Have you heard of Instagram Live? If you’re not using this for your small business yet, you’re really missing out. Read on to find out what this relatively new feature is, and how it can benefit your business.

What Is Instagram Live?

If you’ve used Facebook Live, you know the basics of Instagram Live. This feature allows you to connect with your followers in real time. This is very literal; you are sharing your content live. What you are seeing, your followers are seeing. Here’s the catch: after your live video is done, your video will disappear.

How Do I Use Instagram Live?

Creating An Instagram Video

1. Tap on Your Story profile photo at the top of your Instagram feed.
2. Here, you can choose from 3 options: Live, Normal, and Boomerang.
3. Check all of your settings before beginning a video.
4. Make sure your camera is facing the way you want it to during the live video!
5.  Go live!

Why Is This Good For Small Businesses?

Instagram live provides a way for you to connect with your customers on a more personal level. It helps to build a sense of trust still pictures and memes just can’t accomplish. Businesses that are deemed authentic have more loyal customers. Those customers are who we are aiming for! Now we’re going to talk about effective ways to use Instagram Live.

Effective Ways To Use Instagram Live

Interactive Q & A On Instagram

Maybe one of your potential customers has a question they’d like the answer to before becoming a customer. You can see when a follower comments a question and you can address it right away. Another option could be for followers to send in their question ahead of time. Simple, right? Here’s the important part you can’t forget: give your followers a heads up that you will be doing a live Q & A.

Tutorials On Instagram

Doing a live tutorial is an interesting way to get views and more interaction as well. Again, you would want to give the heads up to your followers that you will be doing this at a certain time. There is no time limit on Instagram Live, so get creative with this one!

Behind-the-Scenes Footage on Instagrm

Offering a behind-the-scenes perspective of your business shows the hard work and effort that goes into everything you do. On social media, pictures and statuses don’t do that justice. Again, this builds a sense of transparency and trust among your customers. You can’t edit out the bad stuff on Live.

Don’t Forget…

Create a plan and always include a call to action! Your plan will keep you from going off-topic. Avoid this for the best results. At the end of your Live videos, always say something along the lines of subscribing to you, following you on other social networks, or other ways of staying in touch. Instagram Live is something all small businesses may want to take advantage of before the competition does. We can help you stay ahead.