The last few years have seen a steady rise in livestreams. Even just a quick scroll on Clapper will reveal dozens of people on Live literally all the time. And for good reason! Hosting a Livestream is fun, it allows you to connect with your audience in real-time, and it’s a great way to make some extra money.

If you want to stand out at host the hottest livestream on the (digital) block, there are a few things you’ll need. Specifically five things! In today’s article, we’ll be diving into each one.

1. A Few Moderators 🧡

This is especially essential for creators with a large following. Select a few trusted moderators from your followers or friends to help guide the conversation and keep everything running smoothly.

You can either ask someone to moderate before you go Live, or see if anyone wants to moderate during the Live itself. We recommend choosing moderators that you know (or are at least familiar with) and trust. Clearly say what the rules are at the top of the Live, so they and your viewers will know what to expect.

2. A Prize or Incentive 💰

Offering some kind of prize is a great way to get people into your Livestream, get them to stay, and get them to come back! We recommend doing this in the giveaway style, where you give something to the top gifter or the first person to guess a secret phrase.

The prize doesn’t have to be costly or monetary at all. You can offer something related to your content or expertise. It seems small, but you’d be surprised how well people respond to a reward.

3. A Script or Plan 📜

This will vary based on the host but have a structure for your Livestream. Make notes about what you want to cover and for how long. The planners amongst us will have time stamps and talking points ready. But the more laidback creators might just have a list of things they’d like to cover. Both are perfect! All you need is an outline.

Why? It keeps you on track and gives your Live a focus. You can also give your audience a taste of what’s coming to keep them interested!

4. A Good Set-Up 📸

We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating! You need a good camera, somewhere to rest it, some decent lighting, a great backdrop, and a good mic. Luckily, your phone has a great camera and mic, so you’re half home! Ideally, the background of your video shouldn’t be distracting. You should still be the focus, but you can use something to catch the audience’s attention.

We also recommend finding a space where you won’t be interrupted. Busy parents might have to buy some equipment and set up shop in their closet! If it’s got a plain wall and a plug, the closet isn’t a bad Livestream studio!

5. An Engagement Plan 🎙️

Engagement is one of the most important parts of a Livestream. It can also be one of the most overwhelming, so we recommend knowing when you’ll interact with the audience. This will depend on you and your Livestream– and moderators can help immensely!

The most popular options are to engage consistently throughout the Livestream or have little pockets where you’ll read and respond to comments. Both of them work, and we recommend testing them out to find the one that works best for you. Some creators love having a constant back-and-forth, but others find it distracting.

Additional Tips ⭐

We’ve got tons of articles to help you take your Livestreams to the next level! Start with Livestreams 101 to get a solid foundation, then check out some content ideas. You might also want to learn a little about gifting and review our code of conduct before you go Live, too!

For weekly tips and tricks on all things Clapper, be sure to follow @ClapperAcademy in-app!