- Livestreaming is by far the fastest way for you to connect with your audience.
- With notoriety, you can reap benefits like brand sponsorships, press coverage, and tournament invites.
- With the right equipment, a proper plan, and creating engagement opportunities, you’ll be on your way to a successful start.
Knowledge is power, which is why so many of us turn to Google and influencers to learn more about any subject at any time. Whether sitting at a desk pondering a work-related question or receiving a random 2 a.m. inquiry, the internet is always available to us. In fact, according to Sandvine’s 2023 Global Internet Phenomena Report, global internet traffic volume increased by 23% between 2021 and 2022. A large part of that gain is due to streaming video usage. So, if you haven’t jumped on the livestreaming train yet, it’s the perfect moment to start.
Connection Matters
Putting yourself out there can be downright scary, but it’s worth it in today’s fast-moving content climate. Livestreaming is by far the fastest way for you to connect with your audience. And connection matters. Sharing your ideas, abilities, and personality with a livestream allows your audience to get to know you. More importantly, it will enable you to earn their trust, and trust equals brand loyalty.
Today’s consumers are not the consumers of yesteryear—they are more sophisticated and have access to abundant research and resources. Essentially, they want to invest in people and products they care about. And if they feel like they know you and your brand, you can earn a fan for life.
Sharing your ideas, abilities, and personality with a livestream allows your audience to get to know you. More importantly, it will enable you to earn their trust, and trust equals brand loyalty.
Case Study: Esports
Let’s use esports as an example. Perhaps you or a friend are becoming skilled at a particular game and winning tournaments. The quickest way to gain attention in esports is to begin livestreaming on Twitch, which has 15 million daily active users. With a simple setup, you can use a product like the BRIDGE CAST as an all-in-one solution for premium livestream audio. Competitive gamers can connect in real-time with an audience, enduring themselves to fans worldwide. Once you gain notoriety, you can reap benefits like brand sponsorships, press coverage, and tournament invites.
The Basic Setup
What are some best practices when you’re starting off livestreaming? First and foremost, you want to use professional equipment. But you don’t have to drain your life savings to do so. Luckily, there is a plethora of products geared towards prosumers.
For a basic setup, you’ll need a solid internet connection, a computer, a camera, and a microphone. After you’ve established your audience, try upgrading your equipment to include a professional mixer like the Roland VR-400UHD 4K Streaming AV Mixer.
Competitive gamers can connect in real-time with an audience, enduring themselves to fans worldwide. Once you gain notoriety, you can reap benefits like brand sponsorships, press coverage, and tournament invites.
Social Media Handles
Once you have the right equipment, it’s time to choose the proper platform for your creative outlet. If you’re a gamer, Twitch is a must. Otherwise, YouTube is a great place to start. Still, you’ll also have to set up various social media handles on outlets like Instagram and TikTok to build your following across multiple platforms. Diversifying allows you to reach potential viewers wherever they may be. When it comes to lifestreaming, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Content Plan
Now, you have all your handles and equipment, but it’s not time to dive in yet. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Creating a content plan with specific dates and a distribution plan is essential. A good rule of thumb is to plan out content 60 days in advance.
This preparation time will give you the opportunity to redirect if a guest drops out of a webinar, trends change, or other scenarios arise. Remember that flexibility and willingness to pivot are critical in the content game. Don’t forget to include post-stream promotions in your plans; this will keep the train moving and help you gain new followers.
Make sure that you are engaging with your audience. Remember that audiences invest in the people and brands they connect with.
Engagement is Key
Finally, make sure that you are engaging with your audience. Remember that audiences invest in the people and brands they connect with. And being accessible to your audience—whether taking the time to respond to comments or doing a live Q&A—is a step you can’t skip when you’re putting yourself out there via livestreaming.
The Way of the Future
Ultimately, whether you’re looking for ways to put your brand out there or become a thought leader, livestreaming is the way of the future. With the right equipment, a proper plan, and creating engagement opportunities, you’ll be on your way to a successful start. If you’re convinced and ready to start your content journey, check out this article for tips and tricks to start livestreaming.
