LinkedIn Live provides a great way for brands and influencers to engage with their audiences through live video. While LinkedIn Live has its own built-in streaming capabilities, many users wonder if they can also use Zoom to power their LinkedIn Live broadcasts.
Using Zoom for LinkedIn Live
The short answer is yes, you can absolutely use Zoom to stream to LinkedIn Live. By using Zoom, you gain access to features like screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and Zoom’s webinar capabilities. Here’s an overview of how to configure Zoom as your streaming encoder for LinkedIn Live:
- First, you’ll need to have Zoom Meetings plan or Zoom Webinars in order to live stream. The basic free Zoom plan does not support streaming.
- In the Zoom web portal, go to Settings > In Meeting (Advanced) > Live Streaming. Check the box to “Allow users to live stream meetings / webinars”.
- Download the Zoom application on the computer you plan to use for streaming. Make sure you’re using the latest version.
- Start a Zoom meeting or webinar. Click the “More” tab in your meeting controls.
- Select “Live on Custom Live Streaming Service”.
- Choose “LinkedIn Live” as your streaming service.
- A window will pop up showing your Live Video settings. Make any desired adjustments to your stream name, description, etc.
- Click “Start Live Stream”. Zoom will begin streaming to your LinkedIn Live broadcast.
And that’s it! The stream will continue until you manually stop it or end the Zoom meeting. One thing to note is that LinkedIn Live videos can only be up to 4 hours long. So if you’re doing a very long webinar, the stream may automatically cut out after 4 hours.
Benefits of Using Zoom for LinkedIn Live
Using Zoom as your streaming encoder for LinkedIn Live provides a bunch of useful benefits:
- Screen sharing – Easily share your screen or application windows to showcase presentations, documents, code, or anything you have pulled up on your computer.
- Virtual backgrounds – Zoom’s virtual backgrounds can make your stream look more polished and professional.
- Webinar features – If using Zoom Webinars, you gain features like Q&A, polls, raise hand, and attentiveness tracking.
- Recording – Zoom allows you to easily record your LinkedIn Live stream to share or repurpose later.
- Switching cameras – If you have multiple webcams, you can switch between different camera angles with Zoom.
- Mobile streaming – With the Zoom mobile app, you can live stream completely from your phone or tablet.
Overall, Zoom makes it easy to produce a more professional, versatile LinkedIn Live broadcast. The streaming capabilities are robust and reliable for connecting with your LinkedIn audiences.
Setup Requirements for Streaming with Zoom
To ensure your Zoom stream integrates smoothly with LinkedIn Live, you’ll want to make sure you have the right setup in place:
- A computer, smartphone, or tablet with a working camera and microphone
- A fast, stable internet connection (at least 3 Mbps upload speed recommended)
- The latest version of the Zoom app installed
- A LinkedIn account in good standing with access to LinkedIn Live
- A Zoom Meetings plan (for meetings) or Zoom Webinars plan (for webinars)
- The live streaming option enabled in your Zoom web settings
You’ll also want to test out your setup ahead of time. Conduct a trial run to make sure your audio, video, and streaming are working correctly. Check your video and audio sources in Zoom’s settings and adjust as needed.
If bandwidth is an issue, consider hardwiring your computer directly to your router or using a wired Ethernet connection for the most stable results.
Streaming Tips for Success
When you’re ready to go live using Zoom and LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind for the best results:
- Promote your event ahead of time on LinkedIn to drive registration and viewership.
- Send event reminders on the day your broadcast goes live.
- Have a producer or moderator helping manage comments/questions coming in.
- Engage with your audience frequently and answer questions.
- Avoid long periods of silence without speaking.
- Test your setup with a short test stream before you go live to the public.
- Make sure your camera is at eye level and focused on your face.
- Optimize lighting so you are visible and not backlit.
The more you stream on LinkedIn using Zoom, the more you’ll get comfortable managing your broadcasts. But following these tips will help you maximize your reach and engagement.
Common Issues and How to Troubleshoot
Despite the best preparation, technical issues can still pop up when live streaming. Here are some common problems and troubleshooting tips:
No audio or video in the LinkedIn Live stream
- Make sure the correct microphone and webcam are selected as the input sources in Zoom and that the volume is up.
- Confirm that audio and video streaming is enabled in your Zoom meeting settings.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting to the stream.
Choppy or distorted audio
- Eliminate background noise around your workspace that could interfere.
- Use a headset with attached microphone to isolate sound input.
- Adjust Zoom audio settings, disable auto adjustments, or reduce system strain.
Video feed freezes, lags, or cutouts
- Make sure you’re meeting the minimum internet speeds for streaming.
- Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.
- Limit other devices on your network during the stream.
- Adjust video resolution in Zoom to be lower if needed.
Issues launching or disconnects from stream
- Confirm your LinkedIn account is in good standing.
- Retry connecting the stream or reconnect your Zoom meeting.
- Refresh browser page or restart your device.
- Update Zoom and check for any error notifications.
Properly setting up your broadcast workspace, testing equipment ahead of time, and monitoring stream health can help minimize issues. But being ready to troubleshoot helps smooth out any problems that do pop up.
Conclusion
Zoom provides an excellent platform for powering high-quality LinkedIn Live streams. The integration between the two services makes it easy to broadcast to your LinkedIn audiences right from a Zoom meeting room or webinar.
With the ability to screen share, use virtual backgrounds, enable webinar features, and stream from mobile, Zoom gives you the flexibility to customize your LinkedIn Live production. Just make sure to have the right setup, promotion, moderation, and troubleshooting practices in place.
With a professional, engaging presence on LinkedIn Live, you can build stronger connections with your industry and amplify your reach across the LinkedIn platform. Using Zoom helps remove friction from the streaming process so you can focus on creating compelling live content.