One of the greatest opportunities brands have today is to not just wait on the media to help tell your story but instead BE THE MEDIA and tell your own story.
The social web has created an opportunity for brands to produce a storytelling platform on their own. A tactic that my agency uses often is live web video and we have helped clients achieve their communication and marketing goals by implementing a video stream plan.
What Video Livestream Services To Use
There are many players out there who specialize in web video from Ustream, Livestream, Justin.TV and Vokle and we have used them all. Each offers different pros, cons, and costs. Test and find which will work best for your livestreaming needs.
Though the tools are relatively free, you need to invest in a live web video game plan before broadcasting your first event. A Here successful launch is much more than just having a webcam and pressing START, it is important to plan for success.
10 things to do before, during and after turning on the camera:
1. Video Equipment and Accessories
Look at your equipment, if you are using an external camera do you have the right cords and adapters
2. How Will You Connect To The Internet?
Know about the internet connection at the location BEFORE you get there. Ideally you will plug in via ethernet but if that is not possible you can use wi-fi.
3. Know Your WiFi Speed
If using wi-fi make sure your upload bandwith is minimally 384Kbps. You can test upload speed at Speedtest.net
4. Rehearse The Video Streaming
Make sure you do a practice run before you go live. This can save you many times from simple issues that will destroy your live show.
5. Invest In Good Audio
Sound is critical, invest in an external microphones. If the sound is bad, the value of the livestream is all but gone.
6. Be Ready To Chat
During a live broadcast you need to make sure you have someone moderating the chat room. Additionally, your social channels may become a larger chat room in their own right. If you are looking to drive traffic use your social media outlets DURING your live programming make sure someone is there to moderate and respond..
7. Have Moderation Rules and Enforce Them
If you are utilizing the onsite chat tool many of these services employ and many viewers take part in, make sure you have a plan for moderating disruptive or offensive chat room members. Quickly kick, boot and ban disruptive audience members before their comments trash the room. This will be a challenge with more viewers of course but with less viewers nasty comments are more visible
8. Record The Broadcast
Make sure before you started you enabled RECORD if you are using a service that captures footage. Many services will allow you to record even after you have started.
9. Be Remarkable
Think about the end user and make sure you have PRODUCED an interesting live web video. Your audience doesn’t just want to watch an uninteresting video. Put some thought into how the viewer will see. This includes using your chat room moderator to help drive or liven up the conversation.
10. Reuse The Broadcast As Content
Distribute your recorded video via your blog, Twitter, Facebook. Though people may not attend your stream they will watch it post-event.
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I hope your live web stream turns out successful and that these tips are helpful. Please free to ping me on Twitter @keyinfluencer for more questions.
Image source: Shutterstock.com