Periscope for Bloggers: 11 fun-filled tips!

I don’t know if you’ve heard through the grapevine, but there’s a new kid in town, and she’s called Periscope.

periscope

It comes to us from the team at Twitter. It’s like a live-streaming video app, because that’s exactly what it is. It’s a video that goes live to your followers as soon as you hit record. I love that it’s immediate, but it also freaks me out a bit. Ha! You’re live!

A few things I’ve learned so far in my adventures in both Periscoping, and watching people Periscope are:

♥ Don’t move your camera too fast. Slow, steady movements are best. Please.
♥ Not everything is Periscope-worthy. Ask yourself: Will it be interesting? Will it be funny? Will it be useful? Will it be entertaining? Make sure it’s one of those.
♥ Interact with your followers. If they leave a comment while you’re streaming, it’s nice to address them or answer them. Don’t be stopping all the time to say hello to every single person because then your video will basically be you saying hello, and that’s it!
♥ Inject some of you into it. Start by filming yourself and saying a quick hello, and then move onto what you want to share.
♥ Have fun. Be clear {don’t mumble!}. Be quick and respectful of people’s time {1-2 minutes is perfect}.

IDEAS FOR BLOGGERS USING PERISCOPE

ONE: TRAVEL! SHARE WHERE YOU ARE.

Let people travel with you. If you’re a travel blogger or a blogger who travels. Share a little about where you are when you’re traveling and exploring.

TWO: SHOW OFF YOUR HOME TOWN.
If you’re not traveling anytime soon, share where you live {not your actual residential address!} but the best places to eat and visit and explore in your area.

THREE: DO A Q&A. I LIKE TO CALL THEM A ‘PICK YOUR BRAIN’ SESSION.
If you’re an authority in a chosen field, set up a time for your followers to tune into Periscope and do a Q&A session. If people miss your broadcast, they can pop back to your profile at a later date and check it out there. If you’re meeting up with someone who is an authority in a field, interview them.

FOUR: GIVE YOUR FOLLOWERS AN EXCLUSIVE.
Say you’re a fashion blogger and you’re going to a fashion show, or to see a release of a new line of clothing, take your followers with you through Periscope! If you’re releasing a new blog design, share it with them there. If you’re picking a winner for a competition, do it on Periscope. The options are limitless.

FIVE: DO A TUTORIAL.
Get crafty and show people how to make something. Or share how to fold a scarf. Or how to put together a really good outfit. Or how to reverse park. Or how to do a hair-do. OK, now I’m making things up. Any tutorial! Put your thinking cap on.

SIX: JUST HAVE FUN.
Blogs can be a little one dimensional, in that it’s words online… but when you share a little of your life, in real time, it can an exciting interaction for your readers. Have fun with it.

You can download the Periscope App here.

7 thoughts on “Periscope for Bloggers: 11 fun-filled tips!”

  1. I have a probably very silly question … how do I follow you on periscope?! I can’t find anywhere in there to search for users, I can only find people by following others people I follow are following iykwim.

  2. I have basically used Periscope to watch people on the other side of the world travel to work, which is random but kind of interesting! Maybe I’ll return the favour one day . . .

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