How to Plan a Live Shopping Event: Complete Checklist

Reviewed and expanded 27 October 2026

Plan a live shopping event around one audience, a useful demonstration and a simple way to buy or book. Then work backwards through the platform, promotion, rehearsal, moderation and follow-up. A live event needs a plan; it does not need a script for every breath.

First, decide what success means

Are you introducing a product, answering a common question, creating service enquiries or learning from customers? Choose a main purpose and a small set of measures that fit it.

For a sales session, review purchases and relevant enquiries. For product education, questions and useful engagement may tell you more than viewer numbers alone.

Before you announce it

1. Choose the audience and topic. Give people a clear reason to make time.
2. Check the platform. Confirm live access, the format, moderation and replay arrangements for your account.
3. Agree the offer. Check product details, availability, prices or service booking information.
4. Test the next step. Open the buying or booking link on a phone.
5. Choose the presenter. You, someone on your team, a host or a co-host.

A sample 30-minute run sheet

This is an illustrative starting point, not a rule or a promise of results.

• Minutes 0-3: welcome, introduce the topic and explain how to ask questions.
• Minutes 3-11: demonstrate the main product or service process.
• Minutes 11-16: answer questions and clarify the most useful detail.
• Minutes 16-24: compare an option, show another use or address a common hesitation.
• Minutes 24-28: questions and a clear invitation to buy, book or enquire.
• Minutes 28-30: recap, explain follow-up and thank people for joining.

Leave room to respond. If the audience is asking a useful question, do not ignore it because the run sheet says you should be somewhere else.

Give everyone a job

The presenter explains and listens. A moderator watches comments, keeps links available and flags questions. Someone needs to own technical problems and customer follow-up.

In a small business, one person may cover several roles. Make that a deliberate choice, rather than discovering mid-demonstration that nobody can see the comments.

Rehearse the bits that can trip you up

• Camera framing, product visibility and lighting.
• Microphone, background noise and internet connection.
• Switching between products or demonstration steps.
• Reading and responding to a question.
• Explaining the next step clearly.
• What to do if the broadcast drops out.

Check the actual space and equipment you will use. A successful test on another device in another room is not the same thing.

Promote the reason, not just the time

Tell your email list or community what they will learn or see. Invite a question in advance. Give them the date, time zone and joining instructions in one place.

A reminder should make joining easier, rather than simply announce that you are excited again.

Review while it is still fresh

Record the questions, enquiries, sales or bookings that relate to the event. Note unclear moments, technical friction and the demonstrations people responded to.

Then choose a few improvements for the next session. The feedback can also sharpen your FAQs, website copy and product or service explanation.

I’ve been selling live through my community for over six years and, more recently, on TVSN. If you want practical help planning, rehearsing or presenting, explore live selling training and hosting with me.