This is a recap of the Church Solutions Podcast! This is episode #467, and your hosts Phil Thompson and Steve Lacy are back with valuable insights and a few laughs along the way.
In this episode, we dive into practical ways your church can improve its live streaming experience. But first, here is a live event coming up you won’t want to miss.
Upcoming Free Webinar: Volunteer-Friendly Live Streaming
Mark your calendar! On April 22nd at 12 PM EST, StreamingChurch.tv is hosting a free webinar called “How to Build a Volunteer-Friendly Live Streaming Setup.” Special guest George Burchell from Epiphan Video will join us, and one lucky attendee will win an AV.io capture card (worth over $450!).
👉 Sign up at: webinar.streamingchurch.tv
5 Key Tips for Better Church Live Streaming
1. Engage Your Viewers
According to research from Vanderbloemen, churches that engage their online audience see 60% higher online activity. Engagement makes a difference! Too many churches just stream their services and miss the opportunity to connect. Interaction—like chat, polls, prayer requests, and connection cards—keeps viewers engaged and opens up ministry opportunities.
2. Have a Live Streaming Strategy
Don’t just hit “Go Live” and hope for the best. Create a plan. Know your goals:
- Are you equipping your current congregation?
- Reaching your local community?
- Trying to reach a global audience?
Define your audience and craft a consistent message. Partnering with organizations like Media Mentoring can help churches build a strategy that aligns with their mission. As Steve put it, “You can’t reach everyone—so know who you’re trying to reach.”
3. Use Volunteers—Even Remote Ones
Many churches feel they lack the volunteer base to support live streaming. But here’s the thing: You can recruit volunteers from anywhere, not just your local congregation. Phil shared how they once had volunteer chat hosts from out of state. Plus, StreamingChurch.tv offers an AI Web Host to help boost engagement—churches that use it see three times more interaction than those who don’t.
4. Measure with Analytics
“You can’t improve what you don’t measure.” If you want to grow your online ministry, you need data:
- Who’s watching?
- Are they returning?
- What devices are they using?
Phil and Steve shared an example where one church was streaming at 6 Mbps, but 73% of their viewers were on phones. That led to streaming issues. Analytics helped diagnose the problem and make adjustments. Tools from StreamingChurch.tv provide rich insights beyond the inflated “view count” numbers seen on Facebook or YouTube.
5. Try Digital Ministry RX
StreamingChurch.tv recently launched Digital Ministry RX, a free tool for its users. It gives a quick health check for your digital ministry:
- Choose your goal (Maintenance, Ministry, or Missional)
- Analyze your current content and stats
- Receive personalized recommendations and quick wins
It takes only a few minutes and provides actionable insights to help move your ministry forward. It’s available right now in your admin panel if you’re a StreamingChurch.tv user.
Final Thoughts
Steve shared a great analogy near the end of the episode: Imagine if your in-person church service didn’t allow anyone to talk, interact, or connect with others. That’s what many churches are doing online when they stream with no engagement. It’s time to change that.
Whether it’s online Bible studies, small groups, or a friendly chat host during service, adding interactivity to your streaming makes a huge difference in keeping people connected—and eventually bringing them through your doors.
Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear from you! If you have questions or want to share how your church is improving its live stream, reach out at StreamingChurch.tv or connect through our live chat.
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Church Solutions Podcast on your favorite platform. We’ve got more great episodes and practical tools coming your way. Until next time, take care of yourself—and each other.