Know how, why and when you should use the live stream for your business

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter- On more and more social media platforms you see videos that are or are being recorded live. And more and more companies are using the possibilities to reach their target group directly. Streaming services grew in 2017 and it is expected that in 2018 this growth will continue.

The social media market is flooded the last year with livestream broadcaster or almost live apps. Snapchat, Facebook Live, YouTube and Periscope are the best-known examples. Every medium has its advantages, but also its disadvantages. And since this week, Instagram has also introduced a feature that is almost identical to Snapchat.

Opportunities for companies

There are various possibilities for companies to use live streaming. Such as in the field of customer service, giving demonstrations, and announcing new products or answering questions from consumers. But you can also use live streaming to give your followers a look behind the scenes or live virtual presence at your event.

The big advantage of live streaming is that you can go into topics that are playing at that moment. You also receive feedback from your target group through every medium. The disadvantage is that if you make a mistake or say something wrong, this is immediately online. You can then be sure that something like this will be spread out.

Just like with any other social media platform, it is useful to set up a plan with objectives. If a company just goes live in the wild, it is often a mess. Live streaming service can use the current house style but take advantage of the unique opportunities of live streams (more personal, more intimate).

-Live streams lend themselves to:
-Interviews
-Behind the scenes
-Broadcasting an event
-Openings
-Special Actions
-Resolving misunderstandings

Before starting a live stream you start with a good plan; what are you going to do, who is in it, how long does the session last and where will the session take place? But more importantly perhaps; is there a good internet connection? Yes, nothing more annoying than a live session that continuously fails. You will immediately lose a large share of the viewers who are gathered together.

Before the live stream starts and during broadcasting you promote this session to achieve the maximum number of viewers. On some platforms, the session can also be viewed afterward. If a platform offers this, afterward a large part of the target group will see the live stream session.

The moment is there, the live stream begins! Think from the target group, check whether image and sound do well. If feedback is given by viewers during the live stream, you can increase the viewing pleasure by responding directly to this.

After the live stream, you check all the comments. Respond to the most positive and negative, if the social medium lends itself to this. Learn from the feedback and get out what viewers liked to see. With this information, you make a plan for your next live stream.