How To Start Streaming in 2024?

Live streaming helps you explore the audience for your brand and talent but only when it is done right.

Do you have a talent that you want to show the world? There is no better way to have a go at it than streaming it live. Be it gaming or even a lecture on entrepreneurship, live streaming keeps the audience more engaged than recorded videos. Furthermore, the fact that more and more influencers and brands are turning to live streaming speaks volumes about its effectiveness. In 2020, almost four billion hours of live content were watched online and the number has been growing ever since.

That said, live streaming will bring the desired results only when it is done right and it is exactly what we will discuss in this article. We will go over everything, from equipment to the right streaming platform, you need to get started. 

Let’s get on with it.

Step By Step Guide To Start Streaming

Step 1: Build or Purchase A Computer According To Your Requirements

The most important piece of gear in your streaming space. Your desktop or laptop should have the right specifications for the activity you want to stream live. A modern-day standard laptop with 128 GB of SSD storage, 8~16 GB of RAM, and a sixth to eighth-generation processing chip is good enough for applications such as streaming video tutorials and lectures. 

However, if you are into streaming video games or tutorials of graphic and video designing, you will need an appropriate graphics card to ensure everything runs smoothly. You may also want to upgrade the aforementioned specifications to get free-flowing performance.

Step 2: Replace Built-In Camera of Your Computer

The built-in camera in your laptop is simply not going to cut it if you are serious about live streaming. You will need a decent camera, one that can record at least 60fps on 1080p resolution. The market offers a variety of options, including budget ones. It will be better if you pick up a new camera from the market and install it into your streaming setup. However, if your budget is a little too tight, there is a way to make it work with your phone’s camera.

Search the web and you will find a number of applications that will allow you to integrate your smartphone cameras with the laptop or desktop. Some offer connectivity via Wi-Fi while others need a cable connection. Pick the one that suits you the most.

Step 3: Invest In Quality Audio Gear

Depending on how you interact with the audience during the live stream you will either need a decent microphone, headset, or both. Again, it is because the built-in microphone in most devices is not good enough for streaming. If the audience communicates with you via text prompts, a mic alone should suffice, but if you invite the members of the audience to speak live you will need a pair of good headphones. 

While looking for microphones on the market, you will be bombarded with the options but do not let it overwhelm you. The choice of the microphone should be dedicated to the job you want them to carry out. For example, the mics designed to capture musical instrumentals will not work as well for vocal recordings and vice versa. Thus, do a thorough research before purchasing one.

Pro Tip: USB mics will work best for beginners because they are easier to set up and pocket-friendly than other options.

Step 4: Select Appropriate Streaming Software

Streaming software, also known as encoders, will be at the heart of live streaming. This software integrates the video feed from the camera and audio input from the microphone with the streaming platform of your choice. Some people prefer hard encoders, external devices that combine audio and video coming from different devices, but unless you are completely invested in live streaming, using the soft version is a better option.

The market offers several paid and unpaid soft encoders. While the fundamental job of all of them is the same, the features offered by different platforms vary. For example, some may offer video recording and editing, multistreaming, multiple screen layouts, and invitations to guests to screen while others do not. So, before choosing a platform ensure that it offers the features you need for streaming live video.

Step 5: Ensure a Stable Internet Connection

While it is obvious that you will need a stable internet connection to stream any type of video online, its importance cannot be overstated. The question of exactly how much speed is required to start streaming is a tricky one, but let us try to break it into simple words. You have to look for upload speed while searching for a stable internet connection for your live stream. 

The exact upload speed will depend on the video bandwidth, which is the amount of data transferred during the stream, which in turn depends on video bitrate and video resolution. The higher the video bitrate and video resolution, the higher upload speed will be required. Most internet service providers recommend an upload speed of twice the video bandwidth of your stream.

Here’s the table to make things even simpler:

Application	Quality	Required Upload Speed
Games	Standard Definition	2-3 Mbps
	High Definition	3-5 Mbps
	Full High Definition	5-10 Mbps
	4K Streaming	15 Mbps or higher
Music	128-320 Kbps	0.5 Mbps
Voice Streaming	64-128 Kbps	0.064- 0.128 Mbps

Step 6: Purchase Supporting Equipment To Improve Audio and Video Quality

In addition to the necessary tools discussed above, you will need some supporting equipment to make your live streams stand out. Some of the handy accessories include the following;

• Green Screen: It allows you to change your background to whatever you want. That said, if you want to use a green screen, your encoder should offer this feature. Some applications offer virtual green screens too but most of them make your video subpar, so it is best to avoid them.

• Lighting: No matter how good a camera is, it cannot get the job done unless there is efficient lighting in the room. Some cameras may work in dim lighting conditions, but to make your video stand out you will need additional lighting. Three-point lighting technique, which uses a key light, a fill light, and a backlight works best for live streaming.

• Video Switchers: Video switcher allows you to switch between different cameras while you are live streaming. It is a must if you engage in applications like music live streaming which requires multiple cameras, one for each performer.  

Other accessories that you may need as your audience increases include a capture card, audio mixer, and interface. You will also have to get your room treated if you want to stream vocals or music.

Which Platform Is The Best For Your Live Streams

Now that you have a grasp over the basic equipment required for live streaming, the only question that remains is the choice of platform. Technically, you can livestream on all mainstream platforms, but it is the matter of the audience that plays a vital part in selection. There are general platforms that have a decent audience for pretty much every content type, and then there are specific platforms that have niche audiences.

Let’s go over them one by one:

1. General Platforms

The following platform will work for pretty much every type of content. It is best to start off on them if you want to experiment with different types and content and find your niches. 

• Facebook Live: Facebook streaming will work for most users because whether you are a brand or an individual, it is likely that you already have a decent audience. 

• YouTube Live: YouTube stream also helps you reach a broad and diverse audience. While it is harder to gain traction on the platform initially, if you find something that sticks, the audience will grow exponentially.

• Twitter Live: Twitter Live is a new platform but more and more content creators have started to express their interest in it. Right now, it is not as saturated as the other platform which will help you get the attention.

• Instagram Live: Instagram is also a decent platform, but it is a bit saturated. You will have to make your content stand out if you want to make your presence noted. 

• TikTok Live: TikTok is the fastest-growing networking platform and so is its live feature. You should definitely try it because it allows you to connect with a large and diverse audience from all across the world.

2. Gaming Platforms

You can live stream on any platform while playing video games but the best platform for streaming games is undoubtedly Twitch. It has the right audience for it and a Twitch studio that offers plenty of features to facilitate game streaming. Twitch can also work for podcasts and live talk shows.

Facebook Gaming is a relatively new streaming service for gamers but it has been getting traction from the audience and content creators recently. The major benefit of the platform is that most users already have a decent following on the platform.

3. Art and Music

If you want to showcase your talent Mixcloud, Picarto, and Behance are the right platforms for them. Mixcloud serves the best for live-streaming and DJ mixes or for starting a new radio show. Picarto offers a platform to artists who want to display the making of their art. Lastly, Behance has an audience for digital artwork, photography, and design. 

4. Business Platform

Most Business-to-Consumer brands use general platforms to reach out to their audience, but those platforms do not work as well for the Business-to-Business brands. For B2B businesses LinkedIn Live is a good platform because it allows you to connect with other businesses.

5. E-Commerce Platforms

LinkedIn Live works for E-commerce brands as well but such content has more audience on Amazon Live. Amazon allows its registered sellers to broadcast promotional content that helps in increasing the sales of the businesses. You can also use the service if you are a part of the Amazon Influencer Program.

Tips To Increase The Audience of Your Live Streaming

 The following tips will help you get started and garner an audience for you:

• Be Consistent: The key to successful live streaming is consistency. No matter the good content you produce, if you are not doing it on a consistent basis you will never make it on any platform. Your audience should know the time and date for your streams so they can tune in.

• Schedule According To Target Audience: If you are live-streaming at a time when most of your audience is occupied with something else, such as offices or schools, you will not get them in numbers. You should study the audience and stream at a time when most of your audience is free.

• Make Your Content Stand Out: Regardless of the content type, you will always have competitors on the market. You have to study them comprehensively and understand exactly what it is that they are not doing and capitalize on it. It will make your content stand out and the audience from competitors will come your way too.

• Interact With Audience: The purpose of a live stream is to interact with your audience in real-time, but it should be done systematically. You can have one or two followers speak to you live in every stream and respond to text prompts that others send your way.

Frequently Asked Questions