The fastest-growing and most effective area of content production right now is live-streaming video. And in an age where everything is on-demand, we are seeing a return to live events as a way of creating a shared, interactive experience.
You might want to consider producing live video to complement your current content strategy if your brand has an established voice, consistent story, and core message. Brand awareness is established through various forms of content—social media posts (text, infographics, images), blog posts, podcasts, and videos.
Smart brands and digital marketers are using live videos—or ads that run adjacent to live videos—to reach their audiences, engaging followers that are already familiar with what your brand represents, and even attracting new followers. Here are 15 important things to consider if you plan to create live video or run advertisements during live streams.
The amount of time spent watching a Facebook live video is three times longer than an archived live video. More attention captured means more opportunities to create brand awareness or funnel consumers into action with a newsletter sign up, share, or purchase.
Live videos are considered raw and more authentic than polished, branded videos. The good news is that means you don’t necessarily need to go run out and get the $200 haircut just to be on camera. Your audience will feel a special, more intimate connection to their favorite brand when a video is spontaneous or unrehearsed. Here are ways to engage viewers with live video.
If you’re tracking demographics, you know who follows you, buys your products, or subscribes to your services. It would be a waste of time and resources to advertise to Baby Boomers on Instagram, since they spend more time on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Here are some generational stats to steer you in the right direction.
YouTube trends show that 75% of Gen Xers watch YouTube for nostalgic content, 73% for DIY content, and 68% for news and pop culture, but in general are less likely to watch live video unless they are keeping up with breaking news. (Remember that news trust halo?)
Coronavirus led to an acceleration of live video as an essential form of connection. Since people couldn’t meet face-to-face, all events including meetings, concerts, sporting events, music and entertainment events, and awards shows went virtual. With people craving human connection and interaction, the notion that other people are watching at the very same time you are is exciting and fosters engagement. Let’s take a look at how live video is taking off.
Your time is precious, so you don’t want to put a ton of time and effort into something that isn’t going to produce results for you. Make sure your presence is established. When you have a core brand with a following, audience, or consumer that can be reached through any social media platform, then the timing may be right for you to experiment with live video.
The type of content you put out depends on your brand, but don’t remain confined to what you would normally present in tailored, recorded video content. On Facebook or Instagram, consider live-streaming a random customer review, a quick look at everyday people using your product, or special tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your product or service. On Tiktok, do a recipe, funny skit, or dance. On Linkedin, share advice, wisdom, or a message from one of the employees. Live videos don’t have to be perfect; that’s what makes them so unique.
There is a world of opportunity in 2021 for those looking to build their brand. Take advantage of the resources at your disposal.
Tara is a writer from New York City who got her start at Gotham Writer’s Workshop and continued to hone her craft at NYUSPS where she has completed a certificate in Copyediting, Proofreading, and Fact-Checking. Her undergraduate years were spent studying audio engineering and music production.