Live streaming allows participants to connect to Twitch, Facebook Live or YouTube to simulcast a stream from their personal page.
Peer-to-Peer (Pledge & Multi-Pledge) events allow fundraisers to connect their personal page with Twitch, Facebook Live or YouTube live streaming platforms and broadcast their stream on their personal page to accept donations. Fundraisers also have access to overlay and widget resources that showcase progress on their stream and drive donations to their page.
What's Live streaming?
Platforms such as Twitch, Facebook and YouTube offer the ability for users to broadcast or stream an activity that they're up to from a stream-enabled console, computer, webcam or even mobile phone. All are free to use with an account.
Live streaming especially popular in the videogame space where creators will broadcast gameplay to their community and fans, and interact with viewers in the Chat or verbally on their stream.
Recently, the relatively low barriers to start a stream, combined with the effects of the pandemic, have expanded the popularity of streaming to everyone, with streams for "IRL" (or in real-life) activities, music broadcasts, sports, chats/talk shows, and other creative content.
Charity Streams
As a way to give back to important causes, #Charity streams have become common place for creators. In 2020, charity streams raised over $85 million, and the space continues to grow in 2022.
Live streaming in Peer-to-Peer events
Our Live stream feature empowers creators motivated to fundraise for your cause to:
- Connect their stream from Twitch, Facebook Live or YouTube
- Broadcast simultaneously from their Peer-to-Peer fundraising campaign page
- Highlight success with on their broadcast with thermometer overlays, tickers and donate button -- branded to your cause or event
How to activate Live streaming
The Live stream feature is free, and can be enabled on any Pledge or Multi-Pledge event on your account. Activating the feature can happen at any point, simply by checking off "Livestreaming" in Participant & DIY Settings.
The feature can be enabled for Events of all statuses -- even if it is currently Live and has active participants
Steps for Participants to connect
In a Peer-to-Peer event where Live streaming has been enabled, participants registered for the campaign will have access to a Live Stream tab from the Participant Centre. In the Live Stream tab, participants will have two options:
- Set up their stream
- Add overlays and fundraising widgets to customize their stream using a broadcast software/encoder of their choice
Stream Setup
Livestreams can be set up quickly from one of three supported platforms. An account is required for each:
- Twitch: Connect by entering a valid Twitch Username
- Facebook Live: Connect by pasting the Embed Live Stream code in Settings
- YouTube: Connect by pasting the Share URL from the stream
Once entered, click "Add stream" to connect.
As soon as the stream is added successfully, a preview will appear for the participant to view from the Participant Centre.
Broadcasting from the Participant Page
The participant can connect to their streaming platform before going live, allowing them time to prepare before broadcasting to the world.
As soon as the stream starts, a video player will appear on their personal page that simulcasts their stream from their page. The video player is placed between the top banner and participant story regions, with branding unique to each platform.
While a stream is live, traffic can be directed to the participant's page so that they can accept donations. Gifts made to a streamer are the same as all other donation you receive in a peer-to-peer context -- they are processed, reported and receipted in your account, as normal. Of course, they also appear on the participant's thermometer and honour roll as they are received!
When the stream ends, the video will hide again until the next time the participant goes live.
Fundraising Overlays and Widgets
One of the appeals of live streaming is the interactivity between the creator and their community/viewers. To encourage this type of sharing and engagement, fundraising overlays and links are offered within the Participant Centre for streaming participants to use.
Donation link
To encourage visitors to make a donation, participants can copy and paste the Donation Link and share it out. The link skips the participant's page and drives donors directly into the giving process.
Tip: Adding this link into the Chat function of their stream keeps donating top of mind.
Donation button
Most streaming platforms will support adding images to a stream's channel page. Participants can download a "Donate now" button, add it to their channel and link it with their Donation link (see above) to create a call-to-action button that accepts donation.
Progress Bar overlay
The Progress Bar is real-time thermometer that is branded to your cause, and can be added by participants to their stream as an "overlay" via a broadcasting software.
What are Overlays? Overlays are graphics, designs, and scenes that make a stream more creative and unique as it's happen. Overlays can be static content, such as a border, or dynamic, like a countdown -- or in a fundraising context, a thermometer.
Overlay elements must be added using into a streaming software or encoder via image, media, and browser sources. Every software works differently, and we recommend that each participant evaluate a software of their own.
Popular softwares include:
- StreamLabs
- OBS Studio
- TwitchStudio
- LightStream
The Progress Bar is consists of:
- Amount raised
- Goal
- Progress bar
- A scrolling marquee that recognizes the participant's Most Recent Donor and Top Donor
Stats update in near real-time as donations are made. Like other overlays, it's a great way to encourage interactivity, showcase their fundraising, recognizing donors displaying, and even it starting a little competition among viewers.
A participant's Progress Bar is just unique web address. For this reason, it's simple to add to their stream: Participants simply copy, and paste the link into your broadcasting software.
Depending on the software the participant is using, a "Browser Source" or equivalent overlay or is the recommended method for adding this dynamic element.
Once placed, the streamer can be manipulate dimensions of the Bar to the display they desire. The Bar will orientate, and crop as dimensions are changed. The two suggested orientations are:
- Bar (placed at the top of the stream):
- Bug (place in a corner of the stream):
Branding
The image that appears on the progress bar will be inherited directly from the Header logo you've uploaded in Header and Footer of your event. Similarly, the Progress Bar fill colour takes on the colour of your Event Thermometer