Practices to Consider Before Using Live Video Streaming
Most social media marketers now discuss streaming video and its uses. From small-scale industries to prominent corporate organizations; everyone is trying to take advantage of the video trend. Surveys and research have shown that people prefer to watch live video on Facebook rather than spend time watching a video that is not live. Smartphones and tablets have added essence to live video streaming which makes them extremely popular. There are several major players in the market when it comes to live streaming video. They are Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Periscope and much more. Here, I’ve listed some great practices you can consider before using streaming video. They are the following:
> Study the market well Before starting any marketing initiative; the search for information is vital. Solve some simple doubts in the live broadcast and try to give the searches in your favorite search engine. Read blogs and articles about live streaming; consider experiences of its users, their opinions, etc. You can get information about things needed to get started with streaming, minimum bandwidth needed, top live streaming providers, etc. The fundamentals must be clear to make informed decisions in the streaming business.
> Promote live streaming in advance- It is mandatory that you promote your stream well in advance. It is because, if nobody is aware of what you are going to broadcast; there will be zero spectators! Some social media platforms like blab can schedule your broadcast at a time you prefer and you can get a link to share it on a social network. Subscribers can sign up for your live streaming videos via the given link, and every time it starts, they get notifications. Thus, you can gather the audience for your live streaming videos in a more systematic way. Never miss an opportunity to add essentials like date, time, theme, platforms, and images to a social media teaser post.
> Make an engagement plan- Streaming video is very likely for people because the audience gets a chance to interact with the humans behind the brand. The audience often has a lot of questions and they are excited to get answers. streamed videos give them the opportunity to communicate with you. To create a sense of excitement among the people, you can select some interesting trending topics of which the videos will be broadcast live. Contests, campaigns, etc. shake online activities. On social networking websites where your videos are interlinked; you will get the shares, likes and comments. It will keep your video trending in the feeds. It acts as an icebreaker for your stream as people continue to discuss your event or video content. As a result, you gain more viewers or subscribers than you are trying to represent.
> Opt for a call to action- The call to action is the key to success in live streaming services. Your audience is always looking for more and more information from you. You need to convey your message to viewers in the most motivating way for them to keep their attention on it. You can invite people to subscribe to your newsletter through social networks. You need to inspire viewers to actively participate in your video by sharing or commenting to make it more viral. CTA messages often get more views and attention as they spark excitement among viewers.
> Select the correct platform- This is a stage where you have a considerable amount of information to decide where you want to broadcast and promote your event. You can seek the advice of experts to choose the right media type that suits your needs. However, you can perform trial tests on various platforms to verify the results. Switching platforms is no big deal if you find a better answer elsewhere. All the notable platforms provide different features and different levels of interactivity in the context of the formats and therefore you should look for them very carefully.
> Always be consistent The timing of your live video streaming is extremely crucial to getting the maximum number of viewers. Like your treatment of blogs, emails, or social updates; handling live streaming videos is too important. Select a suitable time to live stream your video on digital marketing channels when you are likely to get a large number of viewers. After the program is finished, it is important to follow it strictly. Eventually it builds momentum and audience building develops at a faster rate.
Sometimes you may think that choosing a proper code of conduct for using streaming video is a bit complicated procedure. However, it is not! Simplifying the steps listed above will help you make informed decisions. Evaluating the options you have considered can be done more easily. Comparing various platforms and methods is always beneficial for you as you can reveal something unique at any time while streaming the video.
