Was live streaming your church services one of your 2020 goals? Maybe not initially, but COVID-19 threw most of us into the strange wild west of live streaming. Now that you have been several months into streaming take some time to see how you can take your stream to the next level as we approach holiday and advent season!
Here are some tips for improving your live stream.
Send your live stream to one or more viewing platforms. If you want to stream to more than one platform, that usually requires a streaming service and host. There will be some options listed at the end.
Choose an online host to chat and engage with your viewers during the service. This host could be a volunteer or staff member. A volunteer watching from home would be perfect!
Create a simple page on your website that lists your online expressions such as live streaming links, online giving options, prayer requests, or online attendance form.
If you are not set up on a website already, Square Space is an excellent resource for a simple drag and drop website. They also have a price for integrated online giving resources. www.squarespace.com
Pick a different day of the week to stream a devotional from the pastor, staff, or church leadership.
If you can run your live stream through your soundboard, this can help increase your sound quality for your viewers and give you the ability to adjust certain parts of the sound while minimizing room sound.
If you are streaming through a computer, improving your internet connection can be crucial in taking your live stream to the next level. Switching from WiFi to a wired ethernet connection can make a huge difference in your connection speed and quality. If you have to use WiFi, the closer you are to your router, the better your connection will be. Can’t move the router, try getting a WiFi booster to put in your sanctuary. Check your internet upload speed at a site like speedtest.net before broadcasting. Disable or pause any Dropbox/Google Drive apps you might be running in the background.
Plan ahead! Now that you have had time to settle into a live streaming routine, planning early can help you create a better engagement. Make sure to check on room conditions, lighting, sound, distractions, and plan accordingly.
Being on time is also a huge aspect of streaming. Make sure you start on time, so you don’t lose any viewers that might be waiting with nothing to watch. Consider using a 10-minute countdown if you are streaming through an online program.
Be creative and don’t get caught up in trying to have everything be perfect!
Find what works for your church and community. Be consistent in what works and look at improving something each week, in person and online!
If you are meeting in person and unsure about continuing your live stream, this is the perfect opportunity for you to shape your live stream to meet your viewers’ needs at home. Live streaming is a part of our new normal in how we share the gospel.
Live Stream Resources
Make sure that you have the streaming license with CCLI if you are streaming your songs! If you just stream your sermon, you should be ok. www.ccli.com
Facebook, Instagram, and www.churchonlineplatform.com are free. A good, paid option is www.livestream.com. YouTube also has streaming services.
Please note, you may need to mount your camera in Portrait Mode instead of Landscape Mode when doing live videos on social media – so, be sure to test this. Here are some tripod options if you are using a mobile device.
30 Examples of Live Stream Set-Ups from Church Motion Graphics
I love Church Motion Graphics as a resource for all media! They are so much more than motion backgrounds now. They also provide templates for sermon graphics, announcement slides, social media posts, and more! If your church could use a resource like this, it is worth looking into. They also provide freebies regularly!
Taking Your Worship Online for Beginners and the Rest of Us from Resource UMC.