Live streaming is a way to connect with your audience and personalise your message in a way that’s unique to you. It’s simple and can have big results. By using your social media reach you can stream live to a huge audience and give your followers a behind the scenes look at your business. The digital landscape is always changing and we need new ways to capture attention and build meaningful connections.
Live streaming has become the frontrunner in this space, allowing businesses to connect with their audience in real-time and interact with them. By broadcasting live video content, brands can create authenticity, transparency, and immediacy, build trust, and take marketing to new heights. This guide FOR® takes you into the world of live-streaming marketing and gives you the knowledge and strategies to make the most of it.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Live Stream
The live-streaming landscape has many platforms to choose from, each for different audiences and content. Choosing the right one is key to your marketing success.
Here are some options:
Facebook Live
Big user base and targeting power, Facebook Live is a great platform to reach a wide audience. Use Facebook groups and communities to promote your live stream and get engagement from your existing followers.
YouTube Live
YouTube is a video haven so YouTube Live is great for product demos, tutorials or in-depth industry discussions. Integrate your live stream with your YouTube channel to tap into your existing subscriber base and use YouTube’s search engine optimisation power.
Instagram Live
Instagram is all about visual storytelling and real-time engagement so Instagram Live is perfect for behind the scenes, product launches or casual Q&A’s. Use Instagram Stories to promote your live stream beforehand and build hype with your followers.
Twitch
Twitch is mainly for the gaming community but has expanded to other live content categories. If your audience is part of the gaming demographic or enjoys live streams about hobbies and creative activities, Twitch is a space for you.
Live Stream Engagement Tips and Tools
As with all marketing, there are many tools to help you with live streaming. What’s important is not to go crazy and sign up for lots of subscriptions but do your homework and find the package that suits your business.
Image Creation Tools
Images will play a big part in how you promote your live streams. Remember the images you use have to reflect the quality of your live streams. There’s no point putting all this effort into creating a great livestream if you’re going to use low-quality posts to promote it. You’ve got to look at it as a package and invest in your marketing as well as the execution of your live stream.
Tools like Pablo and Canva allow you to create amazing visuals and edit them so they’re perfect for your audience. Add text, filters and other design elements that grab your target audience’s attention and let them know about your upcoming live streams.
Video Editing Tools
Although the whole point of a live stream is that it’s live, you still want to save it for future use. Once you’ve saved a live stream, it can be used like any other video and incorporated into your marketing strategy. You might find once you’ve saved your video there are a few small edits you want to make. You’re no longer live so you’re in total control of how you present your video and with video editing tools like Lumen5 and WeVideo you can add helpful extras like graphics to make points clearer and format your video to suit your needs.
Create Amazing Live Stream Content for Your Audience
Your live-stream success relies on delivering content that’s engaging and informative to your viewers. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Tell a Story
Humans love stories. Tell a story about your brand, product or service that tugs at your audience’s heartstrings. Weave in personal anecdotes, customer testimonials or success stories to make your live stream relatable and memorable.
Product or Service Demos
Live streams are the perfect platform to show off your product or service in action. Demo its features, address common pain points and answer frequently asked questions. Live demos build trust and give potential customers the information they need to make a purchase decision.
Behind-the-Scenes Content
Give your audience a rare look into your brand. Take them on a tour of your workspace, introduce them to your team members or give them a sneak peek into the product development process. This exclusive content creates a sense of community and makes your brand feel transparent and approachable.
Host Q&A Sessions
Engage your audience by dedicating segments to live Q&A. Ask viewers to submit questions related to your industry, product or brand. By answering their questions directly, you become an authority in your space and provide valuable information to your audience.
Collaborate with Influencers or Experts
Partner with industry influencers or thought leaders to supercharge your live stream and attract a bigger audience. Leverage their credibility and following to expand your reach and generate brand awareness. Prepare topics beforehand to ensure a valuable conversation for your viewers.
Conclusion
Live streaming has changed the marketing landscape, allowing brands to connect with their audience in real-time. By understanding the many benefits, creating great content, and implementing effective engagement tactics, you can unlock the power of live streaming and achieve amazing results.
Remember, success is all about continuous improvement. Measure your results, adapt and innovate to stay ahead and captivate your audience with every live stream. Live streaming is a powerful tool to work into your social media marketing plan, and it can help expand your brand’s profile, so it’s time to embrace it. If you want to Boost your online presence by creating amazing live-stream content for your brand, you can contact Toni Hukkanen, the head of FOR®’s Digital Marketing Agency.
