YouTube Live transforms online video into an interactive feel. With more 500 hours of video uploaded every infinitesimal, alive streams are a way to stand out from the crowd. And draw a crowd.

Just, don't just release a product reel or host a static tutorial. Make it a virtual issue. Create buzz with reveals, announcements, and special guests. Become interactive with live Q&As and the added chemical element of spontaneity.

Learn how to go alive on YouTube, plus tips, tricks, and ideas for making your broadcast successful.

How to start streaming with YouTube Live

New to YouTube alive streaming? Once yous've set up your aqueduct and equipment, all it takes to broadcast is the click of ane push button.

Here's how to go live on YouTube.

Enable your channel

Before you can live stream, your YouTube channel needs to be verified. If you oasis't washed that however, become to www.youtube.com/verify to add your telephone number and receive a verification code. Then proceed with the following steps.

On desktop

  1. Go to www.youtube.com/dashboard.
  2. Click the Create push button in the top correct corner.
  3. Select Become Live.

Note: Information technology takes 24 hours to activate your business relationship for live streaming.

On mobile

  1. Open the YouTube app.
  2. Click the camcorder icon in the acme correct.
  3. Tap Go Live.

Note: You need more than 1,000 subscribers to live stream on mobile.

Decide how you desire to record your alive stream

There are three primary recording options for YouTube streaming:

  • Spider web cam
  • Mobile cam
  • Encoder streaming

The camera on your laptop or device is an like shooting fish in a barrel, software-free way to record. Only what you gain in convenience, you lose in quality. With an encoder (a.k.a streaming software), you can utilise ameliorate audio/video gear, multiple cameras (including desktop), and more.

Beginning recording

Before you go live, make sure you've prepared a title, description, and thumbnail image.

How to create a YouTube live stream on desktop

  1. Go to www.youtube.com/dashboard on a Chrome 60+ or Firefox 53+ browser.
  2. Click the camcorder icon in the top right corner.
  3. Click Go Alive, then select Webcam.
  4. Add your title and privacy settings.
  5. Click More than options to add a clarification, enable or disable live chat, monetization, promotion and more.
  6. Click Next. YouTube will automatically accept a webcam thumbnail photo. You can retake it or upload an prototype afterward.
  7. Select Go Alive.
  8. To stop, select Stop Stream at the bottom.

How to create a YouTube live stream on mobile

  1. From the YouTube app, select the camcorder icon.
  2. Select Become Live.
  3. Add your title and privacy setting.
  4. Select More than Options to add a description. Select Testify More to enable or disable alive conversation, age restrictions, monetization, promotion disclosures, and more.
  5. Press Show Less to exit and select Adjacent. Take a motion-picture show or upload a thumbnail.
  6. Tap Share to share the link on social media.
  7. Select Become Live.
  8. To finish, click Finish and then Ok.

Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder

  1. Download encoding software. A listing of YouTube Live verified encoders is available here.
  2. Select the camcorder icon.
  3. Click Become Live, then select Stream. Pro tip: If yous've streamed earlier, select Re-create and create to use the previous settings. Otherwise select New Stream.
  4. Add together your title, description, category, privacy settings, and upload a thumbnail. You can too schedule your stream and enable monetization. Click Create Stream.
  5. Go to Stream Settings and copy your stream fundamental. Pro tip: You can utilise the same stream key for future streams. Yous can also customize and salvage multiple stream keys.
  6. Paste the stream primal into your encoder.
  7. Go back to your YouTube dashboard and click Get Live.
  8. To end the stream, click End Stream.

Cheque out YouTube's total digital events playbook here.

8 tips for using YouTube Alive

Before you offset your first live stream on YouTube, read through these tips.

ane. Prepare the basics

Every stream should get-go with a goal. What do you lot promise to get out of going live?

Decide what you'd similar to reach, and programme accordingly. Whether it's to connect with viewers or promote a production, your goal should inform your livestream setup.

If you have a team, make up one's mind each team fellow member's role. Will there exist 1 host or more? Volition you need a cameraperson? If yous plan to enable conversation, will you have a moderator?

Even more importantly, make sure yous're articulate on why you're doing a alive video equally opposed to a regular video.

These answers volition aid y'all make the most out of your circulate.

Before y'all click Go Live, you should as well prep the post-obit:

  • Title: Be accurate, specific, and use potent keywords.
  • Description: Front-load important keywords, add relevant links and information, and up to 15 hashtags.
  • Thumbnail paradigm: Resolution should be 1280×720 (with minimum width of 640 pixels).
  • Script: Even if information technology's just bullet-form, write down the fundamental points.
  • Calls to action: Decide what do you want viewers to practise during and afterwards the live stream. Add these CTAs to the description and script.

If you oasis't yet, connect your social media accounts to your YouTube channel. This makes it easier for viewers to share your YouTube Live video.

two. Choose a adept fourth dimension

There'due south never a perfect fourth dimension to become live. But you can choose the closest affair to it.

Check your YouTube Analytics to see when your videos get the most views. This gives you an indication of when your viewers are often online.

Also, take a look at where people watch your videos from. If you accept a global audience, you may want to choice a time that works in multiple time zones. Failing that, pick a fourth dimension that corresponds with your audience's top location, and plan to proceed the YouTube live video posted on your channel.

Still not certain? Enquire your audience. Run a teaser and enquire people to choose a preferred fourth dimension in the comments. Or create a Twitter or Instagram Story poll.

Planning a alive series? Keep a consequent schedule. With a regular time slot, viewers can anticipate and build your live stream into their daily or weekly schedule.

Pro tip: When you've landed on a time, schedule your live stream in advance. This makes your live stream easier to promote and allows people to set reminders.

YouTube live stream reminder from "The weirdest thing I learned this week"

3. Optimize your setup

Y'all can't edit or redo something one time information technology'due south live. Before you circulate, go through the post-obit setup checklist.

  • Frame your shot. Brand sure there's nada distracting, inappropriate, or confidential in the backdrop.
  • Arrange lighting. Subjects should be well lit, non back lit. Look out for shadows, as well.
  • Check audio. Run a mic or audio check to ensure you accept optimal acoustics. Record in a quiet spot, away from sirens, conditions, or noisy bystanders.
  • Charge batteries. And stay connected to a power source if possible.
  • Test your connection. Run a speed test with speedtest.internet or other tools. Your connection should be able to support nigh 10MB of information per infinitesimal.
  • Turn off interruptions. All notification sound effects and ringers should be turned off.
  • Provide water. Anticipate coughs and scratchy throats ahead of time. Accessible tissues are not a bad idea, either.

four. Promote the upshot

There's no reason to get alive if yous don't have an audition. And y'all won't have an audition without promotion.

Your live stream is a virtual event, so treat information technology as yous would any other event. There are several ways to build fizz, on and off YouTube. Hither are some suggestions:

On YouTube:

  • Blueprint a banner for your YouTube channel that promotes the live stream. (Find size specs here)
  • Make a trailer to build anticipation. Highlight this video in the Welcome Trailer module on your channel.
  • Ask viewers to subscribe. Subscribers may exist notified in their homepage feed and see the video in What to Watch Next.
  • Encourage viewers to enable notifications. That way they'll be notified when your channel goes alive (and more than).
  • Schedule your live stream so viewers can set reminders.
  • Add an associated website. Co-ordinate to YouTube, this volition better search results.
  • Run YouTube live stream display ads to promote your video.

Read our complete guide to YouTube marketing.

Elsewhere:

  • Share your streaming link on social media at least 48 hours earlier you lot go alive. Be clear virtually when and where. Don't say, "in three days." Provide a specific date, time, and fourth dimension zone.
  • Send invitations by e-mail. Include an actual calendar invite so information technology can be saved and remembered.
  • Create a Facebook event or Instagram countdown. Include the link in the description, story, or your Instagram bio.

Don't forget social media best practices. Add together an paradigm or your teaser video to concenter attention.

Write abrupt and specific copy. Tell people why they should tune in. It'southward their fourth dimension you'll be taking upwardly, afterall.

Most chiefly: Include the link. Your persistent link is youtube.com/user/[channelname]/live.

five. Appoint the audience

Convincing people to tune in to your live stream is half a win. The other half is keeping them at that place. Here are some engagement-boosting tactics:

Provide recaps

Think that people may join the live stream part manner through. When you run into a leap in viewers, share quick recaps for new watchers. If yous're interviewing a guest, reintroduce them every once in a while. And include reminders about what's coming upwards.

Build anticipation

Requite viewers a reason to lookout to the end. Whether it's the finished expect of a makeup tutorial, a special announcement, or the chance to have a question answered, exist sure to tease incentives.

Shout-out names

Tell viewers you meet them and appreciate their interest. A little dear tin go a long manner.

Enable alive chat

Spark conversation with viewers in the live chat—and apply information technology to inform the live stream. If you lot can, assign a moderator. They can collaborate with messages, share comments, and remove inappropriate posts.

Chat moderator tools include:

  • Keyword blocking: Ban inappropriate linguistic communication and links.
  • Tedious mode: Set a time limit between chat messages to influence how often a user can postal service.
  • Hold for review: Have YouTube agree potentially inappropriate letters

Don't exist afraid to ask for engagement, too. Encourage viewers to like and subscribe to curry favor with the YouTube algorithm.

comments on a YouTube live video

Want more than YouTube views? Here's how to go them.

6. Make your live stream accessible

Live automatic captions are available for YouTube channels with more 10,000 subscribers. If you lot accept the option to use them, make sure y'all do.

Otherwise, speak conspicuously and use unproblematic language. Have a clear structure. Give viewers time to process data that y'all share. If y'all can, describe visuals so those with visual impairments better understand what is happening.

Of course, make certain your content is age-appropriate and adheres to YouTube's Community Guidelines. If your alive stream violates YouTube policies, you may be barred from alive streaming for upwardly to 3 months.

7. Effort a YouTube Premiere

YouTube Premieres blend live and pre-recorded features together. Just like movie or TV premieres, they give the creator the chance to watch a video live with an audition.

If you don't want to compromise product quality, or if you're simply uncomfortable with recording alive, Premieres offer a middle ground.

Similar live streams, YouTube Premieres can be accompanied with a live chat. Before the premiere, a public watch page is created and a countdown begins two minutes before the premiere starts.

8. Check analytics to see what works

YouTube live streams provide existent-time and post-live analytics. Keep an eye on the dashboard and reply to what works as you go. Or use insights to your next alive stream strategy.

Look for peaks in concurrent viewers to get a sense of what attracted the largest audience. Retention will show you how many viewers stuck with yous till the end. If this effigy and average view duration is depression, endeavor to build apprehension and interactivity next time.

To see how your YouTube live stream contributes to channel growth, look for increases in subscriber growth and total lookout time. Use demographics to learn who'southward watching your live streams, and tailor future content accordingly.

Acquire how to grow your make on YouTube.

YouTube Live video ideas and examples

Get ideas for your next YouTube alive stream with these examples.

Monterey Bay Aquarium'southward Live Jelly Cam

This aquarium gives "live stream" new meaning with its 24/vii feed of a jellyfish tank.

The feed promotes the aquarium's Open Ocean exhibit, and at the same time encourages subscriptions and social media follows.

Alive Q&A on Science with Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic taps one of its experts to provide a glimpse at what it'due south like to travel to space.

Space Chat Virgin Galactic YouTube live reminder for 2 days later

Adobe'southward Sketch Party with Kathleen Martin

Adobe Creative Cloud's Sketch Party is a product demo, how-to, and webinar rolled into one live video.

MAC Cosmetics' Alive Masterclass

With the assistance of drag superstar Shuga Cain, Grand.A.C creative person Bradley Miller shows viewers how to create a glam drag persona, answering questions forth the way.

Elton John hosts iHeart Living Room Concert for America

The pop icon teamed upwardly with Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, the Backstreet Boys and others to enhance funds for Feeding America. The concert was promoted as-it-happened with video teasers.

Pod Save America's Live Q&A

Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor join Crooked Media's Priyanka Aribindi for a live Q&A. The video uses Zoom as a clever, multi-webcam workaround. Accept a look at the Conversation Replay for chat moderator inspo.

YouTube Live Stretch Class with Amit Patel

The California-based dancer, choreographer and director runs stretch classes live on YouTube. Classes go alive at the same time every Tuesday and Thursday, and are promoted regularly on Instagram with tag-a-friend CTAs.

Amit Patel Instagram profile with live stream schedule

Ubisoft's Terminator Live Event

To promote the update of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Ubisoft streamed a feed of players taking on the special mission.

The Weirdest Affair I Learned This Week Podcast Live

PopSci's popular podcast scheduled a live stream recording session. The event was scheduled in advance with a solid description in place, assuasive early viewers to gear up reminders, subscribe, and more.

Red Bull's Live Sports events

Crimson Balderdash regularly takes to YouTube to broadcast alive coverage of sporting events it sponsors. The channel's moderators give the conversation wings past providing placemarkers and edifice narrative.

Redbull YouTube live with comments on the side

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