By Jon Clark, managing partner at Moving traffic mediaa New York-based digital agency that offers SEO, PPC, and Amazon marketing services.
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Statistics show that 53% of the companies broadcast or stream live videos at least once a week. If you don’t capitalize on this trend, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to engage with customers and increase visibility on social media.
What is live streaming on social media?
Live streaming allows you to create and share videos in real time. It’s like live TV! With social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter, you can go live with the push of a button, so that you can start a conversation with your audience at that moment.
What are the benefits of live streaming?
So why is live streaming so important? Why should this be one of your top priorities when it comes to your online marketing efforts?
1. It’s what your audience wants.
The main reason why live streaming is so beneficial is that it is the kind of content that people engage with online. In fact, 80% of consumers would rather watch live brand videos instead of reading a blog post.
2. Get real-time feedback.
When you live stream on social media, you turn a video into a conversation instead of just broadcasting it to your audience. Users can comment and share likes, which you can respond to in real time. Most importantly, you can build trust and engagement, which can encourage your audience to come back for more. As your viewers continue to give you feedback, you can adjust your approach. This can keep you producing better content so you can beat the competition.
3. Enjoy top spots on social media.
On social media platforms, live content is given a prominent place in news feeds. Facebook is the perfect example of this. When comparing pre-recorded and live videos, enjoy live streams six times the interactions – at least on Facebook. If you’re an Instagram user, you’ve probably noticed that live streams appear in the top left corner, preceding the day’s video stories. This means they are the first thing people see when they log into Instagram.
4. Connect directly with your audience.
Live streaming is quite vulnerable, which is why many brands and entrepreneurs are nervous about doing this. It’s not always polished, and this is okay. Things don’t always go according to plan. You may not have fancy recording equipment and no director is involved. If you make a mistake, you can’t just hit the “delete” button and start over.
This may sound intimidating, but it’s actually not bad. This is what people love about watching live streams. They are raw and honest. People get the chance to see your brand on a personal level, and this is what they love the most.
How do you live stream effectively on social media?
As you can see, the benefits are great when it comes to live streaming on social media. But to experience these benefits, you need to know how to do it successfully. Here are some tips to get you started.
• Keep the context clear. One thing that makes live streaming unique is that viewers can jump in at any time. Someone might start watching even though you’ve been streaming for 20 minutes. That’s why it’s important to occasionally repeat the topic in your stream so that viewers understand what they’re tuning in to. A watermark, text or logo that makes clear what is happening can also be beneficial.
• Optimize your setup. The on-the-fly element of live streaming is charming. However, this does not mean that a little preparation does not help. Before going live, do a quick sound check to make sure everything is working as it should. Make sure your streams are audible and adequately lit. Mistakes happen, but getting the basics right is a necessity.
• Successfully engage with your audience. The main reason to do a live stream is to engage with your audience. There are a number of ways you can approach this. For example, start by welcoming your viewers. You should also say hello to people who are responding. Respond to their comments and also ask questions on the fly. It’s important that your audience feels like they’re part of the live stream and that it’s a two-way street.
• Promote your big moment. When you click on the “go live” button, people can happen to watch your video right now. Nevertheless, the only real way to increase the number is by letting your audience know what’s going to appear on your social media page. Countdowns are a simple yet effective way to bring out the moment.
• Make sure your live stream is on time. It is vital to remember that you are going to compete with millions of other videos for attention. That’s why it’s critical that there’s a timely “why now” aspect of your videos so that your users feel like your live stream is something they need to tune into immediately.
• Provide a road map. Finally, anything can happen during a live stream, and this is the beauty of it. However, you should still have a goal in mind. What do you want to happen? This is where your road map comes in handy so you can keep everything on track.
As you can see, there are many benefits associated with live streaming. If you’re scared to get started, why not spend some time tuning into live streams in your niche to see how other people are doing in your industry? This can help you understand what works and what doesn’t, so you can produce high-quality live streams for your audience.