You may have heard the recent buzz about Instagram rolling out a live video feature for its users. The mobile photo sharing giant has finally confirmed that its new feature includes the option to live stream videos. The Instagram Live Video option is officially available this week to US users, while others around the globe can be expected to see the feature in the next few weeks. Ever since news about Instagram rolling out its live video option broke out on the Internet, it has been a hot topic among its 400 million active users. It can be expected to shine some positive light on the social network. Luckily, you’ve got this ultimate guide to using Instagram Live Video to help you get acquainted with everything you need to know to start using it today.
What’s New for Instagram Users?
The social media platform has introduced two new updates for its users. Included are live videos in Instagram Stories, which allows users to broadcast themselves in real-time, with no replay option available for viewers. The second feature is sharing ephemeral photos and videos with friends via Instagram Direct, which is perfect for sharing live videos with a more private audience.
Instagram made the announcement about the official launch of Instagram Live Video to their users here:
https://vimeo.com/192221148%20
How Do You Use the New Instagram Live Video Feature?
The Instagram live video stream feature is quite simple and easy to use. With your mobile device, all you need to do is swipe right from feed and open the camera. Then, tap the ‘start live video’ button and begin sharing your video. You can share your video for up to an hour. It’s as easy as that. Also, while you’re live, you can add comments that are visible to everyone. You could also disable this feature altogether.
If, however, you want to share real-time videos with your friends or groups more privately, then Instagram Direct is what you’re looking for. All you need to do is swipe right into the camera and record a video. Then tap onto the arrow icon to send it to whomever you wish. You can either send it to individuals separately or to a whole group at once.
What’s even better about the new live video option on Instagram Direct is that the video messages you send to recipients will disappear from their inboxes once they have viewed them. On top of that, you will be able to see who replayed your video and even who took a screenshot. Recipients can only replay the video once and then it’s gone forever. Bear in mind you can only send disappearing videos to your followers, regardless of whether your account is set to public or private.
How Do My Followers Know I’m Live?
Instagram has got this covered. When you go live, your most dedicated followers will get a notification saying you’re online, so they can tune into your live feed. On the other hand, if one of the people you follow goes live, you’ll see the word ‘live’ added under their profile pictures in the stories bar. You can also find new live videos using the ‘explore’ tab by tapping the ‘top live’ option. Find the best live videos broadcasting at the moment by swiping right and left.
What Does The New Instagram Feature Mean For Users?
The new feature allows users to share personal real-time videos with a specific audience, without fear of who is watching or sharing. Since the video cannot be replayed, it does help users to feel safer in terms of their privacy. This puts extra emphasis on the term ‘live’, since a live video means to convey just that. It’s a particular moment in time, rather than something you can replay over and over again. Replayed live videos lose the sense of being live and muddy the lines between regular and live videos
Also, the new live video feature is perfect for brands looking to expand their businesses and earn some extra exposure. In essence, it is a good marketing campaign strategy for businesses looking to do something creative. Did you know that about 25% of Internet users watch at least one video daily? Consequently, investing in creating a quality video can be good for business in terms of publicity. Perhaps you could use the option to live stream an event or create an explainer video. Just be sure to stand out and leave a strong impression on viewers.
If you have a live video idea in mind, feel free to contact Valoso. We specialize in creating quality professional video content. We can help you get a professional opinion from a pool of international talent to find a solution to all your video marketing needs. Get a free quote today.
