You’ve probably heard that to grow on Instagram, experimenting with various content types—from Stories to Live—is key.
Yes, Live! You heard right! But, hey! Does going live on Instagram help gain followers? Because let’s be honest, this content type often gets overlooked!
This is the question I’m going to answer in this blog. With evidence in tow, I’ll show you that with the right Instagram live ideas and tips, you CAN indeed boost your follower count. Keep reading!
Does Going Live on Instagram Help Gain Followers?
Remember I hinted in the intro that Instagram Live is a great idea to grow your followers? Now, I’m about to show you how it’s done.
Direct Interactions with Your Audience
Instagram Live allows you to interact with your followers in real-time and on a more personal level.
They can comment, react, or ask questions during a live. This can lead to increased engagement which is liked by the Instagram algorithm and grows your followers.
With Instagram Live, You can build Trust, Authenticity, and Intimacy with your audience.
More Reach
When you go live, Instagram sends notifications to your followers. So, you will jump into the front of the stories feed. It’s also a great help for your brand visibility.
Additionally, Instagram prioritizes live videos on the Explore page, which means that your live broadcasts are more likely to be seen by people who don’t already follow you. This can give your content a wider reach and help you attract new followers.
It’s Easy and Quick
Compared to other types of content like photos, carousels, captions, Reels, and more, Instagram Live is an easy and quick form.
It requires minimal setup and you can do it spontaneously with your smartphone. Plus, You don’t need to edit it or add music, text, or effects to make it more engaging.
It creates a Sense of Community
Live videos can help you create a sense of community around your brand or account. When you go live, you’re essentially hosting a virtual event, and your viewers can feel like they’re part of something special. This can lead to increased loyalty and engagement from your followers.
Useful Statistics about Instagram Live
What I’m emphasizing about the effectiveness of going live on Instagram isn’t just my opinion—it’s backed by the numbers.
Check out this Financeonline chat revealing that Instagram Live is the second most popular live platform among marketers.
But, there’s more! Growthoid has gathered useful data about Instagram Live:
- 80% of people like watching live videos from brands more than reading blogs.
- By 2022, live video is expected to grow 15 times, making up 17% of all internet traffic.
- Viewers stick around 10-20 times longer for live videos compared to regular on-demand content.
- Right now, 35% of marketers are using live video.
If you’re still in two hearts about going live on Instagram, I”ll also add some successful experiences.
Instagram Live Success Stories
Many creators and brands on Instagram have actively boosted their growth by using Instagram Live videos. Let me share only a few of these success stories with you.
Story 1
Rodrigo Garduno is a coach and the founder of a fitness program named 54D.
He used Instagram Live to offer free workouts, build a community, and promote his 9-week online program during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Rodrigo’s Instagram Live classes were so successful that he was able to grow his Instagram following to over ONE million.
But, he also saved his workouts to Instagram Videos so that people could watch them later.
That’s not the whole story! Rodrigo even engaged with his audience after the workouts on Instagram Live to help them deal with their challenges.
As a result of the Live strategy, he could increase his followers from 20K to 1.2M in only Six Months.
Story 2
Another similar story is about Adriana (a fitness trainer) who could get +107M video views and 5.4M interactions on her live training sessions
Adriana centered her content strategy on daily Live fitness routines.
“Shortly after launching this programming strategy, the number of page followers and people watching her routines started to grow exponentially — to the point where only two months after her first Live, one of her routines reached 800,000 views”.
Adriana’s fitness routine lives on Instagram were a hit, but her audience craved more. They wanted health/nutrition tips, exercise details, healthy recipes, and even a peek into Adriana’s life.
Recognizing this demand, Adriana diversified her content with on-demand videos exceeding 3 minutes each. This not only strengthened her community and interaction but also unlocked in-stream ad revenue, generating income for her project.
Instagram Live Best Practices
Inspired by Adriana and Rodrigo’s success with Instagram Live? Let’s unpack their strategies and read some Instagram live tips to help you leverage this powerful tool for your own business.
Before you go live
Planning & Promotion:
- Define your goals: What do you want to achieve with your Live? Brand awareness, product launch, Q&A, behind-the-scenes access? Aligning your content with your goals helps create direction.
- Choose the right time: Analyze your audience demographics and peak activity times to maximize reach. Use Instagram Insights for data-driven decisions.
- Promote in advance: Tease your Live on Stories, feed posts, and other platforms. Use countdown stickers and eye-catching visuals to generate excitement.
You can also use question stickers in stories to allow your audience to ask their questions beforehand. This is what BuzzFeed does before going live. And the result?
“We saw over 60 responses on a Live collaboration with BuzzFeed News,” says social media strategist, Adrian Rosales”.
- Collaborate with a guest: Partnering with another brand or influencer can attract new viewers and offer diverse perspectives.
- Prepare a content outline: Have key talking points, questions, and activities planned to avoid awkward silences and keep the flow engaging.
- Practice: Do a dry run to familiarize yourself with the features, test your setup, and refine your content.
Technical Setup & Preparation:
- Stable internet connection: Ensure strong, uninterrupted Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection for smooth streaming.
- Lighting and Sound: Use good lighting (natural or soft ring light) and clear audio (external microphone if needed) for professional quality.
- Background: Choose a clutter-free and visually appealing background that aligns with your brand or content theme.
- Engage with comments: Have someone readily available to answer questions and moderate comments during the Live.
Also, read: How to hide comments on an Instagram live?
During Your Live
Be Yourself & Be Entertaining:
- Speak clearly and confidently: Project your voice, smile, and make eye contact (with the camera) to connect with your audience.
- Be authentic and passionate: Show your personality and enthusiasm for the topic to keep viewers engaged.
- Respond to comments: Acknowledge viewers by name, answer questions, and address their concerns to create a personal connection.
- Use interactive features: Run polls, quizzes, or Q&A sessions to encourage audience participation.
- Go live for at least 10 minutes: This allows more people to discover your Live and gives you time to cover your content.
Promote & Optimize:
- Highlight key points: Use pins to highlight important information or announcements viewers might miss if they join late.
- Show product demos or use visuals: Utilize product demonstrations, screen sharing, or other visuals to enhance your content.
- Run giveaways or contests: Offer incentives like discounts or exclusive content to encourage engagement and participation.
Learn how to run an Instagram giveaway.
After Your Live:
Repurpose & Analyze:
- Save your Live: Repurpose it as IGTV content, Reels snippets, or edited highlights for different platforms.
- Track analytics: Analyze your Live’s reach, engagement, and viewer demographics in Instagram Insights to understand what worked and what to improve for future sessions.
- Share on other platforms: Post snippets or key takeaways from your Live on other social media channels to extend its reach.
- Respond to comments & messages: Continue the conversation by responding to questions or feedback received during and after your Live.
Best Instagram Live Ideas
So: Does going live on Instagram help gain followers?
As you’ve seen, yes, it does. But, here’s the catch: if you follow the best tips and use exciting live ideas. In this section, I’ve gathered some of the best Instagram live ideas to help you boost your follower count.
#1. Live Interviews & Collaborations
I’m sure this is the best way to get more followers during a live. Not just your followers, but your friends’ followers also get a heads-up. And, you can ask your collaborators to share the interview in their stories.
Pro Tip: Try going live interviews and partnerships with people regularly, at least once a week.
#2. Live Q&A with Experts
One idea is to Invite an industry expert or influencer for a live Q&A session on a relevant topic.
Imagine you own a food-related account. You can Interview a nutritionist about healthy eating habits.
#3. Live Tutorials & Workshops
Remember Rodrigo and Adriana offered free online classes through Instagram Lives? Just like them, you can share your expertise in a specific area through step-by-step tutorials, DIY projects, or live courses.
#4. Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Users, like me, always appreciate a friendly and personal vibe in your content. So, offer exclusive glimpses into your work process, creative space, or daily life to strengthen your connection with the audience.
#5. Live Product Launch & Demos
For businesses and brands, it’s a great idea to showcase new products, demonstrate their features, and answer audience questions in real time.
#6. Live Challenges & Contests
Another useful idea to boost your followers through IG Lives is to organize live challenges or contests that encourage audience participation, such as photo challenges, caption contests, or talent showcases.
#7. AMA (Ask Me Anything) Sessions
If you want to create an open and interactive environment in your Lives, you can try AMAs. Just open the floor for viewers to ask you anything about your life, work, or expertise.
#8. Live Music Performances or DJ Sets
No doubt, Instagram is an excellent platform for artists. If you’re a musician, you can show off your musical talent or curate a live DJ set to entertain and attract new audiences.
#9. Live Pet Showcases
Take a scroll through Instagram and notice the crazy number of likes and saves those funny pet moment posts get. Now, try going live with your pets and see how your Live gets interactions.
#10. Live Costume Try-on or Makeup Session
This idea is going to work if you’re a fashion blogger. Try on different outfits or makeup looks live and ask viewers for their opinions and feedback.
How to Go Live on Instagram?
Setting up an Instagram Live is simple. Just follow these steps:
Step 1:
Go to your profile, tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom, and swipe to the left.
Step 2:
In this step, you can define a title for your Live or add any brand you’re partnering with.
Step 3:
Now, it’s time to identify your audience. If everything is ready, you can tap Public so that your followers will be addressed.
But, if you still need to be prepared, just tap Practice. Then, you can practice in private. Nobody will be notified.
Step 4:
To Invite a guest or collaborator, just tap on the icon, search for a name, and click on the Invite button.
FAQs
Let’s answer some of the most common questions about the topic:
Do Instagram Lives help you get followers?
Yes, Instagram Live helps you gain more followers thanks to its interactive and personal vibe.
It sends notifications to your followers, and its ease and quickness set it apart from other formats.
How many followers do you need to go live on Instagram?
There’s no limit to the number of followers required for going live on IG.
When is the best time to go live on Instagram?
The best time to go live on Instagram depends on your specific audience (Age, Location, and Routine) and their online behavior.
How often does going live on Instagram help gain followers?
While there’s no certain frequency, it’s good to be consistent and start with once a week.
What kind of content is best for attracting followers during Live sessions?
The content that provides value and engagement is most effective like tutorials, Q&A sessions, and answering questions.
