This week I had the opportunity to present at the Independent Podcast Conference virtual event focusing on how to build a community around your podcast. My good friend Joe Pardo does a great job running these conferences and they happen every other week throughout the summer.
During this week's conference, I gave a presentation on how to build your EDU brand through live video using an application called StreamYard. StreamYard is a popular live streaming program that allows users to stream to multiple platforms such as Facebook and YouTube simultaneously.
Whether you're a classroom teacher looking to connect with your professional learning network, an instructional coach sharing strategies, or an educational content creator building your brand, live streaming offers incredible opportunities. Let me share 10 compelling reasons why you should start today.
#1: Live Streaming Is Free
One of the greatest things about live streaming through your favorite social media application is not only that it's easy to use—generally one or two clicks—but that it's completely free. This opens up live streaming as a way to build your brand for new podcasters and for groups of podcasters looking to support each other through mutual sharing.
You don't need to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars to get started. The platforms are already there, waiting for you. Facebook Live, YouTube Live, LinkedIn Live—all free tools that put professional broadcasting capabilities in your hands.
#2: You Don't Need Expensive Equipment
Got a phone? Then you have everything you need to start a live streaming career.
Of course, if you want to get some type of microphone such as a lav microphone for mobile broadcasting, you can. But generally, with the right environment, you can hold up your phone—horizontal please—and start sharing your world with others.
The myth that you need a professional studio setup keeps too many educators from getting started. The truth is, your authenticity matters far more than your equipment. Your audience wants to learn from you, not judge your camera quality.
#3: Your Family and Friends Help You Build Your Audience
No matter if you have 10 followers or 10,000 followers, the first few people who tend to share your content are usually close friends and family. If you're looking to get started online, send an email to your close friends and ask them to click the share button.
This organic growth strategy works because people trust recommendations from people they know. When your colleague shares your live stream about Google Classroom tips, their network sees it as a trusted recommendation, not an advertisement.
Start with your inner circle. They'll become your first champions and help you reach educators who need what you're sharing.
#4: You Get To Showcase Your Personality
For most podcasters or online personalities, the record button is a stressful thing. The very thought of sitting down alone with your microphone conjures up unthinkable fears.
However, for many people, when they pick up a phone and start streaming to friends and family, their fear of failure goes away and their personalities shine through.
I love watching friends and colleagues stream their adventures. They're all building their brands and they're all using live video to share their stories one stream at a time.
If you're looking to build an audience, let your viewers get to know who you are. The educators who connect with your personality will become your most engaged followers. They're not just following tips and tricks—they're following you.
#5: Live Content Lives Long After The Show Ends
For many content creators, live streaming video comes in two different sizes: long-form and short-form.
The best thing about these bite-sized pieces of content is that they last on your social media channels well beyond your recording and often get many more views than traditional YouTube content of the same length.
Your 20-minute live stream about lesson planning becomes evergreen content that teachers discover months later when they search for help. The live interaction might be over, but the value continues to compound.
Think of each live stream as a content asset that works for you 24/7, reaching new educators while you sleep.
#6: Live Content Promotes and Supports Your Podcast
If you're building your EDU brand through live video content, it might be because you're trying to use it to promote your website, podcast, or other media platform. Live streaming provides a great opportunity to come on and talk about your latest content or guest.
Short video is also a great asset to send to your mailing list to promote your channel. You can create a 5-minute live stream previewing your upcoming podcast episode, share a key insight from a recent interview, or answer listener questions in real time.
The cross-promotion creates a content ecosystem where each piece supports the others. Your podcast listeners become your live stream viewers. Your live stream viewers discover your podcast.
#7: Your Podcast Promotes and Supports Your Live Stream
Just as your live stream can be designed to promote your podcast, your podcast can be used to promote your live stream—but only if it's produced on a consistent basis.
Traditionally, podcasts and other pre-recorded video are done ahead of time. When published, you sit back and wait for others to find it and take action on it. However, with live video, you can interact with your audience in real time. Pretty awesome!
Imagine ending your podcast episode with: “Join me this Thursday at 7 PM Eastern for a live Q&A where we'll dig deeper into today's topic.” You're giving your podcast audience a reason to show up live, ask questions, and become part of your community.
This bidirectional relationship between your content formats creates multiple touchpoints with your audience.
#8: Livestreaming Helps You Become a Better Podcast Host
Are you thinking about starting a podcast? Or do you already have a show you're nurturing?
By adding a live component, it actually has the ability to make you a better host because you slowly learn how to be a better communicator and storyteller on camera.
Live streaming forces you to think on your feet, respond to comments in real time, and maintain energy without the safety net of editing. These skills directly transfer to your podcast recording sessions. You'll find yourself more confident, more natural, and better at explaining concepts clearly the first time.
The best podcast hosts often started by going live and learning to trust their voice.
#9: Livestreaming Helps You Become a Better Podcast Editor
One of the things I always recommend to new podcasters is to learn the art of editing. If you know how to edit, then you'll learn how to create your podcasts to fit your editing habits and style.
By creating live video, you not only get an opportunity to capture yourself and your amazing personality, but you have the opportunity to create something that doesn't always need editing. This creates better podcasts, which might allow you to not have to edit as much.
When you know you can't edit out mistakes during a live stream, you become more intentional with your words. You learn to pause before speaking, organize your thoughts clearly, and recover gracefully from stumbles. These habits make your podcast recordings cleaner and require less time in post-production.
#10: It's Fun!
One of the easiest things you can do to build your EDU brand is to try something different.
Each social media platform provides a different audience and has different social guidelines for creating your live video streams. YouTube is great for how-to videos and tutorials. LinkedIn is perfect for more business conversations and professional development. Facebook is a little less structured and can be easily enjoyed by friends and family.
Experiment with different formats. Try a “Tech Tip Tuesday” series. Host a “Friday Wins” celebration where educators share their weekly successes. Create a monthly “Ask Me Anything” session.
The variety keeps you engaged and helps you discover what resonates with your audience. And honestly, connecting with educators in real time, seeing their questions, celebrating their breakthroughs—it's genuinely enjoyable.
Is Live Streaming For You and Your EDU Brand?
Deciding to build your EDU brand by creating live video is a decision that shouldn't be made lightly. However, with a little bit of practice and a little bit of consistency, the creation of additional content that shows your personality allows you to become a better communicator and build your community through personal interactions.
You don't need a perfect plan. You don't need professional equipment. You don't need thousands of followers.
You just need to start.
Pick a platform. Choose a simple topic you know well. Schedule 15 minutes. Hit the go live button. The first one will feel awkward. The second one will feel slightly less awkward. By the fifth or sixth stream, you'll find your rhythm.
The educators who need what you're sharing are out there right now, searching for someone who can help them. Your live stream might be exactly what they're looking for.
Do you have any thoughts on live streaming? I'd love to hear about your journey. Leave a comment below to share your experience or questions about getting started with live video.
For more information about how you can improve your online platform and build your professional brand, visit www.BuildYourEDUBrand.com today.
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