 Hi makers! Toni here, the crochet designer and instructor behind TL Yarn Crafts! I'm happy to be here as a guest on the OML blog to talk about Instagram Lives. While Instagram Stories dominated 2017, going live is the big trend this year. Offering live videos in your Stories is the ultimate tool you can use to engage with your audience in real time on any topic. Have you been curious about going live on Instagram but are too nervous or don’t know what to talk about? Showing up live on your Instagram feed doesn’t have to be scary. Here are a few tips and tricks to make you an IG Live pro in no time.  Tip #1: Have a purpose. The biggest hurdle to going live is not knowing what to talk about. If you run a handmade business, Instagram Live is a prime time to share new content with a captive audience. Try one of these topics in your next broadcast:
Tip #2: Announce your broadcast. The best part about Instagram Live is the opportunity for real-time engagement. Make sure your audience doesn’t miss your live stream by announcing it ahead of time. I like to share details about my upcoming broadcasts in my Stories and posts. Include information about what time they can tune in (be sure to include the time zone!) and what they can expect.  Tip #3: Present your best self. You are a representative of your brand when you go Live on Instagram. Take some time to put your best face forward. Put on a little lip gloss. Brush your hair. Organize the bookshelf that will show up in the background of your live stream. When you look good, you feel good. And that positive attitude makes you that much more attractive to your audience. Tip #4: Engage your audience. A live stream is meant to be interactive. During an Instagram Live video, the audience interacts with you by sending messages via the comments. No matter how interesting your topic, stay focused on the comments and respond quickly. Answering questions and offering shout outs to engaged viewers is a sure way to keep them tuned in for the full live stream.  Tip #5: Have a Call to Action. Just like your Instagram posts, your Live videos should direct your audience to do something further. This type of directive is called a Call to Action. Perhaps you want them to buy a product, subscribe to your online newsletter or like your recent post. Be creative but be clear on the next steps you want them to take to continue engaging with your brand or business. BONUS TIP: Make your live stream permanent. Live broadcasts are only available on Instagram for 24 hours. Thankfully, a recent update to Instagram allows users to save their live streams as an MP4 file. Consider uploading the video to YouTube or your blog. That same content can continue entertaining your audience and bring even more fans to your feed.  Instagram Live is yet another effective tool for reaching and engaging with your audience. With a little planning and creativity, you can easily create even more content to turn your followers into fans. If you liked these tips, you will love my weekly handmade business Instagram LIVE chats, Tuesdays at 7pm ET. Topics change every month and video recordings are available on my blog, TLYCBlog. Find all of my original crochet patterns on TLYarnCrafts.com, along with t-shirts, coffee mugs, and pin back buttons for crafty makers. Happy Insta-living! Toni
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