While social media has its challenges, it’s certainly allowed organizations to connect to their demographic in a whole new way. Over the last couple of years, live video streaming has emerged as a way to increase brand awareness and capture the attention of social media users from across the world. Since studies suggest that people retain 65% of a presentation three days after the fact when it contains visual and oral components (compared to just 10% from an oral presentation or 35% from a visual one), using live streaming for marketing purposes makes a lot of sense.
That’s backed up by recent data from Go-Globe, which found that live streaming consumption has increased drastically over just the last year. They report that more than 80% of internet and mobile audiences watched more live videos in 2016 than in 2015, and 80% of brand audiences say they’d rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog. In addition, 82% say they prefer live video to social media posts. That’s a significant statistic for organizations who have shied away from live streaming for the sake of sticking with their normal social media posting routines.
So if you want to start live streaming, what’s the best way to go about it?
According to Reading Eagle Business Weekly, launching a new product or service is a great excuse to go live. It’s a much more interactive way to show off new features, answer questions in real time, and position yourself as an expert in your industry. This will build trust with your potential customers — and that can translate into sales and brand loyalty.
You can also use it to give your company a more personal touch. Many customers have absolutely no idea who’s behind all the posts they see online. Giving viewers a “day in the life” glimpse can help forge a real connection. If team members are doing a good deed in the community or they’re celebrating a milestone achievement, live streaming can provide additional insight that sets your organization apart.
And if you’re going to be putting on or attending a special event, that’s the perfect time to schedule a live streaming session. In fact, NASA just took advantage of live streaming for the recent solar eclipse, which allowed Facebook users from all across the globe to view the phenomenon without the assistance of special glasses.
So if you’re throwing a launch party, attending a local event, or just want your followers to know more about you, you may want to consider incorporating live video into your marketing efforts. Simply choose your platform (Facebook, YouTube Live, and Periscope are all popular options, as is Instagram’s live feature) and your equipment (mobile vs. computer), decide on a locale, and let your followers know when you’ll be going live. That way, they’ll know to tune in to see and hear the latest news.
Kelsey R. is a writer and an avid world traveler. When she’s not writing or listening to 80s music, you can find her exploring different countries, taking selfies with her dog Lady, and in constant search for the perfect brownie recipe.
