LinkedIn has grown exponentially in the past couple of years. Two hundred million people actively use it every month. And in 2020, LinkedIn live streams increased by a whopping 437%! Without a doubt, LinkedIn is the place to be when it comes to growing your connections and business. Do you want to go live but don’t know where to start? This blog post will be your ultimate beginner’s guide to LinkedIn Live Streaming.
We’ll cover:
- How to apply for access to LinkedIn Live
- Choosing a third-party tool to go live
- Understanding the types of live video content that works on LinkedIn
Apply for Access to LinkedIn Live
LinkedIn Live was released on February 22, 2019. Two years later, it’s still in beta, which means you need to apply for access to go live on LinkedIn. So, if you haven’t applied yet, make sure to accomplish that first before you can go live.
Here are the steps:
- Submit your information and apply on this link.
- Make sure to turn on two-factor authentication.
- Wait for them to review your application.
Previously, LinkedIn didn’t notify people who have applied for access. If you didn’t hear back, it means you didn’t get approved. If you didn’t hear after a few weeks, apply again.
Pro-tip. We recommend uploading videos to LinkedIn consistently before applying. This is relatively easy if you’re already live streaming. You can trim a part of your broadcast from Facebook and upload this on LinkedIn. If you’re using BeLive for your live streams, then you’re in luck because you can trim your streams in a few minutes using its built-in Video Editor.
LinkedIn Live Streaming: Define Your Goals
Simon Sinek, author of the book Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, believes the greatest companies in history are very clear with their why. The same should be true for you when you start live streaming on LinkedIn. Understanding your “why” will eventually help you win on LinkedIn through live streaming.
So, why do you want to go live on LinkedIn?
Most common goals that professionals aim for on LinkedIn:
- Reaching a new audience
- Lead generation
- Establish their expertise in their industry
- Get more clients
- Connect with other professionals
- Secure their dream job
Your “why” and your goal also determine your content type.
Content for Your First LinkedIn Live
Should you stream your existing content on LinkedIn? Or is it better to create a new one that is best suited for the LinkedIn audience?
These questions might help you decide:
- Which type of content do you publish on Facebook or YouTube?
- Is this type of content appropriate or popular on LinkedIn?
- Who is your target audience on LinkedIn?
Pro-tip. If you’re doing live sales on Facebook, it might not necessarily work on LinkedIn. LinkedIn’s primary purpose is networking with other professionals, and the mechanics and ethics of social selling are pretty different.
Types of Content for LinkedIn Live
To give you an overview, these are the most engaging and best-performing types of live video content:
- Live Tutorial – Showing how you use a tool (e.g. Canva) in your business
- Live Interview – Interviewing an expert in your industry who can share their story
- Live Webinar/Event – Creating a free event where people can learn how to acquire a specific skill
Starting with a live tutorial is a good option, as it’s something easy to set up. Plus, it’s a great way to showcase your expertise and provide value to your LinkedIn audience. A live interview, on the other hand, requires coordination with a guest. Choosing the best live video format depends on your schedule, resources, and what your target audience would find valuable.
Live Streaming Platforms: Choose a third-party tool
Once approved, you’ll face a small (but solvable) technical challenge: you need a third-party tool to live stream. Linkedin simply doesn’t support native live streaming like Facebook. The good news is, there’re plenty of tools to choose from.
LinkedIn has a list of live streaming platforms that you can choose from. Of course, since you’re on the BeLive blog, we recommend using BeLive. With BeLive, you can
stream to Facebook/YouTube and LinkedIn at the same time.
BeLive has recently allowed beta access to LinkedIn. Here’s how to request it:
- On the BeLive website, click on the chat question mark icon on the lower right corner of the page.
- Click on “Chat.”
- Request from our Support team to enable LinkedIn access for you.
- They will turn on LinkedIn as a destination on your BeLive Studio.
You can read more on How to Go Live On LinkedIn from our Help Article. There are also other tools, such as Switcher Studio and Wirecast. To see the complete list of tools, you can check it out here.
Start Live Streaming on LinkedIn
Before scheduling your first live stream on LinkedIn, make sure to do a test broadcast first.
- Make sure the third-party tool works properly with LinkedIn.
- Test your camera and mic.
- Check your lighting and background.
Your test stream can be as simple as saying “hi” to your connections on LinkedIn. You will have the option to delete the stream later should you choose to do that.
Review Your LinkedIn Live Streaming Results
Understanding your analytics will help you improve your streams on LinkedIn.
In general, you’ll need to check:
- Views
- Number of likes, shares, and comments
- The companies, people, and location of the people who viewed your live stream
Hit that Live Button
Now, you’re ready to wow your viewers on LinkedIn. The more you go live, the more experience and data you’ll get. Soon, you won’t be a beginner on LinkedIn Live anymore! Make sure to share your experience so that others can learn from your journey. Share with us by commenting below or share this article on LinkedIn.
Irene Chan is a writer and live video producer at BeLive. She has been working in the digital marketing industry for a decade and loves the creativity of video production. She has a degree in Broadcast Communication and is always imagining new live videos to produce. She is based in the Philippines and lives with her husband, two kids, and their 11-year-old Chihuahua.
