Lights, cameras, action! Make your live stream event a blockbuster.

Live streaming is where it’s at.

With 63% of people aged 18–34 watching live streaming content regularly, it’s probably no surprise that live content earns 27% more minutes of watch time per viewing than video on-demand content. And it’s not just a matter of viewers watching more live action. They also watch live video 10 to 20 times longer than on-demand content. 26% of viewers tune into live stream video to access exclusive coverage they wouldn’t get to see otherwise.

Just two years ago, a Forrester survey predicted that brands expect to invest more than $100 billion (yes – billion!) on video content by 2023, and $223.98 billion by 2028.

While live streaming used to be the caviar that only budget-rich, large businesses could afford to dish up on a regular basis, it’s now the food of the masses. From aspiring musicians to kids breaking out impressive dance moves, to sports and entertainment events – live streaming is where it’s at.

Why live stream your next event?

• Go bigger and better! With a live event you can build excitement and hype and reach to a wider audience than those who signed up to attend in person.
• Create collateral! Your amazing marketing department or head marketing person will delight in the value they can add to your website with high-ranking on-demand videos taken from the live event. Videos drive more traffic, improve Google page rankings and engage visitors for longer than written content. (Did you know that pages with video keeps your visitors on-page for twice as long?) And a well-stocked resource library helps you build credibility and return visits.
• Share, share and share some more! Snippets from streamed events are great for sharing on the social media platforms where your target audience hangs out – from Facebook to LinkedIn, YouTube to TikTok. Even though your event may no longer be ‘live’ you’ll attract a secondary audience who are keen to see and hear what you have to say at a time that suits them.
• Track and rack (up the numbers). All modern platforms enable you to track and measure levels of viewer engagement. You can quickly build up a picture of what works, and what you should move on from.

Tricks of the trade!

While live streaming is a powerful marketing tool, it requires expertise to maximise the outcomes.

• Don’t forget to make it mobile! Most people (try 79%!) view video content on their mobile devices so it’s important you have the correct mobile live streaming equipment to support the user experience.
• Be prepared: If you’d like more control over your event video, then pre-record your ‘live stream’ so you can edit and enhance the experience to add value, while reducing the risk of on-the-spot technical difficulties.
• Consider DIY costs: While it’s certainly possible to record your own event – the investment in time, equipment, experience, and hosting can limit your return on investment and the degree of polish of the finished video. It’s often more cost-effective to use a professional service that has the latest equipment, specialist facilities and trained audio, vision, lighting and editing staff, as well as the ability to deliver and seamless host and share your content.
• Look good live: A live stream event represents your brand – and that’s one area where you should never cut corners. The Studio, Orange is designed to deliver your brand beautifully with TV-studio level production quality that you’ll be proud to share.
• Build your brand, effortlessly. You could ‘DIY’ live stream your event from your boardroom with a logo behind you and a sad potted palm to one side. But we suspect that’s not going to do justice to your carefully nurtured brand image. By using a professional production studio your brand can look its best. For example, The Studio, Orange has a LED back wall which can feature your graphics and (static or moving) images, and front of ‘stage’ digital prompt cards. And we have stylists to help with everything from furniture to flowers to fashion choices.

A star is born!

Adding live-streamed events to your sales and marketing arsenal is a great idea - it will pay dividends. But when it’s your brand and message at stake, just because you can DIY, doesn’t mean you should. Live streaming ‘oops’ can cost you your reputation (and hard-won budget!), and result in a disaster movie, rather than the blockbuster you hoped for.

Check out these star-maker stories from The Huddle and Bullyology to find out how The Studio, Orange can help you shine when you go live.