Instagram Lives are one of the best and most surprising ways that I’ve created stronger connections with my audience on Instagram. Today, I’m breaking down my strategy for Lives, how to prepare and execute an Instagram Live, and sharing my favorite tips for successfully connecting with your audience. Let’s dive in! 

WHY DO INSTAGRAM LIVES?

This is a unique way to connect with your audience because it feels more real and off-the-cuff. Some of my highest interactions on Instagram have occurred on Lives! From commenting, replays, DMs, and so much more, I get to connect with my followers. So, if you’re in a similar stage of your business and want to get your audience more involved with your brand, consider planning an Instagram Live on your account. Instagram Lives are also a really easy way to incorporate more relaxed and spontaneous content, like Q & As, into your content schedule online. We plan and prep so much of our Instagram content ahead of time. Sometimes it can feel like we aren’t showing up as ourselves, or as relaxed as we could be. I think that’s one of the reasons people like Lives so much… It feels natural and very organic. 

HOW TO PREP FOR A LIVE

If you’re ready to plan for an Instagram Live, there’s a few things I’d recommend. First, you don’t have to plan anything! You can just hop on when you decide you’re ready to do a Live and go for it. But, if you have a smaller audience, scheduling them might be better to start. You could make an announcement on your Instagram stories and/or a post. There’s some other easy ways to get your audience involved in Instagram Lives, too. You could have them decide on the topic – maybe a specific type of Q &A – or have them help you pick when you’ll be going live to talk. That kind of prep and involvement can help you build some buzz! 

As the live gets closer, you can start to think about what you’re going to discuss. If you’re someone who can get nervous, create some bullet points on a sticky note to make it easy for yourself. Another easy tip to make lives a little less overwhelming is to make your live themed with a topic! If you narrow down what you’re going to talk about, it will be easier to show up and feel confident. For example, instead of just a general Q & A, host a Q &A about how to decorate your living room. Narrowing the focus makes it easier and less stressful in the moment. 

EXECUTING THE LIVE

When it comes to actually executing your Instagram Live, the most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, no one expects it to be! That’s what makes Instagram Lives fun to watch and interact with. They’re real and in the moment. Just act like you’re chatting with a friend and don’t overthink it too much! While you’re doing the Live, make sure you interact with the comments and those watching. It can feel hard to do if there’s a lot coming in, but just do your best to encourage the conversation with your audience. 

Once the Instagram Live is all done, don’t forget to post it as a replay! If you forget, you can do it for up to 30 days with the Live. I like to save the film to my phone as a backup once I’m done with the Live and I can add it later when I’m scheduling my content and include it later in the month. I will say that getting it up as soon as possible can be really beneficial for you, especially if people know you’re going to share it as a replay – otherwise you might get some DMs about that. But again, there really is NO pressure about it!

I hope that was helpful and makes Instagram Lives feel a bit less overwhelming! 

Instagram Reels Resources 

I also offer a free one-hour Instagram Reels class if you want more help with how to grow your reach, followers, and customers with Reels in 2 hours a month! You can sign up for that HERE. And, if you have questions or want some extra support, I’ve got a FREE Reels Growth Facebook Community that you can join. I absolutely love getting to chat with everyone and help them work through their questions about Reels!