Are you a brand or business that’s considering going live on social media? With a little preparation, the good news is that it’s not as daunting as it may seem.
While we know that video is one of the hottest marketing methods on the planet right now, did you know that internet users watched 1.1 billion hours of live video in 2019 alone? Sure, this figure may have grown organically – but a global pandemic that confined entire countries to their homes only exacerbated it. Going live on social media is rapidly becoming a non negotiable for many social media marketers, particularly if they work within the fashion, music and entertainment sectors – but how do you get it right?
How Does Live Streaming On Social Media Work
Most brands and businesses don’t even realise how many social media channels have enabled (and embraced) live streaming. Once you’ve found the winning platform that is best suited to your business – whether that be Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tik Tok or Youtube – it may be time to consider live streaming as a new way to cement your brand’s position online.
The good news is that all you need to get started is a smartphone or a webcam. While “winging it” generally isn’t recommended for a live audience, some of the many video concepts to try can include:
- Demonstrations
- Interviews
- “How to” guides and educational information
- Live streaming an event
- Case studies
- Animated storytelling
- 360 degree and virtual reality showcasing
- Brand awareness sharing your vision, mission statement, products or services
If the prospect of a live audience – or potentially making a boo boo on camera – frightens you, don’t be afraid to do a few practice runs first. Ensure that you don’t pick a topic or method that isn’t in line with your knowledge or experience levels, as confidence is key when it comes to going live on social media.
Another thing to note live streaming is picking the right moment. Dig into your social media analytics to ensure that you’re capitalising on when your audience members are most active online – failure to do so may leave you disappointed with engagement levels lower than you anticipated.
Why Brands Should Try Going Live On Social Media
If video marketing is the “next big thing” – then brands shouldn’t ignore live streaming either. Getting into specifics though, what can going live on social media do to promote your business?
Instant Feedback – Going live on social media transforms a video from a broadcast and into a conversation. Users share comments and likes that you can respond to in real time, and let you know what they like (or what they don’t).
Get Seen – One of the hardest parts of building an organic presence on social media as a brand or business is getting seen by new and existing audiences. The good news is that live streaming is one helpful way to “skip the algorithm” associated with standard posts.
Create Real Connections – If you are able to humanise your brand through live streaming, it’s a timely reminder to your viewers that your business is more than a logo or a cute post on The ‘Gram – you’re real people too. Give them something (or someone) to connect with.
Boost Engagement Levels – Also algorithm related, but the more users interact with your content – the more they will see it in future. Live streaming provides a sense of authenticity, and removes the barriers of editing and filters.
Ready To Start Going Live On Social Media?
The problem that many businesses face when it comes to producing great video content in any form, is that they may not have the time, energy or resources to do so – but avoiding content marketing may actually be doing their brand a disservice.
Thankfully here at Content Hive, producing top quality video and digital content is exactly what we do best. We have itemised a list of digital content services, and allocated credits next to each of these. This means that each month, you can use your credits with us to produce digital content such as social media posts, blog articles, videos and even animated Instagram stories.
We believe that this model means we can produce high quality content in faster than normal delivery times. It also means that because you have a monthly credit, you are going to want to make sure you use these up – and so do we – meaning that your digital content is always consistent.
If you aren’t quite sure where to start on your digital marketing journey and would like to speak to a professional, why not book in a free discovery call with us at Content Hive today to discuss how we can get your brand buzzing online.
