An observation: With the move to much of what we do or have done to YouTube, I have an observation about Comments when Doing a Live Stream on YouTube.
I subscribe to a number of folks on their YouTube Channel. I get an alert when they start a Live Stream. My alert takes me to the YouTube side, which is fine.
BUT, several of the recent Live Streams have had Comments turned ON but the host is NOT watching the comments.
If you are doing a Live Stream (and I may not be using the correct term here), be aware that while you are live and you have comments ON, you might consider watching for those comments. OR Turn the comments OFF, or even better "point" to where you want your YouTube Viewer to make those comments.
I am about to unsubscribe to a couple of folks because they open comments and don't watch for them.
< / off soap box >
Russ
Good point Russ Worthington, I need to add that to my checklist.
ReplyDeleteRANT ALERT!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat observation and excellent point well made Russ Worthington. The greatest advantage to live streaming IMHO is the interaction with the audience. The audience, which is why you should be there in the first place (to help them rather than promote yourself) also expects to be included in this type of event. I have seen several hosts week after week apologize to the audience for comment tracker not working, or not knowing how to get comments and include the audience, or the worst in my opinion is to say "I know people are here but we have so much to cover today we probably won't spend much time on the comments" (this implies that what you have to say is more important than what your audience wants to know through their questions). Aren't those the most relevant and important questions to answer?
I would suggest as a host one might get away with that occassionally (we all know and appreciate that TECH. technically ain't perfect), but if live streaming is how you market yourself, you owe it to yourself, and especially to your audience to find and learn a way (with maybe a backup plan) to include them.
INCLUDE 'EM or LOSE 'EM.
RANT ALERT ENDS HERE.
Bill Graham Well ranted! ;)
ReplyDeleteBill Graham I couldn't agree more! Evan though the vast majority of our views are from the YouTube video posted after the live event doing it live and having viewer interaction is the life blood of what we do. We do whatever we can to promote live watching and participation in the chat. It is fun and helps establish a feeling of ownership for the audience. As far as the host not responding to the live chat it seems that the way to have your viewers lose interest in what you do. Granted, sometimes there is a lot going on during the show as it is produced live but that is what your panel or moderators are for. They need to take some of the load from the host and certainly keep an eye on the chat to maintain its viability during the webcast. Use the live chat or kiss your viewers goodbye!
ReplyDeleteYes Gary Solomon I agree that there is sometimes a lot going on in live events produced on the fly. I remember when I started watching HOA's a couple of years ago, there was usually a comment tracker specifally for that purpose. Some are very proficient at doing both running the show and following comments, but for most depending on the type of event, they are two full time jobs. Questions can also lose relevance if not addressed right away, especially if the event is progressing through several different aspects of a topic.
ReplyDeleteI know Russ Worthington was referring to the new challenges of live streaming from the YouTube side. The live comments there are lost after the event so they may not be considered important by some hosts, but it should be considered an intrigal part of the live viewer experience. It also creates new challenges, such as, comments are not displayed for the viewer as in previous formats, so it is important for the host to read the comment/question aloud (and maybe mention the commenter as well) before answering, otherwise when read in your head and then answered, it can sound awkward or irrelevant in the replay. From what I have seen of late the best way to maintain comments is to split your screen and watch the event on the YouTube side with comments shut off there, while encouraging commenting on the event side where the comments will remain after the event. But, this is a new process for a lot of people that will need to be educated by the hosts that want to provide the best audience experience.
Hmmmm................ maybe I have just talked myself into a new project.
Well said all Bill Graham Russ Worthington Gary Solomon and Andrew Hatchett!
ReplyDeleteI ran last week's BeingYourOwnCEO hangout on the YT side. But I did not see comments that I know one person was posting. I did not see where comments could be turned on. Still have no idea now. I will be searching for that tomorrow am. Agree that our viewer engagement is critical.
ReplyDeleteLowell Ann Fuglsang You have to use a split screen so you can also see the HOA interface as well as the actual YT page as that is where the live chat box is.
ReplyDeleteSo then Hangouts on YouTube Live on your tube are not actually Live interaction with an audience? like a Live Show?
ReplyDeleteAndrew Hatchett that would explain it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteArthur Morehead They are live interaction but you can have a choice of where that interaction takes place as you can turn YT Chat on/off during live events and have people watch comment somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Hatchett You don't have to have the YT viewer on your screen during the HOA. You just need to go there before you start the live stream and find the chat window next to the screen. Then hit the 3 dot menu at the bottom and select "Pop Out" window. This creates a separate window with its own URL at the top. You can use this URL or that window to just have the chat window available while you are broadcasting. Did that make sense? I'm probably telling you guys something you already are doing but in case someone hasn't used this method I would recommend it.
ReplyDeleteGary Solomon Until a few days ago I'd forgotten all about the pop out chat :)
ReplyDeleteI'll try to turn off the chat when not monitoring it.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Hatchett
ReplyDeleteFor instance if I wanted others to be ableto tlak live with me on my Wordpress.org I can do that as long as I "embed" the code into a page and/or post? I already have a plugin for this just making sure I have the right one as it does it on autopilot. That way I don't need to embed each one. It just moves on when YouTube is ready
Arthur Morehead I don't have a website so know nothing about embedding. What I am doing is all within Google to try and reproduce what the event page allowed. For those with websites I'd imagine things would go like they always have - minus the loss of the Q&A, Showcase, and Applause app.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Hatchett
ReplyDeleteYour blog IS your website just as mine is. You can embed YouTube to a post, page and/or widget just like any other site. Most of todays "websites" are self hosted Wordpress.org formats
Oh! I really don't play that much on Blogger anymore and tend to forget I've even got it! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever tried doing a broadcast from it.
Arthur Morehead yes. Peggy K had a great post about embedding a YouTube live chat in your blog or website a couple weeks back. You can place it next to your video embed so the entire experience can occur on your site instead of on the YouTube page.
ReplyDeleteGary Solomon
ReplyDeleteThanks I was just double checking as I thought i read something that scared the Bageebas out of me and thought holy cow what do I have to learn now?
Arthur Morehead here's how you embed live chat: http://www.peggyktc.com/2016/05/embed-livestream-and-chat.html
ReplyDeleteThe chat does not persist after the live stream is over.
Thanks Peggy K, if I ever get time I'm going to go read the articles I've missed on your blog! :)
ReplyDelete