Live streaming offers many benefits for online community engagement. It allows for the broadcast of important events and meetings and the ability to showcase experts, panels, and live interactive Q&A sessions with stakeholders.
To do this, you can embed a live stream into an EngagementHQ project or page using, for example, YouTube Live and a webcam. YouTube Live is an easy platform to use for live streaming. Here are some tips before you start:
Google requires authentication if your account has never used Live Stream Studio before. You’ll need to provide a password, and it will take 24 hours to provision your account. Check the permissions on your account to ensure that you have no content restrictions and can embed a live stream with YouTube.
Build and promote your host project page before your live stream to ensure everything is ready and your community can effectively engage. Remember to present your stream in conjunction with engagement tools to drive online conversation.
A webcam stream on YouTube cannot share your screen or slides, so it’s best for panels streaming live events or meetings or making the discussion more available. Additionally, the stream has a 4-5 second delay, so remember this as you present.
We recommend ensuring a good-quality webcam and a strong internet connection before you get started. Test your setup before the event begins to avoid any issues.
If you need more assistance, check out YouTube Help.
Set Up a Live Stream with YouTube Live
Once you have everything ready, you can set up your live stream:
Register or log in to your Google account and go to YouTube.
Select the video icon in the top right corner and select Go live to open YouTube’s Studio console.
In the Webcam tab, give the stream a title, set your privacy setting to Public, Private, or Unlisted, and specify if your stream is appropriate for children.
We recommend using the Schedule for later option, so you can continue to plan and promote your consultation and event.
Go to Advanced Settings to select your camera and audio input devices.
Select Next to see the Stream preview, and select an image for your Webcam stream.
Select Share and Copy the URL for your stream, then open your EngagementHQ host project or page in a new browser window. Remember that each stream has a unique URL, so copy the correct one.
In your project description, select the Video icon, paste the stream’s URL, and select Insert. You’ll see a YouTube video player embedded in your project description. If you’re ready, you can Publish and promote your project.
Return to your YouTube stream and select Done to go to your Studio and manage console.
On the day of the event, select your stream from this list and select Go Live to launch your stream.