Livestream: Expectations vs Reality
One of the most popular ways to connect with an audience online is through livestreaming. Whether you're sharing a new product launch, conducting a virtual event, or offering behind-the-scenes access to your business, there's a lot to love about using this medium. But as with anything, there can be a disconnect between expectations and reality when it comes to streaming - especially for first-time users.
In this blogpost, we'll explore the difference between what you may expect from a Livestream and what you should realistically expect to set your business up for success.
A Brief History
When live streaming first hit the scene, it was an immediate sensation. Suddenly, people had a new and exciting way to connect with their audiences online. And businesses quickly realised the potential for marketing their products and services through this powerful medium. But as with any new technology, there was a bit of a learning curve.
It’s difficult to control the environment
For businesses, the biggest challenge with livestreaming is that it's difficult to control the environment and ensure that everything goes according to plan. There are a lot of variables that can affect the quality of your livestream, from technical issues to internet connection speed. And if something goes wrong, it can be difficult to troubleshoot and fix the issue in real-time.
It’s challenging to get people to tune in
In addition, there's also the challenge of getting people to tune in. Unless you have a large and engaged audience, it can be difficult to get people to watch your livestream. You'll need to invest time and effort into promoting your stream ahead of time and make sure that you have a plan for what you'll do if nobody shows up.
Livestreaming isn't a one-size-fits-all solution
Finally, it's important to remember that livestreaming isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Not every business is suited for this type of marketing. You need to have a clear goal in mind and make sure that livestreaming is the best way to achieve that goal.
So what should you realistically expect from doing a livestream? Here are a few tips:
#1. Plan Ahead & Be Prepared For Contingencies
“Livestreaming is on-the-go. There is no need to plan!”
VS
“We need to have Plan B in case something happens!”
One of the biggest challenges with livestreaming is that things can go wrong. And if something goes wrong during your stream, it can be difficult to fix the issue in real-time. That's why it's important to plan and have a backup plan in place. Make sure that you know what steps you need to take to troubleshoot any potential issues and have a contingency plan for what you'll do if your stream goes offline.
#2. Have A Clear Goal
VS
“Everyone is livestreaming. I should do that for my business too!”
“Hmm is livestreaming REALLY suitable for my business?”
Make sure that live streaming is the best way to achieve your goals because not every business is suited for livestreaming. You need to have a clear goal in mind and make sure that livestreaming is the best way to achieve that goal. If you're not sure whether livestreaming is the right fit for your business, ask yourself these questions:
What are my goals for this stream?
How will I measure the success of my stream?
What type of content will I be sharing?
Who is my target audience?
Do I have a plan for promoting my stream?
If you can't answer these questions, then livestreaming may not be the best solution for your business.
#3. Promote Your Stream Ahead Of Time
“Let’s strategise when we should promote our livestream!”
VS
“It’s fine, our audience willl receive a notification one we go LIVE anyway.”
Promote your stream ahead of time to ensure that people will tune in. Unless you have a large and engaged audience, it can be difficult to get people to watch your livestream. You need to promote your stream ahead of time and make sure that people know when and where to tune in. Use your social media channels, email list, and website to promote your stream. And make sure to give people a reason to watch. Offer exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, or discounts for viewers.
#4. Be Prepared For Any Technical Errors
“We can leave the technical side to the media production crew. No need for us to prepare…”
VS
“What should we do on the actual day in case we face technical issues?”
As we mentioned before, things can go wrong during a livestream.
During one of our livestreaming projects, we had everything set up right and ready to go. Multiple rehearsals were done but when our client goes on LIVE, the clicker for her slides suddenly stopped working during the live session. Luckily we had an extra clicker and managed to give it to her off-screen while another speaker is speaking.
Be prepared to troubleshoot and fix any issues that may come up. Have a plan in place for what you'll do if your internet connection goes down or if you experience any other technical difficulties. And make sure that you have a backup plan for your content in case something goes wrong.
#5 Livestreaming Is Not A One-Size-Fits-All Solution
“I can sell anything through livestreaming!”
VS
“I can interact with my customers during the livestream but maybe it is not quite it for my sales.”
Live streaming is a great way to connect with your audience and create engaging content. But it's not the right solution for every business. By taking the time to assess your goals and objectives, you can determine if live streaming is the best way to achieve them. If it's not, that's OK! There are other ways to connect with your audience and create engaging content.
By following these tips, you'll set your business up for success when it comes to live streaming. And who knows, maybe you'll even enjoy the process!
Learn More About Livestreaming Today
While creating an online content can be simple and straightforward, it also might be a little intimidating for people who don’t have any experience with content creation, video production, or online course platforms.
That’s where we come in.
If you live in Singapore and have a desire to turn your knowledge into an online content, Blissful Studios wants to help make your dream come true and assist you in making your mark on the world.
With our GoLive Checklist, you’ll receive our help with everything that it takes to create an online content for the first time.
From video production to the setup of online course services, we offer an all-in-one suite for you to turn your expertise into an online content. Book a call today to learn more about what we do and how we can help you in your business.
