25 Useful Tips for Bloggers on How to Use Periscope

 

When I first heard about Periscope my immediate reaction was, Oh no! Not another social media network I have to learn how to use!! And then as I started to learn more about it I was like NO WAY! Nope I am never using Periscope! I am not a public speaker, there is no way I could do a live broadcast! And now I’m like, When can I Periscope next & what can I Periscope about!? 

Yes, that was a huge pendulum swing! 

When I first started I felt like a fish out of water. But after a few weeks of Periscoping I feel like I’m slowly starting to get the hang of it. What really helped was that I started writing down tips for myself on how to improve & become a better Periscoper.

I find myself constantly going over this ever growing list (when I started writing this post I only had 10 tips) in hopes that I will continue to improve & draw more viewers to my blog.

But I couldn’t keep this list to myself! Why learn & grow by myself when I can do it with all of my blogging friends?! 

So I really hope you enjoy these 25 Useful Tips for Bloggers on How to Use Periscope & that we can grow on Periscope together!

 

 

Beginners Tips

 

1. Actively Use Periscope

Actively using Periscope is as simple as clicking Start Broadcasting, but it can be a bit scary the first time (or 10), but you will eventually get use & it will even become addicting.

To be honest I was shaking the first time I periscoped, not only during the broadcast but for a whole 30 minutes afterwards. Yes, public speaking freaks me out a bit…
But the truth is if I didn’t just click “start broadcasting” I might never have started.

You can also be active Periscope while watching & learning from other scopes by sending hearts & comments. I have gained many new followers just by being an active watcher on Periscope.

2. Use Periscope Everyday

This is something I personally try to do. Sometimes I miss a day, sometimes I will scope three times in one day, but the important part is that you are scoping on a regular basis & that people don’t forget who you are.

I know everyday sounds like a lot, but since your video only lasts 24 hours on Periscope it’s important to have something available for new followers to watch & get a glimpse of who you are & what they are going to be following. Plus then they know you are actively using Periscope & they aren’t following a ghost (an inactive blogger).

3. Know You Will Make Mistakes

It’s going to happen & you just got to laugh it off & let it go. (ps I’m so sorry if the song is now in your head – it’s in mine too…)

Last week I was periscoping about Anthropologie & someone joined from England. Without thinking I spit out, do they have Anthropologie in England?
Immediate face palm.
Oh well!

4. Know How to Work the Camera & Stop Broadcasting

Right now when you start a broadcast it immediately starts with the camera facing away from you, so focus on something interesting to begin. If you want to do a selfie video just double tap the screen.
Want to show someone what you are working on, just double tap it again.

To stop the broadcast swipe down & click Stop Broadcast.

5. Use Pretty Link Lite

This is something that I have just started using & am already in love with! 
Basically Pretty Link creates shortened links, to any website, using your domain name.

So say I am telling my viewers about my facebook page, with pretty links my viewers can now find my page by going to DomesticallyBlissful.com/Face. 
Pinterest: DomesticallyBlissful.com/Pin
Twitter: DomesticallyBlissful.com/Twitter
Or say I am talking about my sister (in-laws) handmade dolls on Etsy: 
DomesticallyBlissful.com/EtsyDolls

I think you get the point… It’s amazing!

 

 

6. Save All of Your Videos

+ Autosave

You can autosave your videos to your phone’s camera roll by going to your Profile, then Settings, & select Autosave Broadcasts.

+ Katch.me

Go to Katch.me 
Sign in with Twitter
Go to Settings
Select Auto-Katch all my streams
And while you are there go ahead & click Share Katch Videos with my followers so that after each broadcast your video will immediately be sent to Twitter for replay.

7. Location Sharing

There are many pros & cons to location sharing. On the upside people will be able to find you on the map, which will draw in more viewers to your broadcast. On the downside everyone knows exactly where you are, down to an exact location on a street.

So basically use location sharing anytime you are not at home (or at a place you hang out regularly) so that creepers won’t be able to find you. 

 

Blogger Specific Tips for Periscope

 

8. Create an Awesome Bio

+ Link Your Blog or other social media account, but don’t forget to add the http:// so that those online can immediately be directed to your blog.

Ps. Although you can’t click a link on Periscope, I learned from another scoper that you can click links if you are watching online.

+ Add Important Keywords to your bio so that when people search topics on Periscope they can easily find you.

I use words like DIY & Vegetarian

9. Share Your Blog Posts

Periscope is social media.
Every time I share a new post on my blog I also share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, ect. So why wouldn’t I also share it on Periscope too?

I’m trying to get in the habit of sharing every post I put on my blog on Periscope, whether it’s a DIY, or a recipe, or a curated collection. I like to just give a little insiders peek at what I created so that viewers are intrigued enough that they check it out for themselves on my blog & maybe even start following along on Twitter or Facebook! Yes, I have seen it happen!

Of course that also means reminding your viewers at the beginning & end where they can find you & your blog.

10. Promote Your Brand

I could easily get on Periscope & broadcast anything & everything that happens during my day, but that wouldn’t be promoting my brand.

Stay true to your brand so that when your scope ends & your viewers go to your blog they aren’t completely thrown off guard. 

11. Promote Your Scope Before, During, & After Your Broadcast

Let people know in advance when you are going to be scoping on your other social media accounts. 
Give countdowns on Twitters, like “1 hr till…” or “10 minutes till…”

Before you hit the start broadcasting button make sure that Twitter Post On.
Invite your viewers to share your scope on Twitter as you are broadcasting.

If you have signed up for Katch.me it will immediately send out a tweet with the replay video.
You can also share your scope over the next 24 hours directly from Periscope.
Just click on your broadcast, scroll down, & click share.

12. Promote Your Periscope Account

Your followers won’t know you are on Periscope unless you tell them.
And it’s so easy to get the word out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, & of course your blog too.

13. Promote & Support Other Bloggers

You can learn so much by following other bloggers on Periscope.
If you really enjoy what they are scoping about send lots hearts & share their scope on Twitter.
And I must admit, I love giving hearts!!

Side note: You can leave up to 500 hearts per broadcast. Over 500 is super nice, supportive, & always encouraged, but you should know that they will not be included in your total number of hearts.

Bloggers supporting bloggers is the best!

 

 

Pre Periscope Broadcast Tips

 

14. Create Captivating Titles

The title is how you will draw people in. Make it count & make it good. 
And please, don’t leave it empty or else it will just say “untitled” & know one will know what you are periscoping about.

If Twitter share is on as soon as you start broadcasting a tweet will be sent out, so don’t forget to add hashtags. 
I also recently learned that 2 hashtags will give your tweet a better chance of being seen, however Periscope already adds #Periscope when you start your broadcast. So be sure you only add one hashtag to your title.

15. Create an Outline

It is so easy to ramble, to lose focus, get off topic, & completely forget everything you wanted to say. So to make life easy on you & to keep your viewers from wandering off, jot down a few notes in the form of an outline.

When I don’t do this I have a tendency to forget to direct people back to my blog or even miss a whole topic I wanted to discuss.

16. Stabilize Your Phone

I don’t have any fancy equipment to stabilize my phone.
I just set it on a table or on top of books to get a good angle & to stabilize my phone.

17. Rehearse Once or Twice

While you don’t want to sound rehearsed you do want your viewers to believe you know what you are talking about. 
Going over your outline will help you feel better prepared & confident. You will learn ahead of time what points are confusing, need clarification, or better transitions, which will make your live Periscope run more smoothly.

18. Don’t Limit Your Chat

I know creepers are no fun, but neither is a blogger who doesn’t want to interact with their viewers.
One of the great things about Periscope is the wonderful opportunity to connect with your viewers in a personal way & when you limit your chat new viewers can’t ask questions or get involved.
And I’ll be honest, if I notice a blogger doing this on a regular basis I stop following them – it’s no fun being excluded!

19. Dress the Part

Before you start a live broadcast you want to have confidence in yourself so that your viewers will believe what you say. But confidence in self doesn’t always come that easily.

A tip I learned in speech class (a required class at the first university I attended) is that you should dress up when you give a speech because it will give you confidence & because your audience will take you more seriously & it will add value to your speech.

So let’s be honest. When we look good we feel good.
While some people feel confident periscoping with the no makeup, in their sweets, just rolled out of bed look (go you?), I must admit I do not. 

One of the upsides to Periscope is that your broadcast is suppose to be unpolished, but that doesn’t mean you have to be sloppy.
You can be bare face & beautiful while still being professional.

You just have to decide what is right for you.

Here’s how I decide.
Would I feel comfortable like this in public?
How does this help promote my brand?
Do I feel confident?
Will I be taken seriously?
Do I add value to what I am saying?

 

 

Live Periscope Broadcast Tips

 

20. Start Talking Immediately

Even if only 1 person is watching start talking.
Plus you don’t want to lose people watching the replay because there is nothing happening on your video. 

21. Interact with ALL of Your Viewers

I have joined blogger’s Periscopes where there were only a handful or two of people watching & they were basically only talking to their blog friends who were watching. 

Let’s just say I felt like I was back in high school, surrounded by the cool kids who were talking to everyone but me. Ya, not a good feeling & not the way you want your viewers to feel.

So to make everyone feel welcome, answer questions, respond to comments & don’t leave anyone out. 

I have ended broadcasts, watched the replay, realized I missed someone’s question, & immediately started a new broadcast just so I could answer their question.

Every viewer is important.

22. Invite Your Followers to Be Active During Your Scope

One way is to ask a question & invite viewers to send hearts if they agree.
You can also encourage viewers to share your scope on Twitter or to invite others to watch or follow along.

23. Be Spontaneous

The wonderful thing about writing an outline & not a speech is that it leaves plenty of room for you to be spontaneous during your broadcast. You can easily stop to answer questions or go on mini tangents & still easily go back to the outline you prepared.

Being spontaneous is good, no one wants to watch a robot, but it’s also important to always go back to your main topic, so that new viewers will know what is going on & original followers won’t stop following (remember, many joined because of your awesome title).

24. Block the Crazies

If you have a viewer who is being inappropriate or rude simply double tap their comment & block them.
Did you miss your chance during the broadcast? Just go back through your list of viewers, click on their profile, & block them.

25. Have Fun & Be Yourself

Periscope is really a lot of fun. I have made so many new friends & quality connections that I wouldn’t have made without Periscope. Periscope really is a game changer & I hope that you’ll find me on Periscope (@blissfulmiller) so I can follow along on your Periscope journey too!

 

Bonus tips:

After I Periscoped last night about this blog post I thought of one more really important tip!
Don’t forget to rewatch your scope after you are done broadcasting. It might not be fun critiquing yourself, but it’s how we grow & learn. But don’t forget tip #3 while you watch the replay!

 

 

Do you love Periscope too? I’d love to hear what you think! Feel free to comment below, send me a tweet, & join me on Periscope @blissfulmiller!

 

Want to connect on a more personal level!? You can find Domestically Blissful & I on
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & Pinterest!

With love, G

May these words of my mouth & this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock & my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

 

Affiliated links included.

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