There is no denying that we live in a technology-dominated world, and, yet, the desire to meet face-to-face continues to prevail. Event producers can merge digital and in-person worlds by live streaming their events with social media. While live streaming isn’t a new concept, the traditional barriers to broadcasting have been torn down with the introduction of inexpensive equipment and software. NBC said live streaming accounted for 225,000 to 500,000 viewers a night during their coverage of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. People love live videos – they are one of the most engaging types of content on social media. Take your events live by incorporating any of these four social media channels into your event marketing toolbox:
Facebook Live
The “original” social media platform continues to evolve with the introduction of Facebook Live last August and rolled out to all users in April. As Mark Zuckerberg stated, “Live is like having a TV camera in your pocket. Anyone with a phone now has the power to broadcast to anyone in the world.” You can showcase the event experience from your perspective, field Q&A for breakout sessions, and keep a pulse on your how your event is resonating by using Live Reactions. If your audience is predominantly on Facebook, Live is most effective way to interact with virtual event attendees in real time.
Periscope
Before it was launched in March 2015, Twitter bought Periscope, a live streaming app that should be downloaded on every event marketer’s smartphone. It’s simple to use and you can dramatically increase the reach of your event with real-time footage and even generate new content. This could include sneak-peek interviews with speakers or behind-the-scenes backstage moments. Plus once a broadcast is over, others can watch a replay and share feedback for up to 24-hours. Make sure to save each of your broadcasts before the 24-hour mark so you can continue to promote and share online.
Snapchat
Popular among Millennials, and continuing to grow among other demographics, this video-messaging and storytelling app has become a social media trailblazer. At only four-years-old, Snapchat already has 150 million daily users and has surpassed Twitter’s daily active users. With Snapchat features, you can showcase the highlights of your event to virtual and in-person attendees. At the end of each event day, save your Story as a Memory and use that content in event recap emails or other social media channels to further extend the life of your event and drive future event registration.
Instagram Stories
Earlier this month, Instagram updated its photo-sharing app to include a real-time storytelling feature called Instagram Stories. Users can now take photos and videos, edit with text and drawing tools, and upload in a slideshow format that disappears after 24-hours (a near identical copy of Snapchat Stories). Posting an Instagram-worthy photo can be challenging, but, with Instagram Stories, the more authentic and informal the better. Event producers can keep their Instagram gallery picture-perfect while still being able to showcase and tell the real event experience through Instagram Stories.
What is your favorite live streaming social media platform? Comment below and share – we’d love to hear from you!
