Stream Smarter, Not Harder: Tips To Enhance Your Live Stream for Maximum Impact
The ability to Live Stream is still one of the most important aspects of our Sunday services. In this hybrid environment, there are people who never intend to return to our sanctuaries. Therefore, it is important to provide an engaging and impactful online worship experience. If you want to enhance your livestream for maximum impact, here are a few tips to consider:
Lighting Is Everything
Lighting can often be a barrier to our online audiences connecting with us. If online worshipers cannot see, they may just click off. You want to make sure your lighting is good so that viewers can see you clearly. Consider these points when you think about lighting:
Use the three-point lighting rule. Properly light your stage with this method will ensure that your subject(s) are well lit and to create a professional look.
Consider the background. Make sure your background is not too cluttered or distracting, as this can take away from the overall viewing experience.
Experiment with different lighting setups. There are many churches that like to create different moods and atmospheres with the lights. This is a great option as long as we are able to see the faces of subjects on stage.
Note: Using a high-quality camera won’t be effective if the environment in which you are recording does not have enough lighting. Fix the lighting first, then invest in cameras.
Internet Is Key
A bad internet connection can make or break our online services. (Trust me, I know!) The Church I serve went through a season of bad having a internet connection during our worship services and it was brutal. Here are some tips to consider:
Check your upload speed to make sure it can handle the demands of live streaming.
Wired Connection. Make sure the encoder or computer you are streaming from has a wired connection to the internet instead of Wi-Fi.
Consider fiber. This can be an expensive option, but in a hybrid church environment, it is definitely worth the investment.
Use a reliable streaming platform that can handle the internet traffic for you. Resi is a great option. They use RSP technology which is designed to eliminate buffering and livestream interruptions.
Audio Is Crucial
Oftentimes, people will tolerate bad video, but will often click away from videos that are difficult to hear. Here are a few audio tips:
Invest in high-quality microphones and test your audio levels before going live.
Invest in two audio engineers. One for the in-house (sanctuary sound and one for broadcast (streaming). This means that you will also have to invest in two sound boards.
Use Sound Design. Don’t be afraid to use complimenting sound effects to enhance your online audience’s experience.
Lower Thirds Matter
Lower thirds can be used for more than displaying lyrics on Sundays. Use your lower thirds to engage your viewers now, AND in the future; here’s what I mean.
Connect with your audience beyond the livestream. How can they connect with you on social? How can they unite with your church? What major event is happening at your church or within your community that they might be interested in?
Make them readable. Use clear and legible fonts for your lower thirds so that they can be easily read by viewers.
Be Relevant. Ensure that the information displayed is relevant and up-to-date.
Engage With Your Audience
Online audiences are real audiences and often want to have a sense of belonging even online. To enhance our streams, let’s consider a few ways to engage our online audiences.
Respond to comments. Responding to comments and questions in real-time can create a sense of community and connection. It’s always a good idea to have a volunteer on staff specifically for this task on Sunday mornings.
Take prayer requests. Prayer is one of the most sacred moments in worship. Invite your online audience into that moment by asking them for prayer request and praying for them in the chat.
Make Eye Contact
Although we are in hybrid church, we cannot ignore those in the sanctuary nor can we ignore those online. Remind those speaking from the stage or pulpit to make eye contact with the camera to create a more personal connection with viewers. Welcome online worshipers into the service and be mindful that there is a living being on the other side of the camera lens; make every effort to connect with them.
My hope is that you find something here that can enhance what you’re already doing and further help you and your ministry make an impact for the Kingdom.
