How to Live Stream: The Best Ways to “Go Live” in 2025

According to the latest live streaming statistics, 29% of internet users watch some sort of livestream each day. Capturing even a small portion of that audience can help build your audience and promote your brand. Learning how to live stream is a great way to reach more viewers while building relationships with those who watch. When you’re done streaming, Framedrop.ai can help you turn your live video into perfectly shareable short clips that you can use to reach an even wider audience on all of your social media platforms. Learn how to go live and start making live broadcasts to benefit your brand and grow your audience.  

How To Live Stream: In a Nutshell

Live streaming is a powerful way to engage with your audience and share content in real-time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start live streaming on popular platforms:

• Choose Your Platform: Decide where to stream based on your audience and content type. Options include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, and more.
• Meet Platform Requirements: Some platforms, like YouTube and Facebook, require minimum followers or account age before you can go live. Make sure your account meets these prerequisites.
• Set Up Your Account: Log in and navigate to the live stream section on your chosen platform. For example:
  • On YouTube, click the “Create” button and select “Go Live.”
  • On Instagram, swipe right to open posting options, then tap “Live.”
• Customize Your Stream Settings: Add a title, description, and privacy settings. Use effects, overlays, or additional tools to enhance your stream if the platform allows.
• Test Your Equipment: Make sure your camera, microphone, and internet connection are working properly. Streaming software like OBS or Streamlabs can be useful for advanced setups.
• Start Your Live Stream: Press the “Go Live” button to begin your broadcast. Engage with your audience through live chat and interaction.
• End and Save Your Stream: When finished, end your stream and choose whether to save or delete the recording. Some platforms allow you to post the live video for future viewing.

By following these steps, you’ll be ready to connect with your audience and make an impact through live streaming!

Why Should You Live Stream

Live content is an extremely popular way for creators, businesses, and brands to build an identity and capture an audience’s attention. With tons of different platforms supporting live streaming, it can be easy to see why live content is all the rage.

Be Authentic

Broadcasting live gives creators and brands an opportunity to be more authentic and real with their audience. Posting planned content like photos, videos, and graphics is a great way to build your brand identity, but it does not give your audience a chance to see the humanity behind the posts. Going live is a great way to show your audience who you are and what you are like. When you add a human component to your content, people are more likely to latch on to what you have to say.

Gather Real-Time Informal Feedback

Live video is a great tool for creators and brands to gather informal feedback from their audience. With the live chat feature, you can ask informal questions to your audience and gather their opinions in real-time. Gathering real-time feedback can help you create more effective content that your audience is sure to love. Interacting with your audience during a live video allows you to do real market research while creating a relationship with your audience. When viewers think that they are contributing to your brand, they will be more likely to stick around to see their opinions put into action creating long-term viewers for your content.

Increase Your Reach

Going Live is a great way to reach an audience that cannot normally see your posts. When you live stream on social media platforms, viewers who are watching live videos will be able to find your stream. Audiences who are exploring other videos in your niche may have your video show up on their feeds. This is a great way to grow your audience and capture the attention of viewers who may be interested in the content you create but have not yet had the chance to find your brand.

Promote a Live Event or New Product

A live broadcast is a great way for creators and brands to showcase their newest product or in-progress events. Going live is a great way to show a global audience a local event. If you are hosting a live event and want to share it with your fans who are not able to make it, streaming live is the best option. Improving your and your brand's accessibility is a great way to cater to your fans while growing a global audience.

Going Live is also a great way to launch a new product or service. A live video can help you get your audience excited about a new product. If you are opening presales, a live video is a great way to help encourage your audience to purchase your product right away.

Here is how you can create live content on all of the major live-streaming platforms. (We’ve already done a guide on how to go live on TikTok, check it out here!)

How To Do A YouTube Live Stream

YouTube Live is a tool for active YouTube creators to showcase live events, interact with their audience, and create content in real-time so knowing how to do a live stream on YouTube is important.. YouTube does require creators to have at least 50 subscribers to start a live stream. YouTube makes it easy to edit your livestream and get the most out of your content.

To live stream on YouTube you will need a YouTube account. Once you have created and signed into your account going live is as easy as hitting a few buttons on both the YouTube app and YouTube.com. Here is how to create a YouTube Live Stream:

1. After logging into your account, click the Create button at the top of the page. Select the “Go Live” option. If your account is not yet verified, you will need to wait 24 hours before beginning your live stream for your account to be verified.
2. Once your account is verified, you can click the Create button at the top of the YouTube app and select “Go Live”.
3. Once selected, the app will ask you to title your upcoming live stream and select your security preferences before going live.
4. If you want to add a description to your live stream you can do so by selecting the “more options” tab.
5. Select “Show More” to change options like Live Chat, Age Restrictions, and monetization.
6. When all of your settings are changed to your liking, you can hit the “Go Live” button to begin your live stream.
7. When you are finished, simply press “End Stream” to finish.

How To Do A Facebook Live Stream

Much like YouTube, streaming on Facebook is simple but you will need to meet some requirements first. In order to create a Facebook Live video your account needs to be at least 60 days old and you must have at least 100 followers on your page. Once your account meets those requirements, going live only takes a few simple steps. Here is how you can start a live stream on Facebook:

1. Open the Facebook app and log in to your account.
2. At the top of the page click on the "What's on My Mind" Tab and choose Live Video from the list of options provided.
3. After choosing Live Video you will be given the option to choose your privacy settings and select your audience.
4. After choosing who will see your Live Video you will be given the option to add a description to your post and tag people who you want to see your broadcast.
5. You can use the Effects button to add a variety of effects to your Live Video. From this menu, you can add video overlays and camera effects to make your Live video more interesting to viewers.
6. After you have applied your effects and you are ready to begin your broadcast, hit the “Go Live” button.
7. When you are finished with your live you can press the “Finish” button to end your live stream.
8. After your stream is ended, you will be given the option to post your live video to a profile or delete it forever. After you post your video you will have the option to save the recording.