Top Tips for Launching a Live Interview Series on Instagram
So you want to launch a live interview series on Instagram? Jumping in can be exciting and terrifying all at the same time. We’ve all done that thing where we do 50 takes of a video for our story so that it can be absolutely perfect… so what happens when it’s live?
My FAVOURITE thing to coach clients on is video confidence and speech. I firmly believe that video content is the best type of content to showcase our personalities! It can make the difference between no sales, and converted clients. So today I’m dishing my top 10 tips for launching a live interview series on Instagram.
Find guests. This is the most important part of launching your live interview series. You need people to interview! A great place to find potential collaborators is through Facebook groups geared towards entrepreneurs. Whatever topic you’re looking to speak on whether it’s motherhood, business, marketing, or personal development, you’ll find all the experts you’ll ever need in these groups.
Screen your guests. Before you commit to hosting anyone, make sure they are the right fit. Check out their IGTV to see how they appear on video and get an idea of their energy. If they haven’t posted any videos, you’re going to want to set up a video meet & greet so you can get a sense of their vibe. This is also a great opportunity to narrow in on a topic and get ideas for questions.
Be consistent. Yes, we hear this ALL the time. But, this is especially important if you are setting up a series. You can only gain a following for the show if you host the show at the same time EVERY week. To help with this, line up guests a few weeks ahead of time so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute to find someone (been there!!). If you do have to cancel, make sure you tell your followers so that they know.
Make it unique. Why do I want to watch your show? How can you keep it in line with your branding? For example, I would never host a show that was solely social media tips. Yes, there is value in that, however, I want to add a little personality. So, instead, I host a show called Wine Down Wednesday, yes I feature business experts BUT we also play games and have some wine. Find the right twist for your show.
Ask the right questions. Always prep your questions ahead of time, and as a courtesy, send them to your guest. This may help to alleviate their nerves. You also only ever want to ask open-ended questions. These are questions that cannot be answered by a simple “yes” or “no”. You want to get your guest talking! Ask questions about their top tips or their purpose, and if the conversation starts flowing and other un-planned questions pop into your mind, ask them! Let the show flow. Think of your questions as a plan B if you need them.
Practice, practice, practice. Get in front of the camera and PRACTICE! Hop on a live to announce the series as a test run, start recording yourself talking to your camera without any intention of posting it. Make sure you watch these practices back because they’ll give you an idea of what you need to improve. Listen for “ums” and “likes”. Don’t be afraid of silences. They give us time to think and make us look more put together.
Write a list of 20 things that make you valuable. If you’re in need of a quick confidence boost, write yourself a list of 20 things that make you valuable. And yes, you HAVE to come up with AT LEAST 20. I guarantee you’ll be feeling great about yourself when you’ve finished this exercise.
Have a 5-10 minute pre-filming routine. Pick a few activities that ground you, and a few the boost your energy. Some things I like to do include: meditating, doing yoga, having a dance party, taking a moment to breathe, and reviewing my list of “Things that Make me Valuable!”
Just do it. Sometimes the best thing to do is dive in! I can tell you right now, the first episode will not be your best. It’s okay. If it’s not perfect, people will be able to relate to it even more and may really come to love your personality. Don’t expect your first live to go swimmingly. It will get better with time and we all have to start somewhere!
Promote it and post it. Don’t forget to promote each week’s guest in a post on your page or in a story. Ask them for a photo that you can use. When you’ve finished the live, post it to IGTV so that all your hard work can go that much further!
And, if you’re still nervous, I’m telling you right now, you can do this. Take a deep breath and jump in! If you want to work through any of these tips, my door is open! Shoot me an email at annik.welsh@gmail.com or find me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/annikwelshsocial .