How to Use Instagram’s Amazing Live Feature for Growing Your Business

Instagram – short for Instant and Telegram – has a very interesting history. Founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in San Francisco, the app was the birth child of Systrom when he got the idea to develop an app that used photographs specifically taken on mobile devices. 

Of course, both the founders kept on improving the app gradually, enhancing the photo-sharing experience. Today, Instagram has become a part of our day-to-day routine.

What is Instagram Live?

Instagram Live allows people to check-in and share fun stuff with their “followers” that can be very effective for attracting more business. 

You see, the live feature is a powerful marketing working tool that works as a bridge between your products and their potential customers. It can boost the discoverability of information about products and services, irrespective of your target audience. 

In today’s time, people prefer to watch live videos – more than they want to go through text material. It can give valuable insights and suggestions right from the potential buyers who matter most. Additionally, the live broadcast can be watched later by followers who missed it as it’ll stay on your Instagram story for 24 hours from the time of actual broadcast.

Useful Tips to Master Your Instagram Live

Now that we have established the usefulness of Instagram Live, let’s discuss strategies that you can use to engage better with your live audience:

Understand the Purpose of Making the Live Video

If you want to speak directly to your audience via Instagram Live, you first need to have a solid reason to ask them to tune in. In other words, you need to identify a goal for every time you go on air.

Here are a few popular reasons to host an IG Live:

• Hosting a Q&A session with your followers
• Announcing a collection of product launch
• Demonstrating how to use a specific product or service
• Interviewing other people by using the ‘add a friend‘ feature
• Engaging with the audience by showing them behind the work scenes or glimpses of any event

Planning ahead

We would recommend keeping things light and casual for your Instagram live. After all, nobody wants to hear a formal speech with an awkward host in their free time.

Besides this, you should ensure your videos don’t sound overly rehearsed or scripted – just create a loose script that gives you an idea of the important topics to cover, so that you don’t make mistakes. And even if you do, it won’t be too much for you to feel embarrassed.

You can also take test videos to figure out ways you can improve your audience’s experience. Ask the following questions:

• Is your audio clear?
• Is your background too distracting?
• Is your camera working properly?
• Is the lighting appropriate?

Promoting your IG Live beforehand

So you’ve figured out a date, time, and topic for your Instagram Live? That’s great! Now, you need to let your followers know about it well in advance.

Everybody has things to do, which is why you can’t be presumptuous and think your followers will leave everything aside and tune in whenever you do a live video. Informing your followers beforehand about the day and time you plan on doing your live stream will also generate more buzz.

Remember, IG Live can work wonders for your business – but you need to use it smartly. We would highly recommend sending emails with an ‘Add to Calendar‘ option.

Making the Live Video Relatable

Did you know using a face filter can actually help you get more comments and likes?

According to Instagram, you can boost engagement, especially if your audience starts to dwindle during your Livestream, by using the face filters, such as Puppy Ears, Bunny Ears, Sleep Mask, and Love with Heart-Shaped Darts. You’ll also look great while you’re at it, making it another plus.

Wrapping Up

According to Animoto, consumers want to see more video content from brands on social media. So why not make the most of the live video feature on one of the most popular social media platforms on earth?
Moreover, 1 in 3 daily Instagram users have agreed that viewing products on IG stories and Instagram life made them want to check out a brand’s product or service. Instagram Live ensures higher engagement with the potential to boost sales – not using it would be equivalent to missing a fantastic opportunity.