Live streamed on YouTube and Facebook by Shelley Carney and Toby Younis on 7.22.21
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I believe technology is a set of tools that anyone can master and integrate into a foundation for the success of their online business.
I’m Shelley Carney, Livestream Coach and Creative Content Marketer with AGK Media. My business partner and I work with Encore Entrepreneurs who want to grow their home-based online business and they’re frustrated because they’re not getting enough prospects or they’re overwhelmed by social media options and technology. They just want to feel confident that they can easily and consistently connect and network online to share their message with the world.
In this article I’ll answer these questions:
There are four levels that we need to achieve with our online business to reach our target audience and attract prospects.
What do you need to set up a home office studio where you can produce professional quality video, audio, images and text? Let’s start off with the basics and see how much technology equipment you already have.
High-Speed Internet You need reliable high-speed internet to maintain a consistent online presence. Check your upload and download speed that you receive from your internet provider using SpeedTest.net. When you are streaming Netflix or YouTube shows, that’s your download speed which is always higher than your upload speed. But when you are streaming video content out to the world, that is your upload speed. You want at least 10Mbps upload speed and more is better. Most medium to large cities will have providers that can offer an average of 50Mbps for upload speed.
Computer The best performance at the lowest price will be found in a Desktop computer. You can also design your desktop tower to your specifications and trade out drives and cards as needed. I recommend you set up a stationary position in your home where you have your desktop, monitor, keyboard and mouse set up along with everything else you need for work. This will help you to keep work and home life separated more easily and anybody who lives with you will know that when you are seated at your desk, you should be considered “at work.” Alternatively you may already have a high quality laptop that you are comfortable using. That will do. But if not, I recommend a desktop computer and a tablet for when you want portability.
Cell Phone You want to use a phone that has the most current operating system that is supported with updates and can run the newest apps. That’s why I suggest an iPhone 8 or above or an Android Galaxy or Pixel. It is also very helpful if you have unlimited data and the capability to turn your phone into a hotspot so you will have internet access when you are not at home.
Webcam I recommend the Logitech C920 or better. There are off brand products that are a little cheaper, but they do not give you the reliability and quality of the Logitech. If you choose to use your laptop webcam, be sure the lens is clean and at eye level. You may need to prop it up on a box, book or stand, but it will give you the most professional and attractive appearance. You may also use your cell phone camera, but you will be relying upon wireless connectivity instead of ethernet and that may adversely affect the quality of your stream.
Headset & Microphone If you are speaking solo to the camera, it isn’t necessary to have a headset. However, if you are bringing in a guest over video conferencing, you may experience an echo or feedback without a headset. You can get a quality headset with a microphone attached for only $30 and it will save you having audio issues while providing the best sound. If you don’t want to spend the money and you already have earbuds with a mic, you can use that until you are ready to upgrade.
Lighting When you sit down at your computer ready to start streaming, you don’t want to spend time and effort messing around with lights. I recommend a set of inexpensive wall lamps mounted at a 45 degree angle above and to the side of your face along with 125W CFL bulbs. That way you can just flip a switch or plug them in and you know your lighting will be perfectly flattering. If you prefer something portable, you can purchase a ring light and light stand. Make sure the ring light is slightly above your head, especially if you wear glasses, so you don’t have white circles for eyes. You may also use sunlight on your face for lighting. However the light will change as the time and weather changes so you cannot count on the quality. Just be sure the sunlight is on your face and not behind you or you will be a dark silhouette that nobody can see.
To help you find just the right equipment at the best price, visit our AGK Amazon StoreFront Home Studio Kit at https://www.amazon.com/shop/agypsyskiss?listId=1PZYFUMVZ6DF8
AGK Amazon StorefrontThat’s it for hardware. Now for platforms that help you connect with others.
Social Media Accounts Set up social media accounts for not just you personally, but for your business. You will want to focus on those sites where your ideal audience is most likely to be, which may include:
Browser and Free Apps Because Google Chrome is the most widely used browser, if you don’t use Google Chrome, you should at least be familiar with it and check how your posts look to people who do use it. Some free apps that we use constantly in our business and recommend are:
Paid Apps & Products If you don’t already use these or something similar, check them out and think about how you could use them to your advantage.
Once you have set up your home studio, you’ll want to have a strategy in place to make the most use of it. We suggest our Creative Campaign Framework which begins with a Live Stream video that you create at least once a week, but 3 to 5 times a week would be better to gain visibility quickly. Then take the audio file from your live stream and upload it to your podcast. If you create your live stream video with music, intros and outros as you would a finished podcast, then there is no need to edit and you can upload it immediately after you finish your live stream presentation. Next, transcribe your audio file into a blog article and post it to gain additional SEO. Include images using screen caps from your live stream or other photos that illustrate your points.
Using the Creative Campaign Framework gives you the entire set of media to use in your posts including, video, audio, images and text.
Attract Clients With a Social Media Storm of Content
When you use a content creation strategy each week, you’ll find the qualified leads you’ve wished for and you’ll have a plan to keep them engaged.
Learn More About The Creative Campaign Framework
Creative Campaign Producer’s Training:
Learn to Produce a Creative Campaign to Attract Clients Through Content Marketing with my Free Mini-Course at this link: https://agkmediastudioccp.gr8.com/
You can join our Facebook Group, Leveraging Your Content for more ideas, helpful training and resources. This group is designed for Encore Entrepreneurs and Legacy Livestreamers – people age 50+ working from home using live streaming, podcasting and blogging to expand their brand and business and share their wisdom with the world. We’ll share how we take one idea and turn it into a social media storm of content and how you can do it too! Along with free live training and troubleshooting, we offer networking and collaboration to help you book guests and speaking opportunities.
Leveraging Your Content Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leveragingyourcontent/
Connect with me! Schedule a free consulting call to define your social media goals, assess your specific needs, and clarify your best options. https://go.oncehub.com/AGKMediaStudio