Strategies and Optimal Methods for Instagram Live Streaming: Insights and Guidelines
In the ever-evolving world of social media, Instagram Live offers an exciting opportunity for creators to engage with their audience in real-time. Here are some key tips, strategies, and best practices to help you make the most of this platform.
Preparing Your Cover Photo
To make a captivating first impression, your cover photo should be well-crafted. Here's how to create one using Kapwing:
- Open the Kapwing Studio on your iPhone and tap 'Get Started.'
- Upload an image by selecting 'Upload' and then 'Click to upload.'
- Resize the image using the Zoom Slider tool, ensuring it fits the recommended 9:16 dimension for Instagram Cover Photos for IGTV.
- You can customise your cover photo further by adding other images, such as icons, GIFs, or emojis, erasing parts of the image using the Erase tool and the Magic Wand tool, or changing the background colour of your canvas.
- Once you're satisfied with your creation, export the cover photo by selecting the arrow on the red button at the top and choosing 'Export as Image.'
Going Live on Instagram
With your cover photo ready, it's time to share your Live session with your followers. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three lines on the right.
- Select 'Archive,' then tap 'Post/Stories Archive,' and choose 'Live Archive.'
- Tap 'Share' to create a new Live session.
- Give your Live session a title, write a description, and select the downloaded cover photo from your camera roll.
- Go live at peak times, such as between 7 PM and 9 PM on weekdays, or during weekend afternoons (2 PM to 4 PM) for lifestyle content. Tailor the timing to your specific audience using your Instagram Insights.
- During the Live session, actively respond to comments and shout out viewers by name to foster community and personal connection.
- Keep videos concise and engaging, aiming for high-quality video and audio and keeping the session focused and engaging—ideally under 30 minutes—to retain viewer attention.
Maximising Engagement
To make the most of your Instagram Live sessions, consider the following strategies:
- Meet the follower requirement: Instagram now requires creators to have at least 1,000 followers to go live. Focus on growing your audience first if you haven’t reached this milestone.
- Promote beforehand: Announce your Live session in advance via Feed posts, Stories (which can include countdown stickers), and Reels to build anticipation and maximise attendance.
- Plan interactive content: Use Live for Q&As, product launches, behind-the-scenes tours, tutorials, or discussions that invite real-time comments and questions. This two-way interaction boosts engagement and helps humanize your brand.
- Leverage new Instagram tools: Use features like captions on Stories or interactive stickers in Stories to complement your Lives and keep the conversation going.
- Post Live replays: Save and share your Live sessions on IGTV or Stories so followers who missed the live event can still engage with the content.
- Maintain a consistent schedule: Regular Live sessions signal reliability and encourage repeat viewership, building a loyal audience over time.
By implementing these strategies, you'll be well on your way to maximising the engagement and presence-building potential of Instagram Live, turning real-time interaction into long-term audience growth.
