YouTube Live – A Beginner’s Guide
YouTube Live offers a variety of features that make the experience more exciting for both viewers and creators. These include timed reactions, in-video ads and monetization options such as tips and donations.
You can also add captions to your video for accessibility purposes, which is especially important if you’re using YouTube Live on mobile. The platform is working on a number of other features for live streaming that will enhance your audience’s experience.
Getting Started
Using YouTube Live gives you the power to connect with your audience in real time. You can host workshops, webinars and product launches virtually for less than organizing an in-person event. Additionally, viewers can interact with you in the comments which builds stronger connections.
To start a stream click the ‘Create video’ button in the top-right corner and choose ‘Go live’. You can also click ‘More options’ to set up a stream title, privacy settings and whether your video is made for kids or not. You can even schedule your stream for a later date!
Find out when your audience prefers to watch live videos and stick to that schedule. This will help you grow your audience since people can get notified when you go live and are more likely to tune in. You can also make a trailer and promote your streams to attract more viewers. You can also get a chat moderator to manage the comments and questions that you receive during your live stream.
Camera Setup
A camera is a must-have piece of equipment for live streaming. A high-quality camera will help you capture crisp and clear images that will look good for your audience.
An encoder converts video from your external camera to a file that can be streamed on YouTube. There are software and hardware encoders available. Both can be used to go live on YouTube.
Make sure that your encoder is connected to the internet and to your router or modem. You will also need to ensure that P2P access is not restricted in your network, for example due to a Double NAT situation.
Before you start streaming, take a photo with your camera and upload it to use as your thumbnail image. This will display on your YouTube channel’s watch page and social media. Also, check your lighting and do a mic test. You may also want to consider investing in a few different lenses for your camera to give you more creative options.
Streaming Settings
The stream settings screen is where you adjust your stream’s quality and other parameters. You can choose whether to use your device’s built-in webcam or a different one (required if you want to be eligible for monetization). You also can decide if you want to limit video quality to save data and/or set it to automatically adapt to your network conditions.
You can also add a stream title and description, choose a privacy setting and upload a thumbnail. YouTube also allows you to create an ad break, which is a set period of time when a preroll or midroll ad can be shown on your video.
Click “Stream Right Now” if you’re ready to go live. You can also select “Manage” and then “Schedule stream” if you’d like to record your broadcast for later. You will then be provided with your unique 16-char stream key, which you should copy into your streaming program (the exact process varies by program).
Monetizing Your Stream
It’s a great feeling to receive a tip or donation from your viewers. It shows that they appreciate what you do and support your livestreams. Moreover, it’s a sign that your content has reached a certain level of popularity and quality.
Streamers can use YouTube’s monetization features to earn money from their live streams. Eligible channels can run pre-roll and mid-roll ads as well as display overlay ads. Likewise, they can also create pay-per-view content and charge a fee for access to their videos.
However, if you want to make real money from your livestreams, you should build a loyal community and focus on a niche audience that’s interested in your topic. For example, gaming creator Canadian Guy Eh relies on his YouTube channel to make a full-time living, thanks to his Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon videos. He even uses his channel to pay his rent. In addition, he promotes his other communities online, including Twitch and TikTok, to attract more viewers.