Live Streaming is one tried-and-tested method of delivering content to the audience through the internet. Even though this method has been in use long before the pandemic took over, its popularity grew in times of covid. It was during the pandemic that the organizations were compelled to shift online, and host events through virtual event platforms. During times of adversities and uncertainties, people started to host live streaming more, and soon it became one of the most preferred methods of hosting events.
In this blog, we will talk about all the important things you need to know about live streaming. Let us get started.
To start with the meaning, live streaming is delivering content to the audience using live streaming solutions through the internet. The main feature of live streaming is that the content is delivered at the same time as it is being recorded. Live streaming videos are more preferred over other formats due to the fact that they deliver real content, instead of filtering or editing it. Live streaming can either be private or open to the public; however, it depends on the organizers and the platform they are picking up. Generally, the live streams conducted over social media platforms are open to all; whereas to access live streams conducted over platforms like Zoom and other locked platforms requires an id and a password.
Advantages of Live Streaming:
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More Audience:
With Live Streaming, audience restriction is not at all an issue. Since webinars don’t require the attendees and speakers to travel, one can tap on a wider audience. It allows people from all corners of the world to be a part of the live streaming event. Apart from that, since almost everyone owns a smartphone these days, the organizers can easily target a certain audience group. To access a live streaming service, all the attendees need is a compatible device; a stable internet connection and they are good to go.
- Live Engagement:
The most prominent reason people prefer being a part of live streaming events is they are live. Since the content is delivered at the same time it is being recorded, whatever is presented comes without any editing. And it is due to this reason people like to watch live streams. Live streams present the real sides of the presenters. Along with it, live streams come with more audience engagement opportunities. The attendees can interact with the speakers through audience engagement tools and get replies at the same time. It increases interactivity among the audience and speakers and expands brand reach.
- Less Crowded:
Though live streaming has been there even before the pandemic broke out, there are only limited organizations that know about live streaming. It is due to this reason not many organizers have started to host live streaming. Also, even though influencers and celebrities conduct live streams on social media; but, it is different from live streaming an event. It makes live streaming an excellent platform for organizations willing to grow. Less crowd means more opportunities to grow and expand the brand reach.
- Utilize the Content More Effectively:
With live streaming, you can utilize your content more efficiently. You can stream your event through an expert live streaming platform, and share it on social media platforms simultaneously. It allows you to expand your brand reach and increase your audience’s base. Not only this, you can save your live stream on social media platforms so that more people can watch it later on, increasing your brand engagement. On top of that, you can record your live stream, and can later use the video for several purposes; for example, event highlights, summary, promotional content, etc.
How to Host a Live Streaming?
To host a live streaming, follow these steps given below and make the most out of it.
Step 1: Plan:
Start with a properly planned strategy. You can never achieve big results without a well-planned strategy or plan; it goes with life and live to stream. Hence, to start with, write down your event objectives, target audience, subject of the live streaming event, etc. It will give you a direction to work towards and make everything a smooth sail.
Step 2: Schedule:
Now that you have a proper plan for your live stream, schedule your live stream properly. While doing so, keep a few factors in mind. First is, if you are targeting a global audience, keep different time zones in mind, and fix a date that suits the maximum of the audience. Next, the live stream should be scheduled at a suitable hour of the day. For example, if you are targeting the working audience and end up scheduling at peak hours, it won’t make any sense. Hence pick suitable hours of the day and day of the week to ensure maximum audience attendance.
Step 3: Selecting the Platform:
After planning the outline of the event, it is time to pick the live streaming solution. However, while doing so, ensure you are considering a few factors to ensure the seamless execution of your ideas. In a platform, you should look for audience engagement tools, networking opportunities, security, and, of course, your budget while picking a platform. Also, to ensure that the event solution you are picking is the best, you can refer to the previous users’ reviews and then select the one you think is the best among all.
Step 4: Promote:
All your planning and strategies would go in vain if you couldn’t gather enough attendees to watch your match. Hence, you should promote your upcoming event effectively and smartly. Don’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to the marketing of your event. You can use paid media specialists, advertising tools, social media marketing, and other tools to promote your event.
Step 5: Rehearse:
No matter how efficient you have become at conducting live streams, experts always suggest hosting a rehearsal session before actually going live. It will help you understand your platform and fix things before the main event.
Step 6: Post-Event Feedback:
Once the event is over, don’t forget to collect post-event feedback from your attendees. It will help you measure the success of your event and analyze your strategies.
We hope this guide has helped you understand the concept of live streaming and how you can host your events live.