In February of this year, LinkedIn finally joined Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook in the world of live video streaming. It was created for business professionals and influencers to stream live video to their LinkedIn audience. If you haven’t heard much about it yet, here’s the low-down on LinkedIn Live.
What is LinkedIn Live?
“LinkedIn Live allows individuals and organizations to broadcast video content with their network in real time,” says the website. Basically, it’s a version of live video similar to Instagram Live or Facebook Live; the only difference is that it’s intended to be geared towards business. It’s a great way for industry professionals to share their knowledge and businesses to discuss their best practices. However, they do not want their live streaming platform to be used for sales or promotion; it’s not a place to run ads or anything.
How do you use the platform?
As of right now, LinkedIn Live is unfortunately not available to everyone. They’re still testing out the platform, so there are currently only a few people who are able to stream. However, if you’d like to request to be one of the streamers, there’s an application you can fill out here to try and gain access to the platform.
When it comes to actually streaming, the platform only allows streaming from third-party programs. While this seems a little strange, they have provided a list of many different third-party programs that are compatible with LinkedIn Live. You as a broadcaster are responsible for any fees that come with the third-party streaming services, making this a business investment. For this reason, it’s best to make sure you’re using it to actually gain traction on LinkedIn – not just broadcast willy-nilly.
What are the benefits to using LinkedIn Live as a business?
As with most social media platforms, you get out what you put in. You’ll gain a following if you’re focused on giving high-quality, informative, helpful live broadcasts. On the other hand, if you’re just saying things that any other person or business could say, you probably won’t see as good of results. One good use of this platform would be to treat it similar to a TED Talk; discuss something your company (or yourself) has done that proved to be successful, and encourage others to do similar things. By sharing valuable information with your peers, you’re gaining both credibility and a following.
Ultimately, regarding the success of the platform, we’ll have to watch what happens. Since it’s still sort of in development, we’ll have to keep an eye on the benefits of LinkedIn Live. However, from the looks of it, this could be a great way to get your name out there and start reaching new people.
Struggling with your business’s social media and not sure where to start? Don’t worry – just reach out to us here at Blackwood Creative. We’re committed to growing your brand and increasing your reach.
