Live streaming was already becoming popular before the COVID pandemic, but it truly came into its own during the early periods of social isolation. Everyone from musicians and performers to business owners began to adopt the practice, finding creative new ways to engage with audiences.
Most performers are back to practicing their crafts in front of live audiences and offer live streaming as an alternative for those who can’t make the show. Businesses, on the other hand, can still benefit more substantially from incorporating this valuable outreach tool into their marketing campaigns. Read on to find out about eight things to consider before getting started.
1. Have Reasonable Expectations
Businesses that are new to streaming won’t become popular overnight. It takes time to get comfortable in front of the camera, find the right topics, and start connecting with an audience. Setting reasonable expectations from the beginning makes it easier to avoid feelings of disappointment when live streaming doesn’t generate an immediate source of leads and income.
2. Plan High-Value Content
As with any content marketing campaign, live streaming must incorporate high-value content that viewers will enjoy and share. It’s not enough to just start live streaming irrelevant content. Plan each episode carefully to make sure it will appeal to the company’s unique audience.
3. Stick to a Core Purpose
Every live stream should have a core purpose and call to action that gets repeated several times throughout the session. Depending on the industry, that could mean product demos or instructions, tours of a factory, interviews with employees and other customers, or other relevant ad content.
4. Build an Audience First
Pre-promoting live streams is the key to succeeding in those difficult initial videos. Make sure the live streaming content fits into a broader digital marketing scheme and use other methods for reaching viewers to let them know that the company will be live streaming an important event in advance.
5. Conduct Pre-Production Run-Throughs
Just like business owners shouldn’t share irrelevant content, they shouldn’t start live streaming without first conducting a pre-production run-through. Taking this extra step ensures that the proposed live stream is achievable. It’s also important to test Internet speeds to make sure the company has consistent upload bandwidth.
6. Have the Right Equipment
Viewers will usually forgive a few minor issues in a company’s first live streaming sessions, but starting with high-quality equipment can help. Keep everything simple at first and have backups to accommodate technical glitches, but don’t just use a webcam. Using the right equipment can improve everything from lighting to audio, keeping viewers more engaged.
7. Use Live Streaming Platforms
There are live streaming platforms that collect multiple video inputs and allow users to control production and brand videos effectively. Take advantage of them.
8. Embed the Code
Embedding the code for a live stream and creating a press release can help to boost viewership and create brand awareness. This, in turn, can take cold content and turn it into hot leads.
Don’t Wait – Get Started Now
Business owners who want to keep their companies competitive need to stay up-to-date with all the latest digital marketing and social media trends. Adopting live streaming practices is a great way to engage with audiences anywhere in the world, increasing brand recognition and customer conversion rates. Don’t be scared to get started. Just follow the tips above to make sure everything goes smoothly.
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