Here’s how to go Live on Instagram and interact with your followers in real time

Leverage Instagram’s Live feature to connect with your followers on a more personal level – after all, it’s all about connecting with your audience and boosting your engagement metrics!

Live streams on social media allow users to interact and bond in real time, letting creators and their audiences get to know one another better. Content creators connect with their followers, address questions and comments, and have open conversations.

’Grammers, prepare to deepen your connections and redefine engagement. Here’s all you need to know about how to go Live on Instagram.

What is an Instagram Live stream?

Instagram Live is a real-time broadcast feature. Anyone with any number of followers can go Live on the app, such as regular IG users, businesses, and dedicated content creators with millions of followers. Instagram notifies an account’s followers whenever someone goes Live so they can join in on the fun.

Viewers can comment on Lives, like comments, and send reactions. Other participants can see all comments and reactions, including the content creator, who can respond to their followers' remarks. Creators can also go Live with a guest who is watching the video.

How to go live on Instagram

Content creators ready to connect with fans on a deeper level can go Live with the following step-by-step guide.

• Open the Instagram app for Android and iPhone. (Remember, the Live broadcast feature is only available for mobile devices, so you won’t find it on the desktop version. However, viewers can watch Lives on the app or website.)
• Swipe right and choose the “Live” option from the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
• Use the toolbar on the page’s left-hand side to give your Live a title and schedule the broadcast. If you plan to go Live immediately, you can check how many followers are currently online at the top of the screen.
• When you’re ready to broadcast, hit the broadcast button (a dot with horizontal frequencies) at the bottom of the screen.

Note: You can also practice a Live before entering into one. All you need to do is change the audience from “Public” to “Practice” before clicking the broadcasting button.

6 tips for a successful IG Live

Live-streaming or interacting with others in real-time on social media platforms can be nerve-racking. There’s no time to edit out a blooper, press rewind or backtrack on a comment. But you can go in well-prepared. Here’s how.

1. Live stream at the right time: If you have thousands of followers but only a few are online now, it might not be the best time to go Live. Play to a packed house by researching when your followers are most active. You can see this data in your Instagram Insights if you have a business account. But if you have a regular account, track this metric by opening the screen to create a Live video at different times of the day and seeing how many people are online. Also, try to keep a tab on trends to garner maximum engagement.
2. Have a plan: You don’t have to write a word-for-word script. After all, your Live should be genuine. But you should know what topics you want to address and more or less where you hope the broadcast will go. If you start getting off track, reel yourself in.
3. Decide if you’ll interact with comments: Know before going in whether you’ll leave time for questions or if it's best to turn off commenting. Comments can help you bond with your followers, but paying attention to the chat can be a balancing act. Turn off comments when dealing with sensitive topics, as people often debate or leave offensive comments.
4. Respect people’s time: You can wax poetic for up to four hours on a Live, but respecting your audience’s time is best. If you want to leave a broadcast open for a running Q&A, you can go longer, but if you’re storytelling and hope to hold people’s attention, polish your time-management skills.
5. Be approachable and polite: Use the person’s name when answering questions and addressing comments. Interact kindly and always treat your followers with respect.
6. Survey your viewers: Content creators can use the question sticker to ask followers to weigh in on the theme of an upcoming Live. Viewers can also use this tool to ask questions before the Live broadcast that the content creator can address while rolling.

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FAQs about going Live on Instagram

If you still have doubts about the whole experience, here are a few commonly asked questions about this feature.

How do I find Instagram Lives?

You can see who’s Live at any moment by looking at the top of your feed (next to Instagram Stories). A person currently broadcasting has a colorful ring around their profile photo, and the word Live appears on it. The feature is available on the iOS and Android mobile applications as well as the website.

How do I watch Instagram Lives?

You can watch a current broadcast by clicking on the profile icon (in the Stories bar) for that person.

Can I watch a Live without the creator knowing?

No. Creators can always see who’s watching their Lives.

What’s the difference between Lives and Reels?

The difference between Lives and Reels is that the former is an on-the-spot interaction with viewers, while the latter is a prerecorded, uploaded video with music.

Can I go Live with my friend?

Yes! You just need to tap “Add” on the screen’s bottom-right corner to invite a guest to your Live. Once they join your Live, the screen will split into two, and viewers will see both you and the other guests on their screens.

Can I record my Live?

Yes! Once you end your Live, Instagram will ask you to retain or discard the video. Click “Save,” and post it on your Stories to maximize reach.

Get ’gramming with Linktree

Instagram is full of exciting features and content options that allow creators to innovate and create stellar content. Liven up your Insta feed with Linktree!

All you need to do is head to The Linktree Blog and read up on how to make compelling stories, edit your photos with filters and write a great caption. Plus, find out how to monetize your content as an influencer or host shopping events. Improve your engagement by analyzing your Instagram Insights and scheduling posts for when your audience is most active.

While you’re at it, claim your free Linktree URL and cross-promote your content across all your social media accounts. Now, your followers won’t miss your upcoming TikTok lives or YouTube videos!