YouTube Alive transforms online video into an interactive experience. With more than than 500 hours of video uploaded every infinitesimal, alive streams are a way to stand out from the crowd. And draw a oversupply.

But, don't just release a product reel or host a static tutorial. Make it a virtual event. Create buzz with reveals, announcements, and special guests. Go interactive with alive Q&As and the added chemical element of spontaneity.

Learn how to go live on YouTube, plus tips, tricks, and ideas for making your broadcast successful.

How to get-go streaming with YouTube Live

New to YouTube alive streaming? Once you've set upwards your aqueduct and equipment, all it takes to broadcast is the click of one button.

Here's how to go alive on YouTube.

Enable your channel

Before y'all tin live stream, your YouTube channel needs to be verified. If y'all haven't done that however, go to www.youtube.com/verify to add together your phone number and receive a verification code. Then proceed with the post-obit steps.

On desktop

  1. Go to www.youtube.com/dashboard.
  2. Click the Create button in the top correct corner.
  3. Select Go Live.

Notation: Information technology takes 24 hours to activate your account for live streaming.

On mobile

  1. Open the YouTube app.
  2. Click the camcorder icon in the meridian right.
  3. Tap Become Live.

Note: Y'all demand more than 1,000 subscribers to alive stream on mobile.

Make up one's mind how you desire to record your live stream

There are 3 primary recording options for YouTube streaming:

  • Web cam
  • Mobile cam
  • Encoder streaming

The camera on your laptop or device is an easy, software-free mode to record. Simply what you gain in convenience, you lose in quality. With an encoder (a.k.a streaming software), you can use improve audio/video gear, multiple cameras (including desktop), and more than.

Get-go recording

Before you lot go live, make sure you've prepared a championship, description, and thumbnail epitome.

How to create a YouTube live stream on desktop

  1. Go to www.youtube.com/dashboard on a Chrome 60+ or Firefox 53+ browser.
  2. Click the camcorder icon in the top right corner.
  3. Click Get Alive, then select Webcam.
  4. Add your title and privacy settings.
  5. Click More options to add a description, enable or disable alive chat, monetization, promotion and more.
  6. Click Adjacent. YouTube volition automatically take a webcam thumbnail photo. You can retake it or upload an image afterward.
  7. Select Go Alive.
  8. To stop, select End Stream at the lesser.

How to create a YouTube alive stream on mobile

  1. From the YouTube app, select the camcorder icon.
  2. Select Get Live.
  3. Add your championship and privacy setting.
  4. Select More Options to add a clarification. Select Evidence More than to enable or disable alive chat, age restrictions, monetization, promotion disclosures, and more.
  5. Printing Show Less to exit and select Adjacent. Accept a moving-picture show or upload a thumbnail.
  6. Tap Share to share the link on social media.
  7. Select Become Live.
  8. To cease, click Finish and so Ok.

Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder

  1. Download encoding software. A list of YouTube Live verified encoders is bachelor here.
  2. Select the camcorder icon.
  3. Click Go Live, then select Stream. Pro tip: If you've streamed before, select Copy and create to utilize the previous settings. Otherwise select New Stream.
  4. Add your title, description, category, privacy settings, and upload a thumbnail. You can also schedule your stream and enable monetization. Click Create Stream.
  5. Go to Stream Settings and copy your stream cardinal. Pro tip: You can utilize the same stream key for futurity streams. Y'all can also customize and save multiple stream keys.
  6. Paste the stream key into your encoder.
  7. Get back to your YouTube dashboard and click Go Alive.
  8. To end the stream, click End Stream.

Check out YouTube's full digital events playbook here.

8 tips for using YouTube Live

Earlier y'all start your get-go live stream on YouTube, read through these tips.

ane. Prepare the basics

Every stream should start with a goal. What practice you lot promise to get out of going live?

Decide what y'all'd like to attain, and plan accordingly. Whether it'south to connect with viewers or promote a production, your goal should inform your livestream setup.

If you have a team, determine each team member's role. Will in that location be 1 host or more? Will yous demand a cameraperson? If you programme to enable chat, will you accept a moderator?

Even more importantly, make sure you're clear on why you're doing a live video as opposed to a regular video.

These answers will aid yous brand the most out of your broadcast.

Before you click Go Live, you should also prep the following:

  • Championship: Be authentic, specific, and utilise strong keywords.
  • Clarification: Front-load important keywords, add together relevant links and information, and upwardly to 15 hashtags.
  • Thumbnail image: Resolution should be 1280×720 (with minimum width of 640 pixels).
  • Script: Even if it'south just bullet-grade, write down the primal points.
  • Calls to activeness: Determine what exercise you want viewers to exercise during and afterward the live stream. Add these CTAs to the description and script.

If yous oasis't yet, connect your social media accounts to your YouTube channel. This makes it easier for viewers to share your YouTube Live video.

2. Choose a good time

There's never a perfect time to go live. Just you can choose the closest thing to it.

Check your YouTube Analytics to see when your videos get the most views. This gives yous an indication of when your viewers are often online.

Also, take a look at where people sentinel your videos from. If you have a global audition, yous may desire to pick a time that works in multiple time zones. Failing that, pick a time that corresponds with your audience'southward superlative location, and plan to proceed the YouTube live video posted on your channel.

Still not sure? Ask your audition. Run a teaser and ask people to choose a preferred time in the comments. Or create a Twitter or Instagram Story poll.

Planning a live series? Proceed a consistent schedule. With a regular time slot, viewers can conceptualize and build your alive stream into their daily or weekly schedule.

Pro tip: When you've landed on a time, schedule your live stream in advance. This makes your live stream easier to promote and allows people to prepare reminders.

YouTube live stream reminder from "The weirdest thing I learned this week"

3. Optimize your setup

Y'all tin't edit or redo something once information technology's live. Before you circulate, go through the following setup checklist.

  • Frame your shot. Make sure there's nothing distracting, inappropriate, or confidential in the backdrop.
  • Suit lighting. Subjects should be well lit, not back lit. Look out for shadows, besides.
  • Check sound. Run a mic or sound bank check to ensure you have optimal acoustics. Record in a placidity spot, away from sirens, conditions, or noisy bystanders.
  • Charge batteries. And stay connected to a ability source if possible.
  • Test your connectedness. Run a speed examination with speedtest.net or other tools. Your connection should be able to back up about 10MB of data per infinitesimal.
  • Turn off interruptions. All notification audio effects and ringers should be turned off.
  • Provide water. Anticipate coughs and scratchy throats ahead of fourth dimension. Accessible tissues are not a bad idea, either.

four. Promote the event

There'south no reason to go live if yous don't have an audience. And you won't have an audition without promotion.

Your live stream is a virtual consequence, so treat information technology every bit you would any other upshot. There are several ways to build buzz, on and off YouTube. Here are some suggestions:

On YouTube:

  • Design a banner for your YouTube channel that promotes the live stream. (Find size specs hither)
  • Make a trailer to build anticipation. Highlight this video in the Welcome Trailer module on your channel.
  • Ask viewers to subscribe. Subscribers may be notified in their homepage feed and meet the video in What to Watch Next.
  • Encourage viewers to enable notifications. That way they'll be notified when your aqueduct goes alive (and more).
  • Schedule your live stream then viewers can set reminders.
  • Add an associated website. According to YouTube, this will improve search results.
  • Run YouTube live stream display ads to promote your video.

Read our complete guide to YouTube marketing.

Elsewhere:

  • Share your streaming link on social media at to the lowest degree 48 hours before you go live. Exist clear about when and where. Don't say, "in 3 days." Provide a specific date, time, and fourth dimension zone.
  • Ship invitations past email. Include an bodily calendar invite so information technology tin be saved and remembered.
  • Create a Facebook consequence or Instagram countdown. Include the link in the description, story, or your Instagram bio.

Don't forget social media best practices. Add an image or your teaser video to attract attention.

Write precipitous and specific copy. Tell people why they should melody in. It's their time you'll be taking up, afterall.

Near importantly: Include the link. Your persistent link is youtube.com/user/[channelname]/live.

5. Engage the audition

Convincing people to tune in to your live stream is half a win. The other half is keeping them there. Hither are some engagement-boosting tactics:

Provide recaps

Call back that people may join the alive stream office style through. When you run across a bound in viewers, share quick recaps for new watchers. If you're interviewing a guest, reintroduce them every once in a while. And include reminders about what'southward coming up.

Build anticipation

Give viewers a reason to spotter to the end. Whether information technology's the finished look of a makeup tutorial, a special announcement, or the chance to have a question answered, be certain to tease incentives.

Shout-out names

Tell viewers y'all come across them and appreciate their interest. A little beloved can go a long way.

Enable live chat

Spark chat with viewers in the live chat—and use it to inform the live stream. If yous can, assign a moderator. They can interact with messages, share comments, and remove inappropriate posts.

Chat moderator tools include:

  • Keyword blocking: Ban inappropriate language and links.
  • Dull mode: Set a fourth dimension limit between conversation messages to influence how frequently a user can mail service.
  • Hold for review: Have YouTube hold potentially inappropriate messages

Don't be afraid to inquire for engagement, too. Encourage viewers to like and subscribe to curry favor with the YouTube algorithm.

comments on a YouTube live video

Want more than YouTube views? Here's how to go them.

half-dozen. Make your live stream accessible

Live automatic captions are available for YouTube channels with more than 10,000 subscribers. If y'all have the selection to employ them, make sure you do.

Otherwise, speak clearly and utilize simple linguistic communication. Have a clear construction. Give viewers time to process information that yous share. If you can, describe visuals and so those with visual impairments better understand what is happening.

Of course, make sure your content is age-appropriate and adheres to YouTube's Community Guidelines. If your alive stream violates YouTube policies, you may be barred from live streaming for up to iii months.

7. Endeavour a YouTube Premiere

YouTube Premieres blend live and pre-recorded features together. Just similar picture or TV premieres, they give the creator the chance to scout a video live with an audience.

If y'all don't want to compromise production quality, or if yous're but uncomfortable with recording live, Premieres offering a middle footing.

Similar live streams, YouTube Premieres can be accompanied with a live chat. Before the premiere, a public watch page is created and a countdown begins two minutes before the premiere starts.

viii. Check analytics to see what works

YouTube alive streams provide real-fourth dimension and mail-live analytics. Keep an eye on the dashboard and respond to what works as you lot get. Or apply insights to your next live stream strategy.

Look for peaks in concurrent viewers to get a sense of what attracted the largest audience. Retentivity will show you how many viewers stuck with you lot till the end. If this figure and average view duration is low, endeavour to build apprehension and interactivity next time.

To come across how your YouTube live stream contributes to aqueduct growth, expect for increases in subscriber growth and total watch fourth dimension. Employ demographics to acquire who's watching your alive streams, and tailor futurity content accordingly.

Learn how to grow your brand on YouTube.

YouTube Live video ideas and examples

Get ideas for your next YouTube live stream with these examples.

Monterey Bay Aquarium's Live Jelly Cam

This aquarium gives "alive stream" new meaning with its 24/vii feed of a jellyfish tank.

The feed promotes the aquarium'southward Open up Sea showroom, and at the same time encourages subscriptions and social media follows.

Live Q&A on Science with Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic taps 1 of its experts to provide a glimpse at what information technology's like to travel to space.

Space Chat Virgin Galactic YouTube live reminder for 2 days later

Adobe's Sketch Political party with Kathleen Martin

Adobe Creative Cloud's Sketch Party is a product demo, how-to, and webinar rolled into one live video.

MAC Cosmetics' Live Masterclass

With the aid of drag superstar Shuga Cain, M.A.C artist Bradley Miller shows viewers how to create a glam drag persona, answering questions forth the way.

Elton John hosts iHeart Living Room Concert for America

The popular icon teamed up with Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, the Backstreet Boys and others to raise funds for Feeding America. The concert was promoted as-it-happened with video teasers.

Pod Save America'southward Live Q&A

Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor bring together Crooked Media's Priyanka Aribindi for a live Q&A. The video uses Zoom as a clever, multi-webcam workaround. Take a look at the Conversation Replay for chat moderator inspo.

YouTube Live Stretch Class with Amit Patel

The California-based dancer, choreographer and director runs stretch classes live on YouTube. Classes get live at the same time every Tuesday and Thursday, and are promoted regularly on Instagram with tag-a-friend CTAs.

Amit Patel Instagram profile with live stream schedule

Ubisoft'due south Terminator Live Event

To promote the update of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Ubisoft streamed a feed of players taking on the special mission.

The Weirdest Matter I Learned This Week Podcast Alive

PopSci'due south popular podcast scheduled a live stream recording session. The issue was scheduled in advance with a solid description in place, assuasive early viewers to set reminders, subscribe, and more.

Red Bull'due south Live Sports events

Blood-red Balderdash regularly takes to YouTube to broadcast alive coverage of sporting events it sponsors. The channel'southward moderators requite the conversation wings past providing placemarkers and edifice narrative.

Redbull YouTube live with comments on the side

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