live-stream Archives

Is your franchise live-streaming? 12 tips to look professional

During the COVID-19 pandemic, live streaming and video chat became not just convenient but critical mediums of communication and content delivery. And that continues today. Is your franchise live-streaming?

If not, it’s not too late to get started!

But before you dive headfirst into live-streaming for your franchise, the following are 12 tips to make your stream as professional and engaging as possible.

Choose your live-stream platform carefully

You have more options today than ever before to broadcast live. The key is to decide on the target audience of your live stream.

Are you trying to reach as broad of an audience as possible? Consider Facebook or YouTube. Is the content you’re sharing exclusive to paying customers? There are options to make a Facebook Live more exclusive (if it’s broadcasting within a closed Facebook group) or to limit permissions on a YouTube video. You might also consider a Zoom account, for example, for access and password control as well.

Facebook Live has the ability to reach a broad audience, while also allowing for a more informal video feel.

You’ll also want to keep music copyright permissions in mind if music could be part of your live stream in any way. Copyrighted music can get flagged on platforms, like Facebook. Copyright, in general, is a huge consideration to be aware of.

The key is to evaluate the features of each streaming platform you’re considering and decide on one first. It might be tempting to jump on multiple platforms to reach more people but commit to mastering one live-streaming platform first before expanding. That will allow your franchise to really hone in on what works for your audience without getting scattered or overwhelmed.

Live-stream formatting matters

You have the option of filming horizontally or vertically when going live. Horizontal camera angles allow for more of your surroundings to be in the frame, as well as give space for interviews. Vertical camera angles are more up-close and personal for the audience.

There is a time and place for either. But to look as professional as possible for your franchise, it’s best to stay consistent once you do decide on either angle. You also can set out consistent guidelines to determine if/when you would shift camera angles. This is helpful if you’re involving more members of your franchise team in live streaming.

Promotion is critical

Whether you’re informing your paying customers of exclusive content or trying to reach as many potential customers as possible, you have to promote your live stream.

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, did it make a sound?

The same idea applies here.

There is a lot of noise online. Everyone is trying to communicate about everything you can think of and get their message heard (including your franchise competitors). Not only do you have to get your message out there, but you have to cut through that noise to reach your target audience.

To cut through, ask yourself who would care and why would they care. Then, get specific about those answers in your promotion. Engaging visuals are more critical than usual. How can you catch someone’s eye? Then, don’t be afraid to over-communicate, over-post and overshare.

Granted, you’re not trying to blow up anyone’s inbox with daily promotional emails, for example. But you do want to spread your message across platforms and channels at a healthy pace starting about two weeks beforehand, perhaps even with a countdown to the day of your live stream. Everyone is dealing with a lot of digital communication, so the basic organic reach of any one post could easily be lost or forgotten. Be specific about why people should tune in, and be compelling.

Most-expensive equipment not mandatory

Don’t get us wrong. You will still want some basic live-streaming equipment, depending on the premise of the live-stream itself.

But keep it simple. Usually, a computer (or even a phone), a tripod, good lighting and a mic will do. And while we don’t believe you need the most expensive of any of those items, it is recommended to have backups. A backup tripod. A backup mic. Backup cords. Backup batteries.

Depending on the nature of your setup, you can create and use a checklist to make sure everything is ready by the time you go live as a franchise.

The last thing you want is to realize you should have silenced your cell phone (the simplest of things) before going live. But a cord not plugged into the right port for audio could be a worse oversight.

The stronger the WiFi, the better

Your broadband connection matters almost more than any amount of rehearsal for your live stream. The moment your video cuts out or freezes, you will lose viewers.

You can test a number of different ways depending on the platform you’re using. For instance, you can stream on Facebook Live privately on your profile. Then, watch the playback. You can give a colleague or friend access to your Zoom meeting for a quick test as well.

If the broadband connection is struggling, look at any background applications running on it, such as Google Drive (or even Netflix streaming on a different device).

This is also an opportunity to test any interactive features you’re considering, such as any graphics or online polls during the broadcast. If something doesn’t work, let it go.

High traffic times could also make a strong connection trickier. You can check your broadband speed at different times of day with speedtest.net to get a sense of when might be the best time to broadcast for your franchise in your area.

Focus while live-streaming

The idea of broadcasting anything live can cause plenty of anxiety, especially if you’re new to it. Set yourself up for success by limiting any distractions (like cell phones) and jotting down a few notes of what you want to cover in your franchise live stream.

A loose rehearsal is fine. But try not to over-rehearse or script out your entire stream. It will come off as less authentic to your audience and potentially robotic or even boring. Practice to the point of being comfortable at most.

Be aware of any possible background noises or any risk of shaky camera experiences as well.

And your lighting does matter. At the very least, do whatever you can to avoid being backlit. But a standing spotlight or even natural sunlight can make all the difference. If outside, try to avoid harsh sunlight. You’ll end up in the same bad-lighting distraction scenario.

Keep in mind the patterns on your clothing. Solid colors are best. Stripes, plaid or anything else that’s busy can distract viewers as well. An overall professional appearance that matches your franchise brand and content is ideal. If your franchise’s logo can be seen in the background, even better!

It may sound cheesy, but good posture matters. Your smile matters. Exuding confidence matters. Think about your likeability and how you appear on camera.

You can monitor how your live stream is going with an additional monitor or device. This is very helpful so that you can have a sense of what your viewers are seeing. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the camera, not the monitor.

Remember, keeping your live broadcast simple and focused will help it appear more professional for your franchise. Less is more in most instances.

Be responsive during your live stream

Live video is like a microcosm of what social media is all about. It enables you to interact with your audience.

Whether it’s as simple as greeting individuals as you see them join your stream or answering viewer questions during your broadcast or any other way, you want to engage with your audience naturally as much as makes sense.

Live streams differ from pre-recorded video in this way by enabling you to build relationships with your viewers. This is imperative for not just the success of your live stream but also your franchise.

Viewers can join at any time

During a live stream, viewers can come and go as they please. The expectation that your entire audience will watch from beginning to end is optimistic but not realistic.

You’ll want to regularly recap, re-introduce yourself and update what’s going on during the broadcast for any new viewers just joining. You can keep it simple with: “Hi! if you’re just joining us, welcome! We’re currently talking about [topic], and we’ve just covered [previous topic].”

Consider a guest for your live stream

Live streaming for your franchise can be a lot more fun with two or more people. The art of the conversation is that much more engaging than watching one person only speak.

If you’re interviewing a guest, it’s a great opportunity for true cross-promotion on both your and your guest’s channels and platforms.

Be sure to give your guest plenty of time and space to share their expertise, perspective and experience. Hold back from jumping in or cutting them off if you can.

Your live-stream title matters

Just like a book title, the title of your live-stream video can either engage or miss the opportunity to engage your target audience.

YouTube is where SEO (search engine optimization) is critical to reach more people. Everything from your title to your video tags, video description and video thumbnail can make or break your organic reach there.

YouTube video — On YouTube, your video has the potential to reach a broad audience with an SEO-optimized title, description and tags.

Measure your results

Success often depends on your goals. But even if your first few franchise live streams were mostly testing the waters, check in on your reach and engagement, especially on Facebook or YouTube.

Take note of what appears to be working and what doesn’t appear to be working. Could it be the amount of promotion (or lack thereof)? Timing of the stream? The content itself?

Every insight can help you improve your franchise live-streaming over time.

It’s not over when the live stream ends

Archiving your live stream for on-demand access afterward makes for great content that your audience can access anytime.

You can clean up the recorded file, of course, by trimming the beginning and end if necessary.

You also can take portions of any broadcast and repurpose those snippets for use on other platforms.

In addition, a transcript can be created after the fact for use in a blog, or the audio can be used in a podcast. The possibilities are endless.

In conclusion

In the end, the key to professional-looking franchise live streams is to plan, test, engage and measure. Remember that this is one of the best ways to reach your target audience, but that perfection is not required for success.

You can find more helpful insight on live-streaming from YouTube as well. And check out what we suggest is the best video platform for marketers.

While you’re exploring how to make your franchise live-streaming better, consider your digital marketing process. Is it everything it should be to serve you as a franchise? DailyStory provides custom-tailored digital marketing for hundreds or thousands of brand locations, in one central place. Learn more about how we serve franchises like you, and request a free demo.

Going live: 7 tips for any social media platform

Going live on any social media platform can feel intimidating, but if you let fear keep you away from live videos, you’re missing out on an ample opportunity.

Live videos capture attention between 10 and 20 times longer than prerecorded, on-demand content, while more than 20 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. watch live-stream videos several times a day.

And keep in mind that you have the potential to reach about 1.7 billion users through Facebook Live alone.

Social media live video happens in real-time, with no editing, so the footage is completely authentic. This makes live video content appealing to social media audiences.

Regardless of what social media platform you’re going live on, the following are seven tips to help you be more purposeful, engaging and successful.

Announce your live video ahead of time

It’s always a best practice to make sure that your audience is aware that you’re going live soon. This can be as simple as sharing posts announcing the live video in advance and sharing what viewers can expect to see.

But you don’t have to keep your promotion restricted to that particular social media platform. You can cross-promote on different platforms. You also can promote on other mediums, such as blog posts and/or email newsletters and so on.

Some platforms, like Facebook, allow you to create an event where you can include all relevant information about the upcoming live video. When users RSVP to the event, they’ll get notifications and reminders beforehand, which can help increase your overall live-viewing audience size.

Plan ahead with an outline

There is no reason to jump onto a live video cold with no plan. Spontaneity is inevitable, of course. You’re live, after all. But the more you can plan and prepare in advance, the better you’ll be.

An outline can help prevent many silly mistakes and ensure that you cover exactly what you’re aiming for in your live video. Include any calls to action as well, such as visiting your website, subscribing to your email newsletter or something else.

Because it’s ideal for your live video to run for at least 20 minutes, the better your plan, the easier this video length will be to achieve naturally.

Invest in decent gear

Before you panic about how much “decent gear” might cost you for going live, remember that your gear only has two goals in which your audience should be able to:

See you well.
Hear you well.

That’s it. So, keep it simple. A basic tripod can prevent your live video from being shaky. A ring light can make it easy to see you, no matter what time of day it is. And wireless earbuds can stand in as your microphone so that not only can you be heard, but most will help cancel out any background noise as well.

While you’re at it, double-check your WiFi connection and internet speed. There’s nothing worse than your live video crashing midway due to a weak signal.

Practice before going live

Live video on social media is definitely more casual than traditional, recorded videos, but you still want to represent your band well.

It’s always a good idea to practice before going live. This can involve practicing what you want to say, testing your lighting and evaluating whether there are any potential distractions (such as background noises) that you can eliminate before going live for real.

Focus on connecting with your audience

Going live on social media should be about connecting with your viewers more than anything else. (It should be the priority over selling and promoting.)

Live videos enable you to show your audience a behind-the-scenes peek into your brand. This helps them to connect with you and/or others behind your brand, creating that human connection.

Invite guests to your social media live videos

The engagement factor for live videos exponentially increases when you can bring guests on to liven up and enrich the conversation. The more dynamic the conversation, the more viewers you’ll get and the more comments that can be generated.

When planning out your live video topics, consider who might have expertise that can elevate the conversation. Some guests might be nervous about appearing on live video, so make sure to reassure them. It helps to talk them through your plan for the live video so that they know what to expect as much as possible.

Consider your timing (but don’t be ruled by it)

Ideally, you’re going live at a time of day when your audience can be most engaged. But it’s also possible that your audience is across multiple time zones, so while you generally want to target the best time for your audience, remember that most live videos are recorded and can be played back by users afterward.

This is particularly true if your brand is global. Target your timing for where the bulk of your target audience is, and then share and promote the recording afterward for everyone else.

In conclusion

Truly, the most important thing to remember when going live on social media is to simply be yourself and have fun. Live videos are an authentic way to connect with your audience, and they will be able to tell immediately if you’re not being yourself.

Success comes down to finding that sweet spot between being yourself and representing your brand.

Check out the eight most common social media mistakes and how to avoid them. Newer to social media marketing, explore these 17 free online courses to help you level up your social media skills.

While you’re planning out your next live videos for social media, think about how you can improve your digital marketing process. Is it everything you want it to be? DailyStory features automation, audience segmentation and more. Schedule your free demo with us today.

7 tips to offer addictive live-stream workouts

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the fitness industry on its head, thrusting gym owners and instructors into live-stream workouts.

Teaching fitness virtually is obviously very different from teaching in person.

And live-stream workouts don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

“Due to [the] COVID-19 outbreak, [online fitness] is expected to witness [its] highest growth rate … mainly due to the shutdown of gyms and fitness studios around the globe and leading people to stay indoors,” according to Allied Market Research.

Specifically, the global online fitness market was estimated at $6.04 billion in 2019 and is expected to hit $59.23 billion by 2027.

Successful fitness classes can make or break your bottom line moving forward. And they depend on the experience being delivered by the instructor. That experience will make your live-stream workouts engaging and successful.

The following are seven tips to offer addictive live-stream workouts that will engage your clientele and boost your bottom line.

Get comfortable with the equipment, process

Practice makes perfect. You’ve likely heard this before, but it’s especially true for live-stream workouts.

A great online fitness class doesn’t require the most expensive equipment. Truly, you could use a laptop computer and/or smartphone to host your class with great results. But anything more, such as a tripod, will only improve the overall quality.

The key is that you are familiar and comfortable with the setup and use of the equipment for your workout.

Plan to practice before your first live class. You can create a to-do checklist to reference so that you never miss a step. Also, anticipate what might go wrong and how to troubleshoot that on the fly. Such issues include (but are not limited to):

The audio failing (or is hard to hear)
WiFi connectivity problems
Camera failure

Easy solutions won’t always be available, but the more you can practice, the better you can prepare for such issues should they arise.

More practice also will help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera, understand where the best shot is (and where you should always be standing within it), even test different lighting so that everyone can clearly see you and so on.

As far as the best platform to use for streaming, this might depend on your fitness studio, but great options to explore include (but are not limited to):

Set yourself up for success

Your lighting and audio are the two most important factors of successful live-stream workouts.

It’s critical that you are well-lit and that there are no echoes or significant background noise while you’re teaching. In fact, acquiring a ring light and Bluetooth earbuds (such as Apple Air Pods) will dramatically improve both your lighting and your audio.

In addition, you’ll want to stream your music playlist for your attendees for an optimal experience. Zoom and other streaming platforms offer this capability. Keep in mind that your music is your co-instructor. It’s there to help drive energy and set the atmosphere for your live-stream workouts. Simply playing music in the background likely won’t get picked up consistently by your mic (especially when using Bluetooth earbuds), so take the extra step to ensure that both your voice and music are balanced with each other.

Be sure to pay attention to music rights and what you have the legal ability to stream online in your live-stream workouts. Check out:

You’ll even want to be mindful of the clothing that you’re wearing (basic colors that aren’t too bright and contrast with your background). Speaking of background, the cleaner the better. Avoid having any clutter behind you that can serve as more of a distraction for your clients.

Test different spaces that are available to you. What looks the most professional? Refer to these additional tips for professional-looking live-stream videos.

Consistency matters in your live-stream workouts

Once you dial in the perfect lighting, audio, camera placement and even clothing, do your best to set up the same way every time.

Doing so provides an air of continuity that your clients will appreciate. This reliability indirectly boosts the professionality of your live-stream workouts.

Be mindful of equipment, modifications, progressions

Always consider your client first. He or she could have a lot of workout equipment available to use or none at all.

When designing your workout, keep that in mind.

For example, if you’re directing clients to use their dumbbells for bicep curls without offering any options for those who don’t have dumbbells, that can lead to some frustration for those attendees.

Also, remember that modifications may be needed by various clients who could have any number of old (or newer) injuries. Offering modifications up-front shows your attention to detail and will be of value to attendees. On the flip side, you’ll also want to automatically offer progressions for any advanced clientele to increase the intensity of an exercise.

You’ll need to talk more throughout live-stream workouts than you would in person. Focus on those form, modification and progression cues so that what you’re saying is diverse and not too repetitive.

In addition, your clients could be working out in a small, cluttered space with a number of distractions around them. Be understanding and think ahead to deliver the best virtual experience possible.

Keep community top of mind

Just because you’re not in the same room as your clients, that doesn’t mean that your live-stream workouts have to feel disconnected.

Now more than ever, people are seeking connection.

Provide time before and after your live-stream workouts to chat with your attendees and/or answer any questions they might have in real-time. (Giving enough time before the class also offers the benefit of non-panicked troubleshooting should there be any issues.)

During the workout itself, be sure to cheer on your clients. Perhaps someone’s form in an exercise is particularly good. Maybe you spotted someone using a heavier weight or pushing extra hard. Whatever it is, be specific and use names. Also be mindful of calling out something positive about every single attendee (as best as you can, depending on class size).

Request feedback and send follow-ups

Just like with in-person fitness classes, you’ll always want to encourage feedback from your clients and send follow-ups afterward.

Not only will you continue to improve as you teach more and more online, but your follow-ups afterward show that you value your clients and are open to continuing your engagement with them (and support of them) outside of your live-stream workouts.

One such tool that can help with follow-ups is FitGrid.

Be you! Show off your personality

Despite all the equipment and planning required for successful live-stream workouts, you are the most important asset.

The more you can show off your personality, connect with your attendees and more, the better. It’s definitely a big transition to go from in-person to live-stream workouts but embrace the opportunity to connect with people beyond whom you might see in your fitness studio locally. Online workouts make it possible to reach and help people across the country and even the world.

Plus, the better you get at teaching virtually, the better you’ll be in-person moving forward.

While you’re upping your live-stream workout game, consider DailyStory. Our digital marketing platform integrates with MindBody and Rhinofit to better serve fitness studios and gyms and offers such features as SMS text message marketing, email marketing, automation, dynamic audience segmentation and more. Schedule your free demo with us today.

4 things you should know about Twitch

If your business has anything to do with video games (or video game players), you must be familiar with Twitch.

Originally founded in 2011 as a spinoff of Justin.tv, Twitch is currently the most-used platform for video game live-streaming. Currently owned by Amazon, Twitch offers a wide range of content, but the majority definitely centers around gaming.

As of February 2021, Twitch generated about 2.9 million average concurrent Twitch viewers, with a total of 9.5 million active streamers.

The following are four things you should know about Twitch, especially if gamers are a target audience for your business.

Accessible on most platforms

Twitch has a full website that can be accessed through a web browser, and the app is available on:

iOS
Android
Windows
Mac
PS4
Xbox One
Chromecast
Apple TV

Truly, if your device supports apps, it’s very possible you can use this application on it. Accounts also are free, whether you’re a streamer or viewer. Accounts are necessary to post comments and follow content creators.

Common purposes behind many streams

Video games can definitely be expensive. This is where Twitch streams can play a role by helping gamers decide if a video game is right for them that goes beyond a traditional review.

Essentially, when you’re watching a stream, you’re seeing the game in action as well as the streamer playing the game. In other words, you’re watching the gamer and the game he or she is playing.

Of course, as mentioned earlier, Twitch features more than video game content. Musicians, for example, have used streams as a substitution for canceled touring amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Streams also feature a live chat so that viewers can engage with the streamer and other viewers in real-time.

Streamers can make money

Similar to YouTube, content creators have the opportunity to make money through the Twitch platform. This can happen through donations, subscriptions and ads.

However, you must first become a Twitch Affiliate to earn money through the application directly. To qualify, you must have:

At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days
At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days
An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days
At least 50 followers

Once you become an Affiliate, you can earn money directly through:

Ads, where you get a share of the ad revenue for the ads that play during your stream. You also get to choose the frequency at which they appear.
Bits, which are a form of virtual currency that enables viewers to cheer for the streamer. This acts like somewhat of a tip that comes with an animated cheering message in the chat. The conversion rate is one cent per Bit.
Subscriptions, which come in tiers of $4.99, $9.99 or $24.99 monthly. The application reportedly keeps 50 percent of subscription revenue. Subscribers often get access to special emotes, badges, exclusive chats and ad-free streams.

Above Affiliates are Twitch Partners, who get the same benefits as Affiliates but also:

A verified user badge
Priority access to the application’s support team
Broadcast delay of up to 15 minutes
Up to 50 emote slots

And that’s just to name a few. To become a Twitch Partner, you must have:

Streamed for 25 hours
Generated an average of 75 viewers
Streamed on 12 different days

Once you’ve achieved these metrics for 30 days, you can then apply to become a Partner.

Learn more about affiliate marketing in general.

Twitch has a Prime Subscription

While the platform offers free accounts, users can opt to pay for a monthly subscription to Twitch Prime, which features:

One channel subscription
In-game content
Loot to gift to other Twitch members
Exclusive emotes (emojis that let you show your support for a streamer)
Additional chat colors
Exclusive chat badge
Access to free games
Ability to save broadcasts for 60 days instead of the regular 14 days

If you already have an Amazon Prime account, that automatically includes a free Twitch Prime subscription once you connect the two accounts. If you don’t, it costs $11 per month.

Twitch is a popular place for gamers to connect, share and explore. Understanding this platform will only help you find ways to share your brand within it.

See our 12 tips on live-streaming so that your business can look more professional. And if YouTube is more relevant for your brand, we have 20 tips to grow your YouTube subscribers.

While you’re exploring the live-streaming platform, consider leveling up your digital marketing process with DailyStory, which features automation, audience segmentation and more. Schedule your free demo with us today.

Live streaming: 12 tips for your business to look professional

During the COVID-19 pandemic, live streaming and video chat became not just convenient but critical mediums of communication and content delivery. That value continues today.

Are you live-streaming for your business? If not, it’s never too late to get started!

But before you dive headfirst into live streaming, the following are 12 tips to make your stream as professional and engaging as possible.

Choose your live-stream platform carefully

You have more options today than ever before to broadcast live. The key is to decide on the target audience of your live-stream.

Live-stream formatting matters

There is a time and place for either. But to look as professional as possible, it’s best to stay consistent once you do decide on either angle. You also can set out consistent guidelines to determine if/when you would shift camera angles.

Promotion is critical

Whether you’re informing your paying customers of exclusive content or trying to reach as many potential customers as possible, you have to promote your live stream.

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, did it make a sound?

The same idea applies here.

There is a lot of noise out there during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone is trying to communicate disruption, adjustments, you name it. Not only do you have to get your message out there, but you have to cut through that noise to reach your target audience.

Granted, you’re not trying to blow up anyone’s inbox with daily promotional emails, for example, but spread your message across platforms and channels at a healthy pace starting about two weeks beforehand, perhaps even with a countdown to the day of your live stream. Everyone is dealing with a lot of digital communication, so the basic organic reach of any one post could easily be lost or forgotten. Be specific about why people should tune in, and be compelling.

Most-expensive equipment not mandatory

Don’t get us wrong. You will still want some basic live-streaming equipment depending on the premise of the live-stream itself.

Depending on the nature of your setup, you can create and use a checklist to make sure everything is ready by the time you go live.

The stronger the WiFi, the better

Your broadband connection matters almost more than any amount of rehearsal for your live stream. The moment your video cuts out or freezes, you will lose viewers.

You can test a number of different ways depending on the platform you’re using. For instance, you can stream on Facebook Live privately on your profile. Then watch the playback. You can give a colleague or friend access to your Zoom meeting for a quick test as well.

If the broadband connection is struggling, look at any background applications running on it, such as Google Drive (or even Netflix streaming on a different device).

This is also an opportunity to test any interactive features you’re considering, such as any graphics or online polls during the broadcast. If something doesn’t work, let it go.

High traffic times could also make a strong connection trickier. During this pandemic, more people than ever before are online and even video conferencing, putting a high demand on broadband networks nationally. You can check your broadband speed at different times of day with speedtest.net to get a sense of when might be the best time to broadcast in your area.

Focus while live streaming

A loose rehearsal is fine. But try not to over-rehearse or script out your entire stream. It will come off as less authentic to your audience and potentially robotic or boring as well. Practice to the point of being comfortable at most.

Be aware of any possible background noises or any risk of shaky camera experiences as well.

Your lighting does matter. At the very least, do whatever you can to avoid being backlit. But a standing spotlight or even natural sunlight can make all the difference. If outside, try to avoid harsh sunlight. You’ll end up in the same bad-lighting distraction scenario.

It may sound cheesy, but good posture matters. Your smile matters. Exuding confidence matters. Think about your likeability and how you appear on camera.

Remember, keeping your live broadcast simple and focused will help it appear more professional. Less is more in most instances.

Be responsive during your live stream

Live video is like a microcosm of what social media is all about. It enables you to interact with your audience.

Live streams differ from pre-recorded videos in this way by enabling you to build relationships with your viewers.

Viewers can join at any time

During a live stream, viewers can come and go as they please. The expectation that your entire audience will watch from beginning to end is optimistic, not realistic.

Consider a guest for your live stream

Live streaming can be a lot more fun with two or more people. The art of the conversation is that much more engaging than watching one person only speak.

If you’re interviewing a guest, it’s a great opportunity for true cross-promotion on both your and your guest’s channels and platforms.

Be sure to give your guest plenty of time and space to share their expertise, perspective and experience. Hold back from jumping in or cutting them off if you can.

Your live-stream title matters

Just like a book title, the title of your live-stream video can either engage or miss the opportunity to engage your target audience.

Measure your results

Success often depends on your goals. But even if your first few live streams were mostly testing the waters, check in on your reach and engagement, especially on Facebook or YouTube.

Take note of what appears to be working and what doesn’t appear to be working. Could it be the amount of promotion (or lack thereof)? Timing of the stream? The content itself?

Every insight can help you improve over time.

It’s not over when the live stream ends

Archiving your live stream for on-demand access afterward makes for great content that your audience can access anytime.

You can clean up the recorded file, of course, by trimming the beginning and end if necessary.

You also can take portions of any broadcast and repurpose those snippets for use on other platforms.

A transcript can also be created after the fact for use in a blog, or the audio can be used in a podcast. The possibilities are endless.

In conclusion

In the end, the key to professional-looking live streams is to plan, test, engage and measure. Remember that this is the best way to reach your audience during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that perfection is not required for success.

You can find more helpful insight on live-streaming from YouTube as well. Plus, what is the best video platform for marketers?

Need a comprehensive platform that levels up your digital marketing process? Consider DailyStory. Our application features automation, dynamic audience segmentation, email marketing, SMS text message marketing and more. Schedule your free demo with us today.