For many people, live streaming on social media platforms seems like something that only influencers or celebrities do. The reality is that more and more people are choosing live streaming as a way to stay connected, meet new people and share what they love with a broader reach. Lisa Mitchell, communications expert & founder of Power Body Language explains why you should be going live. Here’s more from her:

Why Live Stream?  

Pre-produced videos have been the norm for most people since platforms started letting users share video content. These snippets can be impactful and effective, but they don’t allow for the immediate interaction with those that are viewing it like live streaming does. 

Live streaming offers you the opportunity to interact with viewers in real time, and has a more conversational feel versus a pre-recorded video just being posted to be viewed. Live streaming gives both the host and the viewer the feeling of being instantly connected and can lead to a more customized and intimate-feeling experience where a posted video can feel much more one-directional.  

Less formality, More Connection  

Although it’s always a good idea to have a clear intention in mind before your hit “go live” you should expect that as you react to comments and questions, your content may ebb and flow differently than it would in a more scripted or formal webinar format. 

People are responding positively to live streams because they get to feel like they are part of the conversation. They become an “insider” who can get access to you in a way that previously wasn’t available to them. This is a great way to build trust with your viewers/followers and let them see a more casual and less scripted side to you whatever material, thoughts, or ideas you are sharing. 

Benefits of Live Streaming: 

It’s really easy to set up: almost every social platform allows users to launch a live stream any time they feel like it. On most, it’s just as easy as posting a status or a photo would be with minimal technical knowledge required.

It’s On Demand: You can get connected to and interacting with your target audience any time and from almost anywhere. Unlike virtual events or webinars that require registration and promotion, part of the beauty of live streams is that they feel fairly spontaneous and are easy for people to just click to join in the conversation.  

You Can Use Your Body Language and Communication Skills To Your Benefit: Any time you can use video to “show up” in the room (or on the screen) with people, your can use your positive body language cues, facial expressions and vocal power to create a memorable experience with whoever is on the other side of your screen. 

Live streaming let’s people experience you and the fullness of your communications skills, so make sure you are using them to your advantage throughout your entire live stream.

To learn more, visit www.powerbodylanguage.com or connect on Instagram at @lisamitchellindy.