How do you avoid technical glitches and interruptions when live streaming a video conference?

1 Choose the right platform

One of the first steps to avoid technical glitches and interruptions is to choose the right platform for your live streaming needs. There are many options available, such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Twitch. Each platform has its own features, advantages, and limitations, so you need to consider your goals, audience, budget, and technical requirements. For example, some platforms may have limits on the number of participants, the duration of the stream, the quality of the video, and the level of interaction. You also need to check the compatibility of the platform with your devices, software, and internet connection.

3 Test your setup

Before you go live, you need to test your setup and make sure that everything is working as expected. You can do this by doing a practice run with a friend or a colleague, or by using the preview or test mode of your platform. You need to check your video and audio quality, your internet speed and stability, your lighting and background, and your screen sharing and chat functions. You also need to familiarize yourself with the features and controls of your platform, such as how to mute or unmute yourself, how to switch between views, how to invite or remove participants, and how to end the stream.

4 Plan your content

To avoid technical glitches and interruptions, you also need to plan your content and have a clear structure and flow for your video conference. You need to have a catchy and relevant title, a clear and concise introduction, a main body with key points and examples, and a summary and call to action. You also need to prepare any materials, such as slides, images, videos, or documents, that you want to share with your viewers. You may want to create an outline or a script for your presentation, but avoid reading it word for word or sounding too rehearsed.

5 Engage your audience

One of the benefits of live streaming a video conference is that you can interact with your audience and create a more engaging and dynamic experience. To avoid technical glitches and interruptions, you need to engage your audience and keep them interested and attentive. You can do this by asking questions, soliciting feedback, acknowledging comments, conducting polls or surveys, or offering incentives or rewards. You also need to moderate your chat and deal with any spam, trolls, or inappropriate messages. You may want to have a co-host or a moderator to help you with this task.

6 Troubleshoot problems

Despite your best efforts, you may still encounter some technical glitches and interruptions during your live stream. To avoid panicking and losing your audience, you need to troubleshoot problems and have a backup plan. You can do this by having an alternative device, software, or platform ready in case of failure, by having a pre-recorded video or a slide show to fill in the gaps, by communicating with your viewers and apologizing for any inconvenience, and by restarting or rescheduling your stream if necessary. You also need to learn from your mistakes and improve your setup for future streams.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?