5 Simple Ways to Make Your Next Live Webcast Perfect
If you have been thinking about using live webcasts as a way to grow your business, then there is no better time to start. In 2020 consumers watched an average of 92 minutes of video per day and by 2021 80% of all consumer internet traffic will be driven by video content.
But the challenge with a live webcast is that it happens in real-time so your viewers will see any mistakes you make. You can’t stop or have a do-over while you are live, so it is important to prepare as much as you can before the broadcast. A lack of professionalism will result in poor viewership and subscriptions as your audience will get put off by bad video, bad audio, or boring presentations.
Keep reading for 5 great tips on how to improve your live stream videos so that you can achieve your viewership goals.
1. Have the Best Video Production Equipment
One of the best live streaming tips is to improve your video quality. Most consumers will stop watching a live stream within 90 seconds if the video quality is terrible. You can fix this by buying a professional webcam, USB microphone, and lighting.
Read through reader reviews to ensure you are choosing the best equipment for your live webcasts. To add to this, in 2018, brands spent more than $90 billion on video content creation and this is expected to rise to $100 billion by 2023. A higher price does not always translate to better functionalities.
This equipment should only cost you about $400 but is worth the expense. Another great tip is to have spares for all your equipment so that if something gets ruined before or during a live you can replace it. If you can afford it, get an extra computer, cameras, extra cords, microphones, etc.
Invest in high-speed Wi-Fi Internet for your live streams so that your videos don’t freeze midstream. You should also have a backup cellular service in case the wi-fi disconnects. Make sure to run a live test before the official webcast time so that you can correct any sound or video issues in good time.
2. Plan and Prepare for the Livestream
You won’t get a second chance to do a live stream so it’s best to prepare as much as you can ahead of the event. The best way to do so is to have pre-made checklists for each live webcast.
You may be stressed before an event so won’t be able to remember everything you need to do. But having a prepared checklist of things to do during the setup, rehearsals, live streams and after the show makes live stream preparations a no-brainer. Update the checklists after every show with anything you may have missed.
Have a meeting with your team before the event to go over the program and what each person will be responsible for. If possible, rehearse the whole show with your crew as this may uncover potential pitfalls that you could avoid in the main show. You must also research the topic you intend to cover making sure to include elements that your audience will like.
It’s important to write brief bullet points of all the topics you need to cover on a post-it note or index card. A great tip for how to improve your live streams is using teleprompter software. This will ensure you don’t forget to speak about anything you wanted to cover.
Something else to remember is that anyone appearing on the video should wear plain colored clothes. Stripes or squares will create weird optical effects that may distract the viewers.
3. Make Your Livestreams Easy to Find
Unfortunately, due to a large amount of video content online, it is often hard for consumers to find videos that they want to watch. So, another of our live webcast tips is to make it easy for your audience to find you. Use the most popular platforms such as YouTube or Facebook to stream your video.
For controversial live streams that need to be hosted independently due to censorship, make sure to use a stable and reliable platform. Also, ensure the platform has all the features you may need such as password protection or visitor analytics.
4. Advertise Your Live Webcasts to Increase Views
Advertise your stream beforehand through your email list, website and social media profiles. Online marketers recommend advertising your live stream at least 2 weeks before.
You should then do further promotions one week before, one day before and one hour before the event. 48% of consumers have shared company videos that they found useful on their social media profiles. Encourage your followers to share the time and link of the stream with their network so that you can expand your reach.
Finally, make a recording of the live stream so that people that missed the live stream can watch it at their leisure. If the show was a quality one it will get many shares and expand your reach.
5. Use Graphics to Enhance the Viewer Experience
Another great tip for preparing great live streams is to add professional graphics to your video. For instance, you will need great graphics for the adverts that will go out before the event. They should include a photo as well as a copy describing what the show will be about.
The graphics should be compelling enough to convince your audience to attend the live stream as well as share the event with their network. The live stream itself should have lower third graphics such as the name and title of the speaker, captions if your video targets the hearing impaired, etc. You should also have a picture displaying information about your company and the live stream.
Make Your Next Webcast Great
Live webcasts are an important marketing tool and any modern business owner or content creator should be adept at hosting them. Use the right equipment, prepare well for each event and present interesting information and your live webcast will be a success.
Keep in mind that live webcasts will always have an element of surprise so be flexible and adapt to anything that crops up during the live. For more information on advertising your business read the rest of our blog.