Livestream on LinkedIn

1. Identify your target audience for your livestream topic.

For example, if the stream is about employee recruitment, your viewers will largely consist of management and human resource staff. The LinkedIn audience is very different from that of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Users are primarily business professionals, have higher-level education, and are largely open to or actively searching for new opportunities.

2. Go to LinkedIn Create an Advertiser Account then Create a new group to set up a campaign group for your livestream.

Enter a name for the new group. If you want to have an end date for the group, select Set a start and end date or Set a start and end date with a budget. Click Save.  Click on Next. Select Brand Awareness and click Next. Build your target audience’s attributes and select the ad format to use. Enter your business webpage in the Associate a Company Page field at the bottom.

3. Prepare high-quality, business-related content that will be appropriate and useful to professionals in your industry.

LinkedIn content differs dramatically from that of more casual social media platforms. LinkedIn Live is used by major companies and high-level professionals for such topics as industry events, product demos, convention highlights, and executive team member discussions and interviews.

4. Enable two-factor authentication on your LinkedIn account and apply for approval to be a LinkedIn Live broadcaster.

LinkedIn Live approval depends on your content creation history, your audience size, audience engagement, whether your account is in good standing, and having two-factor authentication enabled for added security.

5. Explore features of streaming and broadcast tools to find one that suits your needs.

Streaming tools are the foundation of quality streaming. You can use customizable tools or go through a third party, which one you decide on depends strongly on how familiar you are with streaming. Popular streaming tools such as StreamYard, Wirecast, and Restream include screen sharing, customizable images and backgrounds, and viewer comment highlighting.  Broadcast tools, on the other hand, enhance your experience and success with LinkedIn Live. For instance, they allow you to trim your video, schedule your livestream, test it, and more Popular broadcast tools are Telestream and Socialive.

6. Before you stream, troubleshoot potential issues like your internet connection, microphone, and camera.

Address any problems or errors leading up to your livestream event to avoid problems during your stream.

7. Prepare guest speakers before the livestream.

Confirm the date and time with details on how they will join the broadcast. Send a list of topics and questions you will be asking them. Schedule a dry run broadcast with the guest to ensure there are no issues.

8. Go live with your own expert advice and interview your scheduled guest speakers.

As long as you keep it business-related, your content options are wide open when it comes to LinkedIn Live. You can give advice and discuss professionalism, work and life balance, job interviews, resume writing, career advancements, or something specific to your industry.

9. Promote early, often, and through multiple platforms to ensure your stream reaches the largest audience.

Promotion can include word-of-mouth, a sneak peek on your LinkedIn page for followers, posts on other social media platforms, your website, newsletter, and wherever else you can get the word out.