How to Go Live on Social Media, Platform by Platform

Going live on social media has become an increasingly popular way for content creators to connect with their audience and grow their brand. Live streaming allows creators to engage with their followers in real-time, build a deeper sense of community, and provide a behind-the-scenes look at their content creation process. In this article, we will explore how to go live on each major social media platform and highlight the unique benefits of live streaming on each platform. Whether you’re a seasoned content creator or just starting out, going live can be a powerful tool to take your social media presence to the next level.

Facebook: Facebook Live

Facebook Live is a great tool for businesses and brands to connect with their audience. Good for product launches, webinars, and behind-the-scenes content, Facebook Live offers huge visibility. The platform now has over 2 billion monthly active users.

To go live on Facebook, follow these steps:

1. Open the Facebook app on your mobile device or go to Facebook.com on your computer.
2. Tap the “Live” button on your Facebook page, or click the “Live” button under the status update field.
3. Choose your privacy settings, add a title and description, and select the audience you want to share your live video with.
4. Tap the “Start Live Video” button to begin broadcasting live.

Instagram: Instagram Live

Instagram Live is a great tool for engaging with followers in real-time. Instagram’s algorithm also prioritizes live videos, making it a great way to increase your visibility on the platform. Instagram Live also allows you to invite guests to join you, which can help to expand your audience.

To go live on Instagram, follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the camera icon in the top left corner of your screen, or swipe right from anywhere in your Instagram feed.
3. Swipe through the options at the bottom of your screen until you see “Live.”
4. Tap “Live” and start broadcasting live.

YouTube: YouTube Live

YouTube Live is an excellent platform for hosting webinars, Q&A sessions, and product demos. It allows for real-time interaction with your audience, and the ability to save the video for later viewing can be useful for those who may have missed the live stream.

To go live on YouTube, follow these steps:

1. Open the YouTube app on your mobile device or go to YouTube.com on your computer.
2. Tap the camera icon in the top right corner of your screen, or click the “Create” button in the top right corner of the YouTube homepage.
3. Select “Go live” from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose your privacy settings, add a title and description, and select the audience you want to share your live video with.
5. Tap the “Go Live” button to begin broadcasting live.

Twitch:

Twitch is the only platform listed here specifically designed for live streaming. It is popular among gamers and hosts a variety of other content, such as talk shows and concerts. Twitch has a large and engaged community, and the platform offers a variety of features, such as subscriber-only chats and emotes, that can help to monetize your content.

1. To go live on Twitch, follow these steps:
2. Open the Twitch app on your mobile device or go to Twitch.tv on your computer.
3. Click on your avatar in the top right corner of your screen, and select “Dashboard” from the dropdown menu.
4. Click the “Stream” button in the left sidebar of your Dashboard.
5. Fill out the necessary information, such as your game, title, and tags.
6. Click “Start Stream” to begin broadcasting live.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn Live

LinkedIn Live is an excellent tool for hosting webinars, product demos, and thought leadership content. It allows you to connect with a professional audience and build your brand on the platform.

To go live on LinkedIn, follow these steps:

1. Request access to LinkedIn Live, as it is currently only available to select members.
2. Once you have access, navigate to your LinkedIn homepage or company page.
3. Click on the “Start a post” button and select the “Live video” option.
4. Fill out the necessary information, such as your title and description.
5. Click “Go Live” to begin broadcasting live.

TikTok: TikTok Live

TikTok Live is a relatively new feature that is gaining popularity among creators. TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes live videos, and the platform offers a variety of features, such as virtual gifts, that can help to monetize your content.

To go live on TikTok, follow these steps:

1. Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the “+” button at the bottom of your screen to create a new video.
3. Select the “Live” option from the bottom of your screen.
4. Fill out the necessary information, such as your title and tags.
5. Tap “Go Live” to begin broadcasting live.

Discord: Discord Live

Popular amongst gamers, Discord can also be used for live streaming. The live streaming feature allows you to stream to a specific audience at one time, such as a gaming community or a group of friends.

To go live on Discord, follow these steps:

1. Open Discord on your desktop app.
2. Start a voice channel with your friends or join an existing one.
3. Click the “Go Live” button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
4. Choose the app or game you want to stream and click “Go Live” again to start streaming.

Did you know that you can also go live using Pivo’s very own apps? For more details, check out Pivo Live and Pivo Cast, our our The Ultimate Pivo App Guide.