What I Learned From Accidentally Going Live

For a brief moment, I was confused.?

I noticed the number count in the right-hand corner changed from 0 to 1 back down to 0 and then up to 2.

That's when I noticed that I was being watched.

I had been adjusting the lighting. I wanted it to be just right.

In my mind, I had already decided that I was going to set a standard for how my live show would look and feel. I thought to myself, tech will be a key factor in setting me apart from other Amazon Influencers.

I think I thought this was super important because my live show niche is about all the tech that makes my life and business as a showrunner work seamlessly. By showing my expertise and love for the products, I was hoping to impress all of my viewers straight out the gate.

I thought I had it all figured out.

I was so wrong!

My first stream wasn't anything like I thought it would be and after all that prep I was rather disappointed.

I had spent hours on light adjustments, created a timer, designed graphics in Canva and scenes in Ecamm Live, placed all of the products in the carousel, and programmed my Stream Deck to manage my broadcast with ease. I even triple-checked that I hooked up three different camera angles that would perfectly capture my cuteness... or so I thought.

But after all of that stressing about tech, can you guess what happened to me?

I forgot to press the practice button.

I accidentally went live in my first Amazon Live stream.

No Makeup. No Script. No plan.

Yep! I thought that I was doing my due diligence by testing my setup before my live show was scheduled to start.

One of the features I love in the Amazon Live App is the ability to practice before you start your stream. In order to practice on the app, you have to set the setting to "Practice Mode" in advance.

Unfortunately, this time in all my frazzledness, I had failed to do that.

I may not have been camera-ready, but you know what? I pushed through and did it anyway... for 6.5 minutes.

This taught me a few valuable lessons.

1. Sometimes you have to just get on with it. Get started already! How many of you are procrastinating on a big, terrifying goal you set for yourself this year? You've only got 3.5 months left to make it happen. So do it afraid. Truth is, you will never feel fully prepared to do something you've never done before. You may not even feel fully prepared the second time around, but you'll never reach your destination stuck in the preparation stage. If you need some help and guidance, hire a Digital Business Manager. They can help you plan your next big thing from Step 0 to Step 392 so all you'll need to focus on is implementing.
2. Discover the easiest way to make your goal happen, not the most perfect way. When we overcomplicate a process we delay our success because of hang-ups we have that usually won't make a huge difference in the outcome. Instead, map your way to the finish line with the least distractions. Go with the plans that decrease the level of difficulty in reaching your accomplishment. Then, as you grow, develop your skills and hone your craft. In my case, I should have started with just my iPhone and sat in front of a bright lamp. Then I could have gotten started a lot earlier. I wouldn't have been fidgeting with all the tech and I would have been more focused on the content.
3. Focus on giving value to the audience. If you are stuck on how your live show looks over the content you are providing, your audience will know right away and click away. Lighting and background are not the only way to create a quality show that stands out from the sea of sameness. You've got to provide value to turn browsers into buyers or eventually they unsubscribe or scroll by without pressing the unmute button because they have figured out that you don't have anything worth watching/listening to on your live show. That's practically giving your viewer time away to another Amazon Influencer.
4. When you launch on a new platform, you'll have to invest time and a lot of energy in teaching others how to find and follow you.?I had a whopping 2 unmuted viewers on my first Amazon Live stream. Granted, it was not a planned or scheduled live stream. Still, it was a very good indicator that my audience is unfamiliar with the Amazon Live App and doesn't yet know that they can spend time there shopping with me. Live selling is a new concept to some, but Influencer Marketing and Affiliate Marketing are not. Spend time on your other social channels not only inviting your followers over to Amazon to purchase your favorite finds but train them on how to follow and engage with you during your live show.
5. Last, but probably the most important lesson is to give your own self a pep talk. It's not easy to put yourself out there. I know there are many people who would be great live streamers, live sellers, or Amazon Influencers who are simply just too shy to step in front of the camera. I just finished a 30-day challenge of going live every day in August (LEDA). It was super helpful in helping me build my on-camera confidence even though I've been live streaming and making YouTube videos since 2014. Encouraging yourself is not a bad thing ... I do it all the time.??

Here’s what I tell myself:?

"Though you may not be famous, you are still the main character in your life. You need a plan for today and a system for everything else that's happening tomorrow. This isn't Hollywood, you don't have to be perfect, but it is live show business. You do need to show up, darling."

This little pep talk reassures me that if I take deliberate action, I'll be heading in the right direction.

If you found this newsletter to be helpful, book a Discovery Call with me. I am a Digital Business Manager and Live Show Producer - I run the show (and online businesses) behind the screen for video content creators.

See you next week, friends!

That's a wrap!