LinkedIn is fast emerging as the social media platform for business networking. It enables you to connect with the people relevant to your work, it enables you to showcase your expertise and it also enables you to look for opportunities for professional growth.
While, like most social media channels, you can share photos, videos and articles on the platform, what is not so easy is to go LIVE on LinkedIn.
But as someone who has recently received access and has already done a few LIVES, here are the details of how this works!
Not all users can automatically go Live on LinkedIn!
First of all, unlike other platforms, going LIVE is not available at the click of a button to everyone who is on LinkedIn. To go LIVE, you have to first submit an application form here.
LinkedIn will process your form and it will take anywhere between 2-5 weeks for them to get back to you. There is no way you can follow up on the application form. You just have to wait for LinkedIn to send you a confirmation.
The confirmation!
The confirmation simply appears as a notification in your notification box.
I remember doing a little happy dance when I received my confirmation that I could go LIVE on LinkedIn.
What next?
You still CANNOT go LIVE at the click of a button. There is no “Go Live’ button on LinkedIn. Instead you need a third party streaming software.
There are options between
I chose Restream because it has a basic free plan ( which also allows you to stream simultaneously to 30+ platforms). It does mean a Restream logo on the window but I was ok with that. It really depends on your usage of the streaming software. I would suggest you read the pros and cons of each carefully before deciding on this.
Once you have decided, it’s quite simple, you sign up with the streaming software and follow the instructions.
Pro Tip!
Don’t forget to do a bit of pre promotion for your LIVE by sending out a mailer to your existing audience on other channels as well as putting up a post on LinkedIn informing your audience of the date and time you will be going LIVE.
Don’t forget a good webcam!
The whole purpose of going LIVE is for people to enjoy interacting with you and your content which is going to be a bit of a flop if they can’t see you well. In case your laptop does not have a great camera, I would suggest a webcam.
2 devices would help!
Having two devices makes it easier to be LIVE as well as read comments simultaneously.
I went LIVE through the laptop (which is the recommended way to do it) using RESTREAM, but I also kept my phone on silent in front of me. I logged into my LinkedIn account on the phone as well. The minute you go LIVE, it will show up on your profile as a post. Click on the post and you will see the comments/interaction below. It makes it easier to read comments on the phone while simultaneously casting through the laptop.
What will I talk about?
Ah! That’s pretty much a whole different blogpost (coming up soon) but remember your purpose of doing the LIVE – ideally it should be to offer something of value to those who tune in – an interesting discussion, a workshop.
For me LinkedIn has worked well as a platform and I enjoy going LIVE on it as it allows me to showcase my skills as a Lifeskills Trainer. You can follow me on LinkedIn here.
Go ahead, if you have something interesting to say on LinkedIn Live, hit on the application link now!
Join my LIVES
I go LIVE on LinkedIn every Friday at 5 pm (IST) with short micro learning sessions on Lifeskills. Mini workshops that are engaging, fun and yet something you can learn from. Join me on my profile here .
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In other news, I have recently crossed 1k subscribers on YouTube! Yay! Check out one of my latest short form videos here
Very apt and informative..useful and valuable. Thanks for the help. Keep growing!!
Thank you so much