Last week, we briefly touched on four digital trends to look out for in 2019. But one in particular stands out, so we felt like a full blog post was needed to discuss it.
Live video. It’s a tactic that can intimidate many people. Hearing yourself on camera, worrying about your appearance, tripping over your words… it can be scary! But, it can also be an incredibly useful tool in driving sales and generating leads if done right. 70 percent of marketers say video produces more conversions than any other content, and 73 percent of B2B organizations report a positive ROI from video marketing. It’s no secret that people love watching videos, so why not use that love to benefit your business?
Video content marketing has been a strong contender in the industry for a few years now, but thanks to new features on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, live video has now become possible for everyone to capture. People spend three times longer watching video which is live compared to pre-recorded content. That said, I think we can all agree not all videos are created equal, which is why it’s important to come up with a strategy before just jumping into the live video game head first. Length, video quality, content, time of day--these are only a few of the factors to keep in mind when prepping for your first live stream.
Timeliness
Timeliness comes in two ways. First, you want to avoid the video being unnecessarily long. Our attention spans aren’t as long as they used to be, so people will get bored quickly if you begin to drone on. Cut the cheesiness and keep it real, don’t waste time thinking about a script or you’ll risk coming across as too rehearsed or sounding canned, thus taking away the feeling of live video. Secondly, you’ll want to be aware of your video’s timeliness in regards to your target audience. If you’re looking to reach executives, avoid live streaming during the middle of the workday as most people will be too busy to watch. If you’re trying to target parents, you want to plan around when they’ll likely be putting the kids to bed, packing lunches, checking homework, etc. Your video campaigns are meant for these people, so do your best to stream at an appropriate time for them tune in.
Production Quality
Overwhelmingly, people’s top priority when watching videos online is quality. 67 percent say video quality is the most crucial factor when watching a live stream, and 23 percent who have been presented with a poor quality video experience would hesitate to purchase from that brand. If you don’t hold your videos to a high standard, who’s to say you don’t do the same to your products or services. Perception is everything, and with the multitude of user-friendly platforms available from which to stream, viewers’ expectations are higher than ever. Plus, no one wants to share a bad video on their feed.
Engaging Content
It may seem like this goes without saying, but many brands struggle to come up with content that audiences actually want to view in real time. The most significant benefit of live video is that it gives followers a sense of “being there.” The various tools allow for the audience to engage via likes, comments, questions, etc., so take advantage of that. Invite them to be a part of your event, interview, behind-the-scenes look, or whatever it is you’re streaming. Although earlier we stressed the importance of not seeming overly rehearsed, it is equally important not to appear as if you are just winging it. Part of your strategy needs to be having a clear and concise purpose to your video and making sure viewers understand that purpose right out of the gate. Keep titles short but attention-grabbing, don’t leave people wondering what they’re watching or they’ll feel like you’re wasting their time.
As stated by the title, this is merely an introduction to live video marketing. We’ve barely scratched the surface, so stay tuned for another installment where we’ll broach some tips to executing your first successful live stream.
