What Is YouTube Live? How To Livestream on YouTube

From the moon landing to Kanye upstaging Taylor Swift, live TV has delivered some of our most iconic cultural moments. Live events are inherently captivating. Anything can happen, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

You don’t need a television studio or high-end gear to start a livestream. YouTube’s livestreaming feature offers a simple way to connect with viewers in real time. For ecommerce businesses, livestreaming provides a way to reach a large audience and build strong customer relationships.

Here’s how to create a livestream on YouTube and how it can benefit your business.

What is YouTube Live?

YouTube Live is YouTube’s native video streaming tool. With YouTube Live, any eligible channel can broadcast live videos—no expensive equipment or prior video editing experience required. It’s beginner-friendly, versatile, and free.

Livestreaming offers an interactive way to engage your followers. Viewers can comment on live videos in real-time, giving you a valuable opportunity to respond to requests and feedback. This direct communication can help you build deeper connections with your audience.

For instance, a personal shoutout can make a new customer feel seen and included, while a live demonstration before a product launch lets you proactively field customer questions and concerns.

YouTube Live also includes collaboration tools. Eligible creators can use the platform’s Go Live Together feature to invite guests to co-host their broadcast. For example, if your sneaker company rolled out a brand collaboration with a trending pastry company, you might celebrate the partnership by going live together to show off your new line of cookie-themed kicks.

How to livestream on YouTube

1. Verify your account
2. Enable livestreaming
3. Test your gear
4. Select a stream type
5. Configure stream settings
6. Create a post and go live
7. Track your metrics

Here’s how to access YouTube Live and start streaming: 

1. Verify your account

You need a verified channel to start broadcasting live videos. If you haven’t already, submit your YouTube account for verification. Generally, accounts need at least 100,000 subscribers to qualify, though YouTube may make exceptions for brand accounts or well-known figures.

2. Enable livestreaming

Enable livestreaming for your account: open YouTube on your device, select “Create” in the upper right corner and then “Go live.” Then, follow the instructions on the screen to enable livestreaming.

3. Test your gear

Get familiar with your equipment. Test your setup to make sure that your camera and microphone are properly connected and the video is clear. This prevents mishaps during the livestream—dealing with technical difficulties while broadcasting is stressful and can make you appear unprofessional.

4. Select a stream type

There are several ways to go live on YouTube. Choose from the following options:

Mobile device

Mobile devicestreaming is available to accounts with 50 or more subscribers and lets you create on-the-golivestreams from anywhere with a stable connection. To use it, open the YouTube app on a mobile device or tablet, tap the create symbol (“+” button), and select “Live.” You may need to grant the app permission to access your camera and microphone in settings.

Webcam

Webcam streaming is an easy way to stream live videos from a laptop or desktop computer. Use your computer’s webcam or attach an external camera for a higher-quality image. To choose this method, select “Webcam” from the Go Live drop-down menu.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting is an advanced streaming technique that uses a livestreaming software tool (or encoder) to transmit video content to YouTube from a separate device. Broadcasting gives you more control. You can livestream from any device, stream a live view of your computer screen, or air a previously recorded clip as a live video. To use this approach select “Stream key” from the Go Live options. 

5. Configure stream settings 

After you select your stream type, review the customization options and adjust your settings. Here are some of the key customizations to consider, though you may want to review YouTube’s guidelines for a complete list):

• Privacy settings. Choose who can view your video. Public videos have the largest potential audience.

• Monetization. Members of YouTube’s partner program can earn revenue by monetizing livestreams. Monetized videos may include pre-roll, mid-roll, or display ads.

• Commenting and rating. Decide if you want to let viewers comment on and rate your video. You can elect to display comments, turn them off, or hold them for review.

• Redirect. Add a link to redirect viewers to another video or premiere after your livestream ends.

• Metadata. Use the “Type” and “Tags” fields to edit your video’s metadata. This information can help your video reach the right audience. 

6. Create a post and go live

Create a title, description, and thumbnail for your video. Follow search engine optimization (SEO) best practices by including relevant keywords in the title and description. If you choose mobile or webcam streaming, YouTube automatically captures a photo and creates a thumbnail. You can upload a custom optimized thumbnail if you like.

Make sure you don’t have any spinach in your teeth and select “Go Live” to start streaming. After the video ends, YouTube automatically archives your post and publishes it to your channel.

7. Track your metrics

YouTube displays the number of viewers, likes, and video duration during livestreams. After the video ends, you can use YouTube Analytics to access an in-depth performance report.

Reviewing this information can help you refine your technique to produce higher-quality streams in the future. Take note of any large viewer drop-offs and review the corresponding footage, which may indicate areas where you lost the audience’s attention.

For example, if your report shows that 10,000 viewers dropped off when you took a break to go to the bathroom, you might decide to relieve yourself before your next livestream.

Tips for successful livestreaming on YouTube

• Confirm your connection
• Practice quality control
• Plan ahead
• Choose a time
• Promote your stream
• Interact with the audience

Creating a successful YouTube livestream requires a mix of technical know-how and creative flair. Try these tips to perfect your approach:

Confirm your connection

Even high-quality video can appear grainy and freeze with a poor internet connection. Test your internet speed and look for an upload rate of three to 10 Mbps for HD streaming. If you’re on a laptop, moving closer to the router can boost the speed.

Practice quality control

Double-check connected devices like webcams and external microphones. Clear audio and crisp video are key, so choose a quiet space with good lighting. Livestreams don’t need the polish of edited videos, but if viewers can’t see or hear your content, they might tune out.

Plan ahead

Create a plan for your content before you go live on YouTube. If you’re hosting the video, consider writing a loose script to help you remember key talking points. A practice run can help you feel more confident during the broadcast.

Choose a time

To attract viewers, schedule your streams when they’re most available. Use YouTube analytics to review your audience demographics and identify optimal times. If most of your viewers are 20-something men on the West Coast, for example, you want to go live during Pacific Time evening hours, when they’ve finished work or school.

Promote your stream

Drum up excitement ahead of your broadcast by announcing your upcoming stream on social media channels and taking advantage of YouTube’s marketing tools.

YouTube channels with more than 1,000 subscribers and a clean content record can schedule a “Premiere” ahead of live posts. This feature lets you set a specific launch time and share a link in advance, allowing followers to opt in for a reminder notification when the stream starts.

You may also choose to publish a trailer before the livestream and embed it on other platforms, like your website, to reach more viewers.

Interact with the audience

Respond to viewers who write in with questions or leave comments. A direct response can help them feel connected to you and your channel.

For ecommerce businesses, audience interaction is also a valuable opportunity to address customer questions and concerns. You might ask a friend or co-worker to help you manage the chat during your stream so you can focus on hosting.