Livestreaming ideas you can easily implement today.
There’s nothing worse! As a spectator, we’re writhing in our seats with cringe, but it’s even worse for the people actually involved! So how can one avoid this awkwardness when going live? Easy! With a few simple tips, we’ll have you camera ready and confident, presto!
Some context
Livestreaming exists to help both brands and content creators maintain strong, authentic relationships with their desired audience. It can be a super helpful tool to conduct product demos, boost engagement and advertise a new product or service offering. If you’re looking to promote a new product or tell your customers more about an existing item in your offering, livestreaming may be your new best friend.
We’ve devised a few ways that will help you conquer the nerves both on and off the airwaves.
Because livestreaming encourages its users to engage in a real and authentic way, you might be tempted to “wing it”, or shoot from the hip. Don’t! Of course, you want your livestream to sound and flow naturally, but to avoid awkward silences it’s imperative to prep, plan, plot… Whatever you want to call it!
If you only have a rough idea of what you’d like to speak about, that’s no problem, but be sure to get it all down on paper. Even if they are just bulleted notes, having the ballpark of your livestream committed to memory will make a huge difference.
Once you have this all-important outline, you can readily move on to the next step which makes use of the age-old adage, ‘practice makes perfect!’
If you are planning to conduct a livestream interview where you ask your interviewee a series of pertinent questions that apply to your specific product/product offering, a surefire way to fill the silence is to always ask open-ended questions. Flat responses such as “yes” or “no” make it super difficult to keep the convo going and flowing naturally.
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to speak about in your livestream, go through your questions with a fine-toothed comb and make sure you’re avoiding asking questions that prompt this simple response. Think of the other person, and how they might answer the question you’re posing. You always want to create space for that magical thing during livestreaming… conversation!
Ask anyone who frequently needs to present in front of a group of people (big or small), or even that news anchor we mentioned at the very beginning – they could have really done with some practice!
Just like any kind of performance, IRL would require a dress rehearsal prior to opening night, a run-through of your livestream ahead of the actual event could do wonders for highlighting any possible snags.
Not only could this help you identify any technical mishaps whilst livestreaming, but it could also highlight any places where you may be falling flat in terms of those nasty awkward silences.
On the day of your big livestream event, it’s important that you mentally prepare. More than this, what people often forget is that our voices and bodies are essentially tools that also need a douse of preparation. A good way to get the blood flow going is to roll your shoulders back five times, then forward five times. You can also try shaking away any stress by starting at your fingertips, then moving up your arms, all the way to the rest of your body. You’re bound to feel a little tense before your livestream, so make sure you release any tightness with these (or similar) exercises.
Arguably one of the most important aspects of any livestream is your voice. It’s vital to get it in tip-top shape. One way to cause an awkward silence during your livestream is to get caught with a nasty frog in your throat! Warm your vocal cords up beforehand to avoid this mishap when filming.
Contrary to popular belief, vocal warm-ups aren’t just for actors… They can really help smooth out the voice and keep us sounding professional. There are loads of beginner warm-up exercises available online. Take your pick!
Be sure to breathe in deeply through your nose, and exhale slowly through your mouth (this also helps quell the nervous jitters!) Adjust your posture so you not only look the part, but your vocal cords will thank you too.
Top tip: Google tongue twisters and find a few that you like! Repeat these over and over, as fast as you can, making sure to nail the pronunciation as you go.
The easiest way to avoid those embarrassing silences is to make sure you never get caught with nothing to say. It’s simple really! Keep your list of bullet points and notes on hand at all times. If you can remember them by heart, even better! But whatever you do, be sure to avoid saying ‘um’. It’s a cardinal rule that when followed will do wonders at making you appear more polished and professional with your livestream audience.
It's totally normal to feel nervous before and even during your livestream. You’re only human after all! Remember that a smile (and a giggle) goes a long way: if you do mess up your lines, or you stumble into the hostile confines of an uncomfortable silence, take a deep breath, and smile! Your friendly and personable self is what will make viewers log on to watch your livestream anyway. If you can show your human side whilst still being professional, the battle’s half won.
Top Tip: Have a debrief after your livestream session and pinpoint any areas you feel may need improvement. Perhaps your delivery could have been more organic. Or you could have spent more time prepping? Whatever it is, don’t be too hard on yourself. You did something that requires bravery and you should be proud of yourself!
Livestreaming needn’t be difficult, in fact, it should be fun! If you follow these top tips, we’re sure that you’ll be livestreaming like a pro in no time.
Do you have a product you’re passionate about and would love to tell people more about? Why not give FLICK Live a try today?
Avoid saying “um” or “I don’t know what to say”
Many streamers like keeping their stream personal as natural as possible, however, this doesn’t mean showing our ‘boring’ parts on stream. Generally, viewers are there to have a good time and be entertained, not come up with the topic of conversation for you.
Saying that you don’t know what to talk about shows insecurity and unprofessionalism which may make potential growth for your stream difficult. Being nervous is normal and okay, and there may be points where you are quiet, just breathe, apologize to your viewers or have a quick BRB break. You’re only human after all. Unless you’re a robot, in which case program yourself to be more entertaining.
