Greta Rose Agency

As a social media platform, Google+ has come a long way in a short amount of time. It’s now the second largest social media network – even surpassing Twitter in 2013 – and shouldn’t be ignored by bloggers.

Hangouts is a wildly popular feature of the Google+ platform. With Hangouts, users can privately video chat with a small group or live stream videos to the broader public.

Hangouts are separated into two distinct offerings:

  1. Hangouts on Air. This is the type I will refer to in this tutorial. Hangouts on Air are public video streams that can be recorded and added to your website or blog. Hangouts on Air also stream live through your YouTube channel. Because they can be recorded and viewed at a later date, Hangouts on Air are perfect for webinars, workshops, presentations, and Q&As.
  1. Hangouts. A regular hangout is a video chat that is not recorded or shared live on your YouTube channel. Similar to Hangouts on Air, regular hangouts can also be public. However, because of their limited functionality, regular hangouts are normally reserved for a smaller group – like work colleagues who need to collaborate on a private project.

For both types of Hangouts, you can have up to ten active participants over video and microphone but broadcast to an unlimited audience.

Let’s take a look at how to embed Hangouts on Air to stream live over your WordPress site.

How to Embed a Live Google “Hangouts on Air” Onto a WordPress Site

1. Set up a Google+ Account, if you don’t already have one.

Create a Google Account

2. Go to this URL: https://plus.google.com/hangouts/onair.

Click on the “Start a Hangout On Air” button.

Live Hangouts on Air

3. Fill in the required information. You’ll need to name your hangout. You have the option to start the Hangout immediately, or at a time in the future.

Enter details for Hangouts session

Hangouts on Air can be recorded for up to eight hours, which I’d imagine will be plenty of time ????

4. Verify your YouTube account. If you haven’t already verified and connected your YouTube profile to Google+ Hangouts, you’ll be prompted to go through a two-step verification process.

Verify YouTube

Select text or voice message to receive your special code.

Verify YouTube

You’ll receive the text or call immediately. Input it, and continue.

Verify YouTube Verify YouTube Success

5. Return to the previous tab to start your Hangout. Click share. You’ll then be taken to a page entitled “My Hangout.”

Click on the “Start” button under the Hangout Video.

Start Google Hangouts on Air

This will prompt a new window to pop-up.

From here, you can choose to invite guests from your Google+ circles and restrict the Hangout to guests over 18 years of age. We’ll skip this.

Invite Guests on Google Hangouts

Agree to Google’s terms.

Google Hangouts on Air Terms

6. You’re in, but not live (yet!).

Go to the bottom right of the Hangouts screen and click on “Links.”

Copy/Embed Code

Click on the Video Embed and right click. Select copy.

7. Go to your WordPress Dashboard. Add a new post.

Add Post on WordPress

Name your post.

Click on the “Text” tab. Inside the body, right click and paste the video embed code.

Hangouts on WordPress Text

I recommend changing the dimensions to make the video larger. For my layout, I changed it to 854 x 480 px.

Returning to the “Visual” tab will show a static box like this one:

Hangouts on WordPress Blog

Publish and take a look at your blog. It should look something like this:

WordPress Hangouts on Air

(This is what you’ll see when you press play on the video.)

Once you’re ready to start your broadcast, simply return to your Google+ Hangouts window and click the “Start Broadcast” button.

That’s it! All done. If you get stuck along the way, just let us know in the comments section below.

This article was written by Tom Ewer, author at ManageWP. Check out his other articles, as well!

 

 

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