Live Video Streaming – Summary
While there will likely be a few pit-stops along the way, the take-home from all this is that video streaming is already massive and it’s only going to get bigger. This is a very exciting opportunity to get involved with a marketing platform that quite simply didn’t exist this time a year ago. What’s more, it’s an incredibly exciting sign of things to come and of the way that our world is getting smaller.
If you’re an internet marketer and you want to stay one step ahead while reaching a huge new audience, you need to get involved.
Let’s recap on how you might do that…
Your Live Video Streaming Strategy
Step 1 – Research
Before you dive in, it’s worth doing a little research and a little prep. Compare the big three platforms (Periscope, Meerkat and Blab) and try them out in person to see what they have to offer and to learn the kinds of content being shared. Once you have identified the ones that work best for you, then you can invest your time in those ones specifically. Keep in mind that you can be on more than one platform at once.
Try getting involved in some conversations in Blab too – it’s a great way to learn the ropes and build some confidence!
Step 2 – Set Up
Follow the instructions in chapters 3, 4 and 5 to get set up with your favorite platforms. Normally this is a simply matter of installing the app.
Step 3 – Decide What Content You’re Going to Create
Now decide what kind of content you want to create. Remember: it should be consistent, it should be based strongly in your niche and it should take advantage of the unique aspects of the platform. If you want to maximize your ROI, then you should consider making passive content by filming regular activities, or you should try creating videos that you use across multiple platforms.
Step 4 – Create Your Videos
Hit ‘record’ and start filming! Make sure to engage your audience and to make them feel involved, to talk slowly and to think about the set up in terms of lighting, camera angle and backdrop. Give your video a good title.
You’ll find that every time you create new videos, you get new subscribers!
Step 5 – Promote Through Social Media
Make sure you tell your e-mail subscribers and your social media followers about your streaming activities. This can drive a lot more people to the channel. You can also promote videos that are going live on Twitter and make sure to use the right hashtags!
Twitter in particular has close ties with all three platforms, so make sure you build your following there and the two will cross pollinate!
Now just keep creating engaging content and keep taking part in the community. In no time at all you’ll be growing a massive audience who you have unprecedented direct access to and communication with.
This is an incredible tool that’s only going to get more valuable. So get involved, have fun and good luck!
Live Video Streaming – Checklist
Live video streaming was one of the biggest new phenomena to come to internet marketing in 2015. While the concept has been around for a while, it was the recent launch of three big apps: Periscope, Meerkat and Blab that really brought it to the limelight.
And brought into the limelight is very much an apt description for what has happened with new platforms that have been getting mass media attention. The raw potential on offer here is huge and it’s something that has gotten a lot of industry analysts exciting. There has never been a better time to get involved.
If you’ve read the Live Video Authority eBook then you’ll have a good grasp of the subject. To make sure you have a full understanding of the topic though and you know how to start making waves in this area, read on to go through a checklist of everything you need to know.
The Apps
The big three apps are:
Periscope
- Owned by Twitter, has seamless integration
- The biggest of the three in terms of users
- Stored videos for a short period
- Has a great interface and lets you see periscopes from around the world
Meerkat
- The first to come on the scene
- Slightly smaller with slightly less content
- Has more of a vloggingí feel (whereas Periscope is a little more voyeuristic)
- Doesn’t store videos
- Lets you include images in your streams
Blab
- A combination of live streaming with video conferencing
- Big money behind it
- Lets you join in conversations
- Not suitable for events and tourism
- Stores videos indefinitely for replays
To a less extent YouTube also has a streaming service, as does YouNow. Hangouts can also be used similarly in some ways.
Getting Set Up
While the steps are different for each, getting set up involves the following in most cases:
- Installing the app through the App Store or Play Store
- Signing up with your Twitter account and/or phone number
- Adding your existing contacts
It’s that easy!
Filming
To start streaming most simply require you to hit a single button and the stream will go out live. A few considerations:
- Choose a good name/title for your video to attract more people
- Blab also allows you to pick a tag which will allow users to see your content by filtering by subject matter
- Engage with your audience and discuss with them as they post comments
- You can normally change to the front facing or rear camera of your device. Selfies work well.
Some Tips
- Film regularly
- You can schedule streams in advance which lets people prepare for them
- Follow other people to gain followers
- Share your content to social media
- You can promote products directly in your videos in order to monetize them
- Get a good phone camera, speak clearly, consider your back drop
- Make content that provides value in the form of interesting tips or discussion.
- Make sure you take advantage of the unique platform by allowing your audience to engage with you and by letting them be a ‘fly on the wall’.
Opportunities
There are many things that make this an exciting opportunity for marketers. Including the following factors:
- Live streaming is so new that itís currently very easy to stand out and get noticed. Every video will get you new followers!
- Blab makes influencer marketing easier than ever
- You can build massive buzz for a new product launch
- You can interact with your audience to increase engagement and create true fans
- It involves relatively little work with a big pay-off
Promotion
Some things you can do to promote your streaming include:
- Making sure to grow your Twitter and Facebook followers which will mean more followers as more people sign up
- Message your mailing list
- Post to your social media contacts. You can Tweet when you go live ñ make sure to use the right hashtags.
- You can also promote your streams via YouTube. If you already vlog, you know you have an audience interested in your video content which makes them very targeted for this kind of material.
Live Video Streaming – Mind Map
Live Video Streaming – Resources
Now you know everything you need to know to start conquering live video streaming. This is an exciting platform that’s very much up-and-coming so don’t miss out on the opportunity to be at the very forefront of this new movement.
As you get started setting up, you can check back to this resource sheet at any time in order to find useful resources as well as quick tips and steps that you can take to succeed. Save time and be more efficient with this sheet and let it act as your guide through an uncharted and highly exciting territory…
The Big 3 Streaming Apps
When it comes to live video streaming, there are three big apps that have everyone talking. These are:
Periscope http://www.periscope.tv/
Periscope is currently the biggest of the streaming apps in terms of the number of users and in terms of the amount of content. It has a very user-friendly interface and seems to encourage very casual, almost voyeuristic content.
Meerkatapp.co https://meerkatapp.co/
Meerkat is similar to Periscope but has fewer users. It’s a little less polished but does seem to attract a slightly higher calibre of content with users like Tai Lopez.
Blab http://blab.im/
Blab is another app that’s very similar to Periscope and Meerkat. The main difference though is that it has a heavy focus on conversation and acts almost like a video conferencing app, except where anyone else can join in.
The key differences to keep in mind are:
- Blab is more about conversations and doesn’t lend itself to very visual events
- Periscope has the bigger audience
- Periscope saves content for 24 hours
- Blab saves content indefinintely
- Meerkat seems to have more big markerers like Tai Lopez on board
- Meerkat lets you show images while you’re talking
- Periscope seems to attract more ‘voyeuristic’ content
- Blab lets you join in on someone else’s conversation (or ‘Blab’) and become a host for that content.
Setting Up
To set up and get started, you just need to install the apps on Android or iOS. Blab doesn’t have an app for Android but lets you take part through your browser.
Sign in with either your Twitter handle or your phone number.
Choose who you want to follow.
Hit record and add a title. It’s that easy!
Other Similar Apps and Tools
YouNow http://www.younow.com
Despite not being a media darling in the same way as Periscope, Meerkat and Blab, YouNow has actually been around the longest and is reportedly paying some of its content creators.
YouTube Live Events https://www.youtube.com/my_live_events
The link above will take you to YouTube’s live streaming feature. This is a little different from the live streaming provided by Meerkat and Periscope but it has a huge audience and is likely to take off more in future as Google realize the potential for live streaming.
Hangouts https://hangouts.google.com/
Google Hangouts isn’t really a live video streaming app but it has a lot of similarities to Blab and can actually be used in a similar way. This has been popular for a while and is still a great platform for answering questions, interacting with your audience and promoting a launch event.
Reddit http://www.reddit.com
Reddit is not at all a live streaming app but has been popular for a while as a tool for live promotions. Specifically, this is very useful for AMAs or ‘Ask Me Anythings’. This is a good alternative for anyone who is afraid to go in front of a camera and you can learn a lot here.
Useful Tools
Meerkat Streams http://www.meerkatstreams.com/
Meerkat streams aggregates all the streams currently on Meerkat, allowing you to watch them in real time on your computer. It’s a quick way to find content.
OnPeriscope http://onperiscope.com/
Similar is ‘OnPeriscope’ which shows off all the streams currently on that app. Again, this lets you view them on your computer if you don’t have the app, or just see if there’s anything interesting worth loading the app up for.
Useful Information and Articles
Camera Phones
This article from TechRadar will help you to find the best camera phones on the market right now. This can greatly improve the quality of your streams, leading to more views!
Periscope and Meerkat – What Marketers Need to Know
https://econsultancy.com/blog/66561-periscope-and-meerkat-what-do-marketers-need-to-know/
This article provides some in-depth information regarding the specific numbers of users on Meerkat and Periscope. This is great for making a decision regarding how much time you want to invest.
Periscope and Meerkat – How Many Users
http://www.dailydot.com/technology/periscope-meerkat-how-many-users/
This article again detilas the numbers of users on Periscope and Meerkat.
YouTube the Sleeping Giant
http://www.wired.com/2015/08/youtube-sleeping-giant-livestreaming/
An article on YouTube’s streaming service and how it is poised to enter the market in a big way in the near future.
Never Mind Periscope
This article looks at YouNow and how it is currently paying its top content creators.
Some Quick Tips and Advice
This last section will provide some quick tips and checks you can refer to while creating your videos:
- Always engage with your viewers. Make sure that you welcome people who enter the stream and that you actually respond to comments.
- Provide value and find ways to stand out. There’s an awful lot of low quality content on these platforms right now. This is the perfect opportunity to stand out and get noticed!
- Use a smart title. This is one of the main factors that people will use to decide whether or not to enter your stream.
- Practice on Blab. You can enter other people’s conversations on Blab which is a perfect way to experience being live without catering to your own audience and without the pressure to be entertaining.
- Be consistent. In terms of both your quality and your regularity. You want to set a precedent so people know what to expect from you and whether they should sign up to your channel. What’s more, you want to try and become a part of their routine if possible.
- Cater to people just jumping on. Remember that people can enter your stream at any point. Make sure that your video provides handy jumping on points so that they can catch up!
