Cool Social Media Apps: Periscope

Periscope is one of social media’s newest darlings.  It enables cell phone users (iPhone and Android) to capture and steam live video from their phone.  Periscope was acquired by Twitter in February 2015, and it launched in March.  As of August 12, 2015, Periscope announced they had 10 million users watching 40 years of video per day.   Here are a couple of tips to get you started using Periscope:

Getting Started

If you don’t already have a Twitter account, do that first.  Periscope uses your Twitter info to log you in.  Start following people and they will follow you back.

When someone you follow is broadcasting live, your phone will whistle and you can join in the broadcast.  Once you do, tap the screen to give the broadcaster hearts (likes), which will display and float up the right side of the screen.  You can make comments or ask questions during the broadcast as well; it’s designed to be very interactive.

Your First Broadcast

You can broadcast anything:

• A new product or service you’re offering
• Events you’re attending
• Interviews with people
• A great view at a party
• News like a police, fire, or weather event
• A speech you want to give

Make sure you’re on long enough for people to join in, unless you’ve invited them ahead of time.   You can also keep your videos private if you want to.

To start the broadcast, use the third icon on the bottom which looks like a lens with a small red part.  Title your broadcast, then hit the start button and you’re live.  Double-click the screen to toggle the screen toward you and away from you.  For long broadcasts, consider getting a table tripod or a GorillaPod tripod (by Joby®) with a cell phone holder so your picture will be steadier than handheld.

Broadcasts are listed for 24 hours and then they drop off.  If you want to save your broadcasts to your camera/video roll, be sure to go into Settings under your profile and turn on Autosave Broadcasts.  You can also send your video to the cloud using Katch.me.

Have fun with Periscope; it is a great way to get the word out about your business.