Keep reading to explore top 7 ideas that help you create your own amazing Instagram Live stream.
7 Instagram Live stream ideas
Here are 7 great ideas to inspire you next Instagram Live stream. Use this list the next time you need some help coming up with an engaging Instagram Live stream for your audience.
1. Collaborate with an industry influencer
There’s no better, more proven way of spreading brand awareness and gaining more followers than collaborating with an industry influencer.
These are people who your target audience already recognizes and respect. When you work with them, they bring clout to your brand and introduce more people to your business.
Instagram Live is a perfect feature in Instagram platform for these collaborations. With their “Add a guest” feature, you can bring influencers on for interviews, Q&A sessions with your viewers, or just to have them on for a chat.
Tap on the Add a guest button at the bottom (the one with two smiling faces) and it’ll give you the option to choose another guest in your stream. When the guest joins, their video will appear with yours on a split screen.
Here’s an example from The Lyons’ Share Wellness, a fitness coach who welcomed a running expert on her Instagram Live to give viewers some great insights on fitness.
For more, check out our article on how to work with social media influencers.
2. Go live at an event
There’s no better place to go live than at an industry event that you or someone else is hosting.
Maybe your brand is up for an award? Stream the ceremony live for your followers to see.
Maybe you’re at a conference and there’s a panel you think your audience would love?
Show them through Instagram Live.
Maybe it’s just a party or fundraiser your company is hosting? That’s a good opportunity to show your followers the human, fun-loving side of your brand.
Streaming live at events also helps boost that all-powerful FOMO (fear of missing out) factor, helping to build hype and anticipation for your next event. This is great if you want your followers to join you at another event later on.
Here’s a great example from Cristiano Rinaldo who streamed his promotional visit to a Nike store from Instagram Live.
3. Host a tutorial or a workshop
Instagram Live is a great place to host a how to workshop for your followers. Not only can you stream to people across the world, but you also have the opportunity to answer any questions they might have in real time.
One person who does this very well is John Mayer on his Instagram Live streams. He often turns to the platform to give guitar masterclasses to his followers.
These videos are fun, informative, and very engaging. He frequently takes the time to answer questions his audience has for him.
Kim Kardashian also created a Live makeup tutorial for all of her Instagram followers.
You might not be a famous rock star or a reality television mogul, but there are plenty of ways your brand can offer lessons to your viewers as well.
4. Q&As
A great way to start building engagement with your audience is by answering their questions. This is especially effective if you have thought leaders in your organization.
Simply hop onto Instagram Live and solicit questions from your audience. They can range from topics like the latest news around your industry, to what the inner workings of your business look like.
Here’s a video of entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk conducting a Q&A for his Instagram Live stream.
Be sure to announce that you’re going to hold a Q&A for your followers before you go live so that they know to come with questions ready. This also helps build hype for your stream in advance.
5. Interview a coworker
One great way to build transparency and showcase your business’s human side is by interviewing a coworker during an Instagram Live stream.
This is a great chance to put a face to your company, while also giving some love and appreciation to your employees.
And it doesn’t have to be a hard-nosed, Barbara Walters-esque interview. Just sit them down and ask them about their role, what they do day-to-day, and how they help your audience with your brand.
Just be sure to give your coworker a heads up before you shove an iPhone in their face like the paparazzi.
Caption: Don’t be like Leonardo DiCaprio.
6. Talk to a customer
You don’t need to talk to an industry thought leader or influencer to help boost your brand. Talking to a customer about how much they love your products or services is just as effective at engaging your audience—and much less expensive.
Do you offer fitness coaching? Interview a customer who was able to run a marathon because of your business.
Do you teach people personal finance? Talk to one of your students about how they got out of debt using your advice.
These are just a few examples. Basically, if your customer had a positive experience with your business, they are perfect candidates for an Instagram Live interview.
And since Instagram gives you the option to save the video after you’re done, you can keep it on your Instagram profile as a video testimonial. Double win!
7. Review
This is a close cousin to idea #2.
You can give your instant reaction to an event, book, movie, lecture, or whatever else for an Instagram Live stream. As long as it’s related to your industry and / or your audience is interested, it’s fair game.
For example, if you just watched a talk given by a prominent thought leader in your field, you can go on Instagram Live afterwards and give your immediate thoughts on it.
Or maybe you just read the latest book about your industry—and you have a blistering hot take on it that no one else has thought of before. Hop on Instagram Live and spill the T!
(That’s something the kids say, nowadays. Right?)
Just make sure you don’t say anything you might regret while you’re so fired up.
You can also review different products and services related to your business. Use a new laptop for your business? Or maybe you’ve been trying out a new camera? Review of all those products live!
Frequently asked questions about Instagram Live
Where can I find my Instagram Live video?
After you finish your live video, you have the option to save and share the video.
Once you tap End during your session, Instagram allows you to share the Instagram Live stream to your Story. You can then view it there.
In your Story, you’ll also have the option to save the video using the save icon at the bottom.
Can I restrict who sees my Instagram Live?
Yes! Instagram gives you the option to limit who sees your Instagram Live stream.
The setting works the exact same way as it does on your Instagram Stories (since that’s where your video will “live”).
Just tap the camera in the top left corner. Then tap the gear or settings button in the top left corner.
Then go to the Hide Story From section and choose who you want to hide from your Instagram Live stream.
Alternatively, you can also tap on Close Friends and choose a smaller audience of people you want to share your Story with.
How do I turn off the comments?
You have the option to turn off the comments on an Instagram Live video by tapping the three dots in the chat box and tapping Turn Off Commenting.
How do I answer questions on Instagram Live?
You can solicit questions from your followers via your Instagram Story for a Q&A.
Create a Story post with a questions sticker containing the question you want to ask.
When it comes time for your Instagram Live stream, you’ll be able to access them all via the questions button. Tap the button and a drawer appears containing all of the questions you can answer.
Select one of the questions and it will appear on your stream for your followers to see.