[FAQ]

I’m interested in using LinkedIn Live to host some Q&As and interviews to better engage with my professional network. I understand that it’s not a feature that everyone has access to by default.

Could someone clarify what the specific requirements are to get access to LinkedIn Live in 2025?

Additionally, once you have access, what are the best practices for hosting a successful live session? I’m thinking about things like how to promote the event, how to structure the broadcast itself, and how to best engage with the audience during the stream.

[Jeff Bullas]

LinkedIn Live is a powerful feature for real-time engagement, but access is granted based on meeting certain platform criteria, and a successful broadcast relies on good planning and execution.

First, let us cover the requirements for gaining access. While the specific thresholds can be adjusted by LinkedIn, access to LinkedIn Live is typically based on a few key factors. You generally need to have a sufficiently large audience, which usually means a minimum of 150 followers or connections. Your profile must also have a history of abiding by LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies, meaning you have not had recent violations. And you must have a complete profile and a pattern of creating original content. For many, having Creator Mode turned on can also be a factor in being granted access. The approval process is often automatic once you meet the criteria.

Once you have access, there are several best practices for conducting a successful live stream. The first is to promote your live event well in advance. You should create a LinkedIn Event page for your stream and then create several posts in the days leading up to it to build awareness and encourage people to register their interest.

Second, you need a clear plan and structure for your session. Do not just go live without a clear topic. Have an outline of the key points you want to discuss, or a set of prepared questions if you are hosting an interview. This ensures the broadcast stays focused and provides value.

Third, it is crucial to test your technical setup before you go live. Check your camera, your microphone, your lighting, and, most importantly, your internet connection to ensure it is stable. You can stream directly from your Page or Profile, but for a more professional broadcast with multiple speakers or screen sharing, you will need to use a third-party streaming tool that integrates with LinkedIn.

Fourth, during the live stream itself, you must actively engage with your audience. Acknowledge people as they join, make time to read and respond to comments and questions from the audience in real-time, and ask direct questions to encourage participation. This two-way interaction is what makes a live session compelling.

And fifth, your work is not done when the broadcast ends. The video of your live session will remain on your profile or page as a standard video post. You should continue to engage with any new comments that come in after the event. It is also a very effective strategy to repurpose the video content by creating short highlight clips, writing an article based on the discussion, or sharing key takeaways in subsequent posts.

In summary, access to LinkedIn Live is based on meeting audience and policy criteria. A successful event relies on pre-promotion, a clear plan, active engagement during the stream, and repurposing the content afterwards.

Cheers,

Jeff

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