Building trust takes more than strong captions and witty images— that’s where Instagram Live comes in.
In the world of business, Instagram Live is quickly becoming an essential tool for boosting engagement and growth. Users are more likely to feel connected to your brand when you show them who the people behind the business are.
So, if you’re thinking of how to use Instagram for business effectively, we put together some helpful information about Instagram Live so you can better improve your Instagram marketing strategy.
What Is Instagram Live?
Instagram Live is one of the platform’s many video features, along with regular video feed posts and Instagram Stories. With Instagram Live, you can broadcast real-time video within the Instagram app.
Unlike Instagram reels and carousels, which allow you to post pre-recorded content easily, Instagram Live lets you live stream. You can instantly appear on the screen whether your audience is public or private.
A live stream on Instagram is completely different from prerecorded Instagram Stories, so it’s a great way for followers to learn more about you as a business and connect with you. But there’s more to it than that. Your audience can easily submit their comments and questions to you in real time, making it one of the most interactive video platforms.
Getting valuable feedback and insight directly from the people who matter most can be a beneficial tool for building a stronger connection between your brand and potential customers.
How To Go Live On Instagram
Businesses can be candid with their audience by streaming on Instagram Live, which is a straightforward process.
It takes three simple steps:
- Open the Instagram app and click the “+” button at the top right corner.
- Select “Live” from the dropdown list. Instagram will then bring up the Live option.
- Tap on the recording icon and go live instantly.
That’s it!
Remember, though, that before your broadcast, Instagram will quickly check the internet connection on your phone. Also, once you’re live, the number of your viewers will shop up at the top of your screen.
You’ll quickly see all your viewers’ comments as they come in.
If you want to make things more interesting and engaging, there are some features youin can use for your live stream:
- Add a comment: Use this to add a comment to your stream. You can also choose to turn this feature off.
- Add a guest: You can add another user to share the live video with for collaborations. Adding a guest will pull up a split-screen where you’ll both appear.
- Change camera: You can switch from selfie mode to regular mode with this feature.
- Face filters: Whether you’d want a new hair color or look like a cat, entertain your audience with filters.
- Questions: When you post a question sticker in an Instagram Story before you go live, you can collect questions from your audience. You can easily access these questions in the stream while live-streaming.
- Send: During a broadcast, you can send a live video to a user.
- Share a photo or video: You can grab a video or picture from your camera roll and share it real-time to your audience.
Benefits Of Instagram Live For Businesses
With more than one billion monthly active users, using Instagram for small business— including Instagram Live — can instantly engage your audience and draw in new viewers from all over the world. There are advantages to broadcasting live video.
Reach A Larger Audience
Using Instagram Live expands your business reach because Live broadcast stories are placed right in front of regular stories.
In addition, by default, Live stories are push notification enabled so if your audience turned on notifications for your broadcasts, they’ll be alerted once you go live.
With Instagram Live, you can expand your online reach.
Why? Simply because Instagram rewards accounts that take advantage of the features it offers.
So if you’re going live more often and your viewers begin liking, commenting, or sharing your content, then you’re giving Instagram even more reason to prioritize your feed posts and other types of content you create in the Discover feed.
Basically, as the Instagram algorithm sees you have higher engagement, your content shows up in the feed of your target audience, giving you even more opportunities for new exposure.
Increased Engagement
Your capacity to actively engage your consumers or potential customers is one of the cornerstones to brand success.
You’re starting a conversation by using Instagram Live, and people like that. Everyone wants to feel valued as a consumer, and involvement fosters that feeling.
With Instagram Live, you’re also allowing your clients a peek behind the curtain of your business. Instagram Live becomes a platform for interaction and this is what pulls people in. It also entices them to learn more about your business or brand.
Authenticity And Transparency
What’s great with Instagram Live is that your followers sees a face to your business. They can see you in person!
You’re having genuine discussions, and in marketing today, authenticity and transparency are key. This platform makes the most of that chance. Customers value when you are genuine and honest with them. More people can relate to it.
3 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Instagram Live
Now that you understand how to launch Live, we can know more about what makes a real effective strategy!
1. Announce When You’ll Go Live In Advance
When you promote your upcoming Instagram Live session strategically, you can secure all those important views from your audience. Now that you can schedule an Instagram Live up to 90 days in advance, you can build hype and turn your coming broadcast into more of an event your followers wouldn’t want to miss.
Scheduling a Live also allows you to share reminders and countdowns to your Instagram feed and Stories directly. Don’t forget to invite your audience to share any comments or questions they may have about the broadcast you’re preparing for. Keep the conversation going with them.
2. Add Branded Elements
Although Instagram Live lets you provide a direct and unedited channel for your audience to engage with your business, this doesn’t mean you couldn’t introduce branded elements to make your livestream feel cohesive with your brand persona and values.
You can build your brand by choosing your brand color palette and font style, using cue cards, adding a slogan, having a backdrop that fits your vibe and aesthetic, or choosing to hold a branded mug or a branded t-shirt. The sky’s the limit. Just go with what reflects your brand voice.
3. Be Clear On Your Business Goals
There are thousands of reasons to go live, so make sure you decide on what matters most to keep your Instagram Live broadcast effective, focused, and most importantly, significant. Whether it’s launching a product, getting feedback, sharing news about a company update, driving sales to a new product line, or positioning your brand as a domain expert, keep those business goals front and center.
When you have clearly defined objectives, you ensure that your Instagram Live content plan is directly fulfilling them. This also means that results are measurable, which is good when you’re boosting engagement and growth.
Get Stacks Of Opportunities With Instagram Features
If you’re looking to build brand loyalty with your follower base and customers or prospects on Instagram, use Instagram Live.
Including this feature in your marketing strategy shows that you’re embracing authenticity and showing that you’re willing to communicate in real time.
Done right, Instagram Live will give you that visibility you need and you’ll soon see how people begin to trust you more along the way. Make it a priority to engage with your followers as much as you can.
Also Read: Top 10 Ways to Grow your Instagram Account
