Livestream simultaneously

Contributors

@jamaicawinshipgmail-com @andreea-macoveiciuc-content-expert @danielisler1gmail-com


Business Benefits

Increase brand awareness, engagement, and reach.


Plan the purpose, format, date and time for your multistream event.

Decide on the format of your presentation, such as:

  • Q&A: Interact with a broad spectrum of viewers to answer their questions live and highlight your brand’s expertise.
  • Product tutorial or review: Present a product without enhancements and marketing edits, showing the viewer how to use and navigate its features in real time.
  • Guest interview: Host a thought leader in your industry.
  • Live webinar: Give a live presentation or lecture on a valuable topic within your industry.

Consider feedback or comments you have engaged with from your audience to help identify in-demand topics they want more information about. Depending on the subject and format of your stream, you can determine whether you will have a co-host or guest speaker join you.

Prepare an outline that includes all the major topics, concepts, questions, and discussions you plan to cover in your stream. Select a time to stream when viewers are more likely to be online, such as after business hours. Avoid holidays and weekends, when viewers are likely to be busy with outside activities.

Prepare your livestreaming setup with the proper tech, internet power, and filming equipment to support a multistream.

Plan and select the appropriate production equipment for the stream, including cameras, lighting, microphones, and a strong internet connection with good upload speed and bandwidth.

You will also need a hardware encoder to handle the processing power required to stream simultaneously across multiple platforms. An alternative to using expensive encoder hardware is to use a cloud-based multistream platform like Switchboard Live, which will allow you to stream from a mobile device or computer with streaming software enabled.

Choose a professional background in an ideal location where you can avoid excessive noise and interruptions. For example, streaming from your house with a basket of laundry in the background would look unprofessional.

Research statistics on your audience’s viewing behavior to find out where they are most likely to view your stream. Use this information to determine which platforms you should include in your multistream to best reach your audience.

Sites such as Wordstream, Biteable, and Statista provide free information on viewer trends and popular platforms. Some popular platforms where consumers watch video and live events include Vimeo, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, TikTok, and Twitch.

Select a multistreaming platform that includes the features you need and supports streaming across the platforms you selected.

Examples of companies offering this service include:

  • Vimeo Livestream: Generally used for videos that are more artistic and professional.
  • Restream: Does not use a dedicated streaming platform, but is easy to use and offers tools for audience engagement. However, there is no bulk uploading, closed captions, or mobile screen support.
  • Streamster: No Mac support, but offers a free plan that includes two channels of multi-streaming.
  • Castr: Inexpensive with many features and is highly rated.
  • Dacast: Requires a bit of a learning curve, but offers high-end features with competitive pricing plans.
  • Brightcove: Offers detailed analytics and valuable marketing tools. However, it is pricey with no livestreaming packaged under $499 a month.
  • JW Player: Best known for its HTML5 JW video player for VOD content, supports MPEG-DASH playback, CSS skinning, DRM, and other advanced features. Livestreaming is limited to custom-priced plans with a 6-hour duration.

You can also search Google for cloud multistreaming to research and compare more livestream platforms.

Test your multistream ahead of time to avoid any technical difficulties or mistakes from happening during the real event in front of your live audiences.

  1. Test your camera equipment and ensure you have the proper angles and lighting.
  2. Inspect your background set to make sure it looks clean and professional.
  3. Check to see how you look on camera and adjust your camera’s light balance and color settings if needed.
  4. Do a practice run with your multistream platform to ensure you can manage the features and interactive elements.
  5. Test the strength of your Internet connection.

Determine how to manage your live chat feeds, and consider recruiting moderators to help you monitor them.

Streaming across multiple platforms at the same time can make managing the live chat two or three times more difficult. Ask a few members of your team to join you to moderate the chat feeds and help send questions or comments your way that should be responded to on stream.

You can also consider using a multistream chat app like Restream to manage all the live chat messages from across your multiple platforms in one feed.

On the day of your event, take the time to ensure you are prepared. Log on to your multistream account at least an hour before you are scheduled to go live.

Check that all your technical connections and equipment are stable, that your event content is ready in the order of your event outline, and that any guest speakers, co-hosts, and moderators are ready to go before starting your stream. Click the Go Live button only once you are ready.

Last edited by @hesh_fekry 2023-11-14T12:20:23Z