching it.
In addition, Live Rooms offer the chance for increased exposure. Inviting a guest to join you makes your live stream visible to their followers as well. Thus, with the Instagram maximum of three guests in your Live Room, you gain triple exposure and the opportunity to attract more followers.
Final Thoughts on How to Go Live on Instagram
Establishing social media presence is an essential aspect of the marketing efforts of any business. So, selecting a social platform and format for promoting your business is not a matter of tastes and preferences anymore.
You have to make sure that you’re everywhere your prospects are and stay tuned with the latest and hottest trends. And Instagram Live is one of them.
This is an effective strategy to connect with your prospects in a direct and unedited way, enhance your brand awareness, and attract new followers. Using the steps we discussed will help you be better prepared for your live experience and take care to keep your broadcast on track.
Now that you know the whys and the hows, you shouldn’t miss the next occasion to build a closer and more authentic relationship with your audience. Simply come up with a live stream idea, test your systems, and hit the Go Live button.
