Your Community is booming and there is incredible content everywhere, so let's make it easy for you and your members to find your Livestreams.
Perhaps you have a whole host of Events for your Community, or simply a lot of content that catches the eye. Whatever the scenario, it can be easy to lose track of what Livestreams are currently....live in your Community and if it's even the correct Livestream to start.
So why not attach a Livestream to your specific Event, this way you will know exactly which Group to Livestream to and your members will have an easy time finding the correct Livestream for that Event they've been desperate to see!
How to Attach a Livestream to an Event:
Let's begin by heading to the Console. From here, select Content and then Events from the left hand side menu before creating a new Event.
One of the options you will see in the create an Event page, is the option to add a video link. Selecting this drop-down menu will present you with the option to Add a Livestream, amongst some further video link options.
Selecting one of Zoom, Google Meet or Other will provide you with the option of inserting the link for them. For Zoom and Google Meet, the Event itself will then show their individual logos to make it simple for members to see that these Livestreams will take them out of the App.
If you select Livestream, this will allow you to link to the internal Livestream system. Selecting this option will take you to a pop-out window that allows you to select the Group you intend the Livestream to go out to.
For more information on Live-streaming, check out this article.
As you know, you can only Livestream to one Group at a time, so you can only choose one singular Group. However, here you can only select a Group that is either Public, Private or Secret.
You cannot select a Mandatory Group here.
Once you have selected your Group, you'll see it reflected in the Event creation page. If you change your mind, you can simply press the small X icon on the Livestream field to remove it.
You will also find that the Event itself has now been restricted to the same Group the Event is going out to. This means that if a member is not a part of that Group, they cannot access the Event or the Livestream itself.
Once you're done creating your Event, press Publish and let's take a look at how this appears for you and your members in your Community.
Interacting with a Livestream Event Link:
The experience you have as a Host versus the experience your member will have will be entirely different from each other.
Interacting with a Livestream Event Link as a Host:
As a Host, you can navigate to the Event itself to start the Livestream via the Event Link you have created. This means you won't be accidentally starting a Livestream in the wrong Group!
If you navigate to your Event in a member account that has Livestream permissions for the specific Group, you'll see the Livestream button gives you the option to Start Livestream.
If you arrive at the Event 30 minutes before it is due to start, you will see that the Start Livestream button is not active.
If you arrive to the Event page within 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, you will see the button to start Live-streaming becomes active.
This button remains active up to 24 hours after the scheduled start time of the Event. Because life has a habit of throwing a spanner in the works, the button remains active so that you can start the Livestream even if you're running a bit late!
After 24 hours from the scheduled start time, the button becomes inactive again.
Interacting with a Livestream Event Link as a Member:
Your members can navigate to the Event itself to join the Livestream via the Event Link you have created. This means they will be able to easily find your Livestream and won't run the risk of missing the notifications for it!
Where you as a Host would have seen the option to start the Livestream, your members will see the option to Join Livestream.
If they arrive at the Event 30 minutes before it is due to start, they will see that the Join Livestream button is not active.
The button also remains inactive until you started the Livestream process and notified members.
The moment you notify your members about the Livestream, the button itself will become active and members will be taken directly to the Livestream once they click it.
Top Tips:
- If your Community has multiple Hosts and some of you are attending the Livestream as viewers, once the Livestream begins, your buttons will change from Start Livestream to Join Livestream.
- This does not change how Livestreams are conducted or interacted with in any way other than how you and your members can more easily locate your Livestream.
- If an Event is set to be a premium Event, then this button will only become active to those members with a subscription.