Going Live: Why you should live stream your Worship Services

THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL:

a. 2.23 billion monthly Facebook users

b. 1.3 billion YouTube users

c. 5 billion videos watched every day.

Reach the Unmotivated, Reach the Mobile (college students, missionaries, traveling members), Reach the Immobile (Yes, Grandma is on Facebook!)

THE STREAMING PROCESS

1. INGEST* 2. ENCODE* 3. TRANSMIT* 4. BROADCAST 5. RECEIVE

* some devices combine steps 1,2 and/or 3

II. What You need

1. GEAR:
   1. Camera
      1. Smart Phone
         1. Don’t forget a tripod or gimbal
         2. lighting, sound, zoom, can be a concern
      2. b. Consumer Camera
         1. Decent Zoom
         2. External audio input (unless that’s handled with your broadcast encoder)
         3. HDMI and/or USB output
         4. Video Gain (brightness)
   2. Broadcast Encoder – if not direct from phone
      1. Capture Device (around $100)
      2. OBS software on a laptop – FREE (laptop not included)
      3. Epiphan Webcaster X2 – $300
      4. MeVo (getmevo.com) $300 – $800
      5. TeraDek VidiU $500 – $800
      6. SlingStudio (myslingstudio.com) – $1000 – $2000
   3. Audio (if not onboard – not recommended)
      1. Direct mic
      2. Feed from sound board
      3. Adapters you may need:
         1. iRig Pre HD (XLR) – $77
         2. iPhone lighting to USB plus USB ($34)
         3. USB External Stereo Sound Adapter ($8)
   4. Decent Lighting (look at what’s beyond your subject – backlight)
   5. External Battery
2. Strong WI-FI, Ethernet or LTE
3.  Licensing (for music) – CCLI.com (streaming license) – https://us.ccli.com/copyright-license/#pricing
4. Outlet:
   1. FREE
      1. YouTube Live – https://support.google.com/youtube/topic/2853712?hl=en&ref_topic=4355169
      2. YouNow.com
      3. Periscope (app) – Mostly Twitter based
      4. Facebook Live
   2. PAID OPTIONS:
      1. LiveStream.com
      2. DaCast.com
      3. UStream.TV
      4. Streaming Provider Du Jour

III. Getting fancy …

1. Multiple Cameras (Sling Studio)
2. GoLightStream.com
3. Restream.io
4. LiveLeap.com

IV. TIPS:

1. Don’t stream at the highest setting (1080p) because …your Wi-Fi and their Wi-Fi 720 is more than enough / 480 is tolerable.
2. Acknowledge Your online viewers
3. Consider Their Experience
4. Engage with your Audience
5. Quality Matters:
   1. Audio – Can I hear what I need to hear (and not what I don’t)
   2. Video – Can I see what I need to see (and not what I don’t)
6. Be Legal – CCLI add on for live streaming

SPECIFIC TO FACEBOOK:

• Make an announcement ONLINE before you go live

• Give time to build an audience

• Leverage in-person attendance to increase online viewership (check in, share the live stream)

• Recruit “community managers” to engage with live viewers, welcome new viewers, share quotes from the sermon, provide links to church events and other items, point to prayer.

• Provide tools for your community managers – copy/paste stuff

• Create an online guest card for viewers to fill out (mailchimp.com) with a free gift

• Edit the final video after the service is over (unless you’re perfect every time.)

• Follow up with people who engaged in the comment section.

• Have a special live broadcast from the pastor immediately after the service.

• Don’t make this your ONLY outreach.

JonGraham@gabaptist.org // 770.936.5281 // 770.601.8191

LWoodard@gabaptist.org