My First LinkedIn Live Event: Lessons, Tips and Why You Should Go Live in 2025

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to host my very first LinkedIn Live event. What an experience it was! While I’ve hosted LinkedIn audio events, this was a whole new ballgame. From learning to navigate the technical aspects to keeping my audience engaged, I picked up valuable lessons that I’m excited to share with you.

If you missed the live session, no worries, the recording is available on my page. Now, let’s dive into the preparation process, tips for success and why I believe going live will be a game-changer in 2025.

How I Prepared for My LinkedIn Live Event

Decide on the Topic and Partner(s)

• The first step is deciding on your topic. For this session, I chose personal branding, a subject I’m deeply passionate about.
• Next, I considered whether to go solo or invite a guest. Collaborating with someone can add diverse perspectives and enrich the conversation.

Conduct a Test Run

• LinkedIn Live now requires third-party tools for hosting. (Read more here) I used StreamYard, which was new to me. To avoid surprises, I tested the platform beforehand to familiarize myself with its features and functionality.
• I also checked my lighting, sound and background to ensure everything looked professional and polished.

Research Thoroughly

• Preparation is key. I researched my topic to ensure I could provide valuable insights. I also planned for potential tangents by having a few backup talking points ready.

Prepare Your Guest(s)

• If you’re hosting with a guest, share the tools you’ll use and the questions you’ll address in advance. This ensures everyone is on the same page and avoids unnecessary hiccups.
• I shared the agenda and the questions we would handle with my guest beforehand.

Promote Your Event

• I cross-posted the event on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and even my WhatsApp to reach a wider audience.
• People will not know about your event if you do not inform them about it, for this reason, share your event far and wide. Utilize the LinkedIn invite feature to send personal invites too.

Affirm Yourself

• Hosting live can be nerve-wracking, but a little self-affirmation goes a long way. I reminded myself that I’m capable, prepared and ready to deliver value to my audience.

Tips for a Successful Live Event

Start on Time

Respect your audience’s time by beginning as scheduled. Have an agenda ready to help you manage time effectively.

Stick to the Agenda

• Avoid digressing from the main topic to keep the conversation focused and relevant.

Engage with Your Audience

Invite attendees to comment and ask questions. Using a tool like StreamYard allows you to highlight audience questions on screen, making the session interactive and inclusive.

Remember: It’s About Them, Not You

• Focus on providing value. Address their questions and share actionable insights that they can take away from the session.

Post-Event Follow-Up

Seek Feedback

At the end of the session, I encouraged attendees to share feedback. Constructive criticism is invaluable; it helps you improve for future events. For example, I learned that I tend to speak too fast and occasionally interrupt my guest, two areas I’m now actively working on.

Do a Recap

Share a summary of the event to engage those who missed it. Replays allow you to reach a broader audience over time, so make use of this feature.

Why Going Live Is Vital in 2025

1. Humanize Your Brand-Live events create real-time interactions, allowing your audience to see the person behind the brand. This fosters trust and authenticity.
2. Expand Your Reach- LinkedIn’s live feature boosts visibility, helping you connect with a wider audience and establish yourself as an authority in your field.
3. Create Evergreen Content-Recordings of live sessions can be repurposed into blogs, social media snippets and more, maximizing the ROI of your effort.

Let Me Help You Go Live

Thinking about hosting a live event but not sure where to start? Maybe you’re looking for guidance on managing a virtual stage, preparing for your session or moderating the conversation, I’ve got you covered!?

Hosting virtual events is one of my strengths and I’d be thrilled to help you share your expertise with the world. Reach out to me Stephanie Wambua and let’s discuss how we can make your live event a success!