The Top 5 Reasons Your Livestream Is Blah (and how to fix it.)

As governments are asking people to social distance, one of the biggest hits has been churches around the world. As COVID-19 continues to spread, people cannot gather in large groups during this time of need, resulting in no church services. 

Without being able to gather, many ministries have transitioned to livestream services. Although the concept of livestream for ministries is not new, many of the components for making a great livestream are. No worries, we're here to help.

Below are the top 5 reasons why your livestream isn't all that great and 5 ways to improve it.

Reason #1: LOCATION

Location, location, location. We've all seen the live videos of pastors in kitchens, crowded areas, or rooms with busy wall accessories. That can be highly distracting and cause viewers to miss out on a beautifully prepared message or a much needed spiritual breakthrough. Try a more simple background like a platform or office setting with few wall ornaments.

Reason #2: LIGHTING

Good lighting is essential. When possible, utilize natural window light. When filming indoors, consider a ringlight or 3-point lighting set up. (These items can be purchased from Amazon)

Reason #3: SOUND

Can you hear me now? Often times, viewers are either unable to hear you, hear you too loudly, or hear you, and everything else around you. Purchase a lapel or camera mic to capture the best sound quality. Test record and review to measure the volume.

Reason #4: STREAMING SOURCE

Live stream video can be captured on many devices. But if your stream is blurry or fuzzy, it may be time to evaluate your streaming source. The cost can range from free-thousands of dollars, but it's quite possible to keep the cost relatively low. Using an iphone (which you can find almost anywhere) is a great solution and very budget friendly. You can also use other items like a camera or computer.

Reason #5: SIGNAL STRENGTH

Is your connection strong enough to sustain a livestream? Do you have frequent glitches or service disruptions? It's time to check your stream. Be sure that your wifi or cell signal is adequate enough to stream. Facebook recommends 4 Mbps of upload speeds to broadcast a livestream.

Thanks for reading!

Be sure to save this list so that you can increase your reach and have better livestream videos!