Are you ready to go live but not quite sure where to start? Here's a guide on how to get started and what you'll need to make it an adventure you can be proud of.

Live streaming is one of the most popular forms of online content today and has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Websites like Twitch.tv and YouTube have made it possible for anyone to become a success online. More and more people are watching livestreams today than traditional streaming services, and the trend is constantly on the rise.

Many viewers are drawn to the same streamers because of their entertainment value. For example, most people watch gamers who train professionally live on their streams. It's akin to watching Cristiano Ronaldo in the gym or on the field, where you see how he improves. You get a unique insight into the highest level of something that many aspire to today.

Why is live streaming so popular in 2021?

If your own perception of live streaming isn't that it's experiencing significant growth, these statistics might convince you:

  • People no longer consider TV as important. Only 42% of people today have a cable connection to watch live TV.
     
  • While live TV is declining in popularity, live streaming is on the rise. In households with streaming devices, 19% of them watch live streaming content.
     
  • Viewers watch 3 times more live videos than pre-recorded ones

Source: https://restream.io/blog/live-streaming-statistics/

How do you prepare for live streaming?

Because it's "live" streaming, you might think that most of it is improvised and that you can easily go live without a specific plan. However, most big streamers aren't unprepared, not even gamers. If you're interested in setting up a live streaming channel and not just doing it as a hobby, I strongly recommend planning before hitting the "live" button:

  1. Plan: If you want people to tune into your stream, you need to choose the right time. The most important thing to consider is when your audience is available to watch your stream. For example, if schoolchildren are your target audience, daytime and late evening might not be the best idea.

  2. Find your niche: What will happen on your live stream? Live streaming has many popular niches, and you need to fit in. For example, gaming, music, sports, and "IRL" streaming are very popular. You can go even more specific by choosing a subcategory within one of these categories.

  3. Find your audience: It can be difficult to know what to stream if you don't know who's watching. If you can't define your audience, your content for them won't be satisfying. Your content is your livelihood, so you need to know what your audience expects from you.

  4. Set some goals: It can be difficult to know if you should be satisfied if you don't set some goals for your stream. It's not easy when you're just starting out, so maybe start with very small goals. Set goals for how many times you want to stream in a week or how many viewers you'd like to have in total after one month.

  5. Promote: Make some noise for yourself. You've started, and that's awesome. Share your stream in various Facebook groups and tell your friends about it, everywhere you can. They might think it's weird, but it's good for your stream to have people tune in, and ideally, engage in the chat.

What is a basic streaming setup?

To get started, there are some essential elements, and later you can spice up the setup with extra cool features. Here we first address the most important ones needed for streaming. The four key elements consist of a camera, a microphone, your streaming software, and a good internet connection.

📷 Camera

The camera is essential as it allows your viewers to see you. Technically, you can live stream without a camera, but all research and data indicate that one of the most important requirements from consumers is that the streamer they're watching has a camera. You can easily find a camera that provides excellent quality without putting a significant dent in your bank account.

See our srihome-webcamera

🎙 Microphone

While a camera is important, it's not as crucial as a microphone. Most viewers can tolerate a semi-decent image of you, but if they have to watch you stream for hours with mediocre sound, it won't be a success for your audience. Microphones come in many price ranges, but first, you need to choose between a USB microphone or an XLR microphone. If you opt for an XLR microphone, keep in mind that it will also require an audio interface. A good USB microphone could be this Audio-Technica AT2020, which provides excellent quality at a reasonable price, or this "state of the art" Shure SM7B used by some of the biggest streamers

👨🏽‍💻 Streaming software

Streaming software is the link between your computer and the chosen streaming platform. The learning curve here is just a bit steeper than, for example, plugging a microphone into your computer via USB. I would recommend spending a couple of hours watching 2-3 YouTube videos about the software you choose to use. I would recommend OBS Studio or StreamLabs, which are the most commonly used (and they are free).

🔌 Internet connection

It almost goes without saying that a good internet connection is a must. The reason for this is quite simple; you need to transmit video and audio live, and that requires a stable connection

🔝 Topping it off

Live streaming can become an expensive hobby because you can always make your stream even cooler. Whether it's the quality of your hardware or your surroundings when streaming. It can always get wilder. It could be something like party lights that you use when doing something crazy on the stream. Ring lights to achieve the perfect lighting on your beautiful face, or light signs to have hanging in the background. Only imagination sets the limits!

Where should you stream your content?

Now that you've laid out a plan for your new stream and found the gear to make live streaming possible, can you just go live? Yes, you can, but you should probably choose which platform(s) to stream on and decide how many you want to be on.

If you haven't chosen a specific niche for your stream and you want to reach as many people as possible, the learning curve is very small on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

▶ YouTube Live: With both OBS Studio and StreamLabs, you can easily set up YouTube as a channel to stream on and go live.

▶ Facebook Live: It's smart to go live on Facebook if you already have a small following, friends, and family on Facebook, and you're speaking to a more general audience. It's also quite easy to set up!

▶ Twitter Live: If your stream involves breaking news and updates, Twitter might be the platform for you.

 

🎮 Gaming streams

Gaming and esports are the biggest genres in livestreaming today. This naturally means that there are dedicated platforms for gaming.

▶ Twitch: Twitch is by far the largest gaming platform out there. If you're not familiar with Twitch, it can seem overwhelming when you first enter. You'll find virtually all game titles, well-known streamers, and celebrities who use it as a sort of "talk show format." Twitch also has a community that requires some familiarity with the jargon and not being influenced by memes and trolls in the chat.

▶ YouTube Gaming: Although the platform isn't as large as Twitch, it's considered "easier" for many because it's YouTube, which everyone knows. You can find many loyal fans if you manage to attract them to YouTube.

▶ Facebook Gaming: Your third option as a gamer is Facebook Gaming, where you have the opportunity to directly reach the people you already have on Facebook.
 

📝 Creative streams

Of course, there are streams other than gaming streams. In fact, creative streams have begun to fill more and more of the streaming landscape. In addition to Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, there are also dedicated platforms for you as a creative content creator.

▶ Mixcloud: If you want to livestream music and DJ mixes, or if you want to start a show or podcast, Mixcloud could easily be the right choice for you!

▶ Picarto: Picarto is a platform where artists can livestream while showcasing their creative abilities. Picarto isn't huge yet, but there's a growing trend in the use of this platform

 

👔 Business streams

Live streaming has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. Many call them "webinars," and some call them live streams - in my view, it's pretty much the same thing. It's a way for some companies to promote their brand and expand their network through knowledge sharing and recognition.

▶ LinkedIn Live: The best place to host live streams professionally is LinkedIn. Although their Live platform is relatively new, it serves its purpose well. Many may also use other software to host their live streams, but virtually all Danish business live streams are promoted on LinkedIn. Therefore, most people anticipate significant growth on their own platform.

 

Ideas for live streams

If you're stuck and perhaps don't know what to do on your live stream, here are a few popular suggestions:

▶ Live interviews and Q&As: Live streaming is perfect for interviews and Q&As. You can easily conduct an interview without needing the other person in the room. Just bring them in via a Discord connection or similar and create a split-screen view. People in the chat can chime in with questions, creating a great atmosphere.

▶ Live stream events: People love events, even if they're virtual. Live stream an event that you or your company is hosting and let people follow along.

▶ Podcasts: More and more people are listening to podcasts, and more and more see the value in having a live stream as a podcast. That is, an established podcast does live streams, or an established live streamer creates a podcast. For example, if you conduct interviews, you can release the audio as a podcast afterward.

▶ Product launches: Host a live launch when new products are released. Use the opportunity to demonstrate, answer questions, or hold contests.

▶ "Behind the scenes": Create a kind of "behind the scenes" look at your company, podcast, or stream. People love getting an in-depth look at something they normally wouldn't have access to

A few extra tips and tricks for a successful stream

Before I set you free to conquer the world of live streaming, I'd like to share a couple of tips and tricks that will give you an edge over your competitors who are just starting out.

💡 Graphics can make you look like a pro: If you have some slick graphic material created for your streaming landing page, live stream, and social media from the get-go, you'll have a huge advantage over your competitors. You'll appear serious and much more professional than you may actually be starting out. I recommend Fiverr.com as a great and affordable starting solution.

💡 Practice in front of a camera every day: Speaking in front of a camera can be anxiety-inducing for many. Therefore, I recommend shooting a video of yourself on your phone every day, where you just talk about something trivial. You can also use it for self-therapy, as a diary, or similar, but with this discipline, it's just practice that makes perfect.

💡 Forget all the myths and rumors you've heard about live streaming: You may have heard some either good or bad rumors and myths about live streaming, people in the industry, or similar. Forget them all. You need to form your own opinions, relationships, and everything in between entirely on your own. It's only you who can make your own streaming journey.

💡 Dive into the nerdy details: 80% of viewers on live streams will stop watching if they have a bad experience. If you notice this trend and don't know what to do, you can benefit from diving into nerdy details like bitrate, keyframe interval, FPS, dropped frames, and video codec to future-proof high quality for yourself and your stream.

Happy streaming!