In today’s tech-focused world, customers crave a personal connection with the brands and influencers they follow. Today, the customers want more than just a product; they want an experience. A recent report from AdWeek suggests that “70% of consumers who feel a connection to a brand will typically spend twice as much as average customers”. So, all you need is to know how to take advantage of the technology available at your disposal.
For this, we need to dig a little deeper and understand why live streams matter, as well as how to use them effectively to grow your brand.
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What is live video streaming?
The answer is simple. A video that is streamed live on the internet in real-time and uploaded over the internet is known as a “live video”. All you need to be able to live stream is an internet-enabled device, like a smartphone or tablet, and a platform to live stream from. Some of the popular live-streaming apps right now include Facebook Live, Instagram Live Stories. Tik Tok, Twitch TV, and more.
Live video streams can sometimes be private too, like video conferencing on Skype or Zoom uses live streaming technology to allow you to talk to people you have invited. To ensure privacy, such live streams are password protected and not shared with unknown people.
Some live streams are public, which means they can be watched by anyone who follows you or has the link to view the live video.
Why live streams matter?
Regardless of your niche, your customers are craving engaging video content. People are continuing to create and engage with video at an ever-increasing rate. Studies suggest that 80% of internet users prefer live video to blogs, while 82% prefer live streaming video to other social media content.
Live videos are faster, more direct, and more personal than text or images. They allow you to connect with people in real-time. They are far more engaging than any other medium and gives you a highly focused group audience to tap into and interact with.
Nowadays, it is rare for people to go through their everyday lives without seeing live videos on their social media feeds or elsewhere. Live videos have found their uses in businesses, marketing, education, and almost every other sector out there. From personal branding to professional assignments and meetings, this is one of the most popular social media marketing trends in recent years.
Live streaming video is a great way to interact with your audience in real-time. It is quickly gaining the traction and attention of those who are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways of delivering content. The biggest and the most powerful advantage of live streaming is that viewers consume content on your time, and not on their time. So, you are automatically filtering out people who are extremely interested in your brand. No other content marketing channel is capable of doing what live streaming does.
Live streaming a video is also incredibly cheap and completely free. You don’t need any special equipment, software, or hardware to start a live video. All it takes is a smartphone or laptop with a camera and an active account with a chosen platform, be it Facebook Live or Instagram.
As you might have noticed, live streaming is an extremely powerful channel for delivering content. So how can you make the best use of live video streaming today for your brand? Keep on reading to find out more!
1. Interviews
It’s an excellent medium to conduct short interviews. Speaking with employees will provide an inside look into your business and company culture. These interviews not only show the human side of your company but also offer personal ideas and opinions. You can also conduct interviews with big names in your industry. If you are not sure who to interview, you can do some research and find influencers in your niche who would be willing to do an interview with you.
2. Behind the scenes
Another way to use live streaming is to show users behind the scenes of something they normally wouldn’t have access to. One great way to build trust is by showing a behind-the-scenes look at what your business and your life look like on a day-to-day basis. During these live broadcasts, interact with your viewers just as you would with friends. Let them in your world to develop a deeper relationship with viewers.
3. Product Demo
Customers typically only see the finished product you offer. Get them more heavily invested in your product by giving them a peek into the whole development process. Let them know how their favorite product comes to life, what goes on during the process. You can also encourage the members of your team to talk people through their process and role in the development of the product. This assures them thar every bit of their product is made with utmost care.
4. Product Launch
When you have a new product launching and want to include people in its debut, live streaming the launch is perfect. It makes the viewers feel special as people love to be part of the exclusive group that gets first access to things. However, this is one strategy that should be done when you already have an audience.
5. Webinars and Discussions
Live streams offer you the platform to bring in more than one person. This means it’s a great opportunity to host interviews, carry out group discussions, and talk about things that would interest your audience. If used wisely, people would look forward to being a part of such interesting webinars and discussions to gain knowledge.
6. Seminars or Training Courses
Most people are avid learners if the content is interesting to them. Use this to your advantage by becoming your audience’s go-to reference for a particular topic. Giving your viewers a tutorial on how to do something is a great way to get them engaged. It helps your current customers get more out of your product or service, and helps convert traffic into customers.
7. Q&A Hour
The easiest kind of live content to create is live Q and A sessions where you ask your audience for questions and you answer them as they come. This gives you the opportunity to engage with your audience in real-time and humanize your brand. Acknowledge questions that are interesting and can provide value to your viewers. Mention the name of the user asking the question to further increase engagement.
The type of content that will work best will vary based on your niche and target audience. However, content such as interviews, Q&As, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes access has proven to generally be effective for brands.
So, what is it you are going to pick? If you have more questions or would like professional help for your video marketing campaign, then get in touch with us right away!
