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Jon Diament, executive VP, and chief revenue officer of Turner Sports says digital sales for the 2020 NCAA tournament have outstripped expectations. ⠀⠀⠀
"Live not only draws a massive audience alongside the traditional TV deliveries but is also instrumental in reaching a significant cohort of younger, more affluent fans."
Before your next panel, fireside chat, or speaking engagement, take a second and think about which platform you engage with your audience on the most.
The most effective way to engage your audience and execute an effective digital strategy is to master one platform at a time. This applies to your live stream and video content strategy as well. If you already have a large following on Facebook, don't leave them hanging and put all of your time, energy and resources into another completely unrelated platform (a new one seems to pop up every week, so the temptation to try them all is very real...)
Here are a few quick tips and lessons we have learned along the way:
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1. Create an event notice on Facebook
Before the world was forced to shift to remote-work and virtual events, Facebook was definitely a great resource to find out about local events. Newsflash... It still is! Love it or hate it, Facebook is a tool that has already proven to be effective and a favorable way for people to "stay in the know."Maximize the potential of reaching your ideal audience by creating an event.
In case you missed it, Facebook also allows you to host paid online events to grow your business, expand your audience, and get discovered.
2. Don't forget about Eventbrite!
Here are a few things to consider about Eventbrite. More than 50 million people have attended event through Eventbrite. The average number of tickets processed per week on Eventbrite? 3 million. Yes. Taking a few minutes to add your event to Eventbrite not increases the visibility of your upcoming live stream but also takes some of the work off of you to:
- Send a confirmation/reminder email (This is done automatically when someone registers for your event.)
- Share the event on social media (You can automatically add the event to your Facebook business page.)
- Encourage engagement (There are social share buttons on your event page for Twitter and Facebook.)
...and let's admit it. Your current email list is probably not reaching 50 million people–even if you add your social media following to that figure. Go ahead, and work smart, not hard.⠀⠀
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3. Invest in a tripod for your phone or camera (No one wants to watch a shaky video...)⠀⠀
We have all been THAT person at one time or another. You turn on the camera and think that your arm is the best (free) tripod on the planet. You're actually not wrong. But you are also not doing your audience any favors when you realize, holding the camera still is not as easy as you thought!
If you plan on doing live videos on a regular basis (with your phone), plan on investing in the tools that increase the production value of your content–that includes *drum roll* a tripod.
Here are a few affordable options for you to check out:
- Amazon Basics Lightweight Camera Mount Tripod Stand With Bag ($17.49)
- UBeesize Selfie Stick Tripod, 51' ($23.99)
- Phopik Lightweight Phone Tripod 55-inch, Video Tripod with 360 Panorama ($24.99)
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4. Do a test run (Have fun w/ this!)
Practice makes perfect! You may think you have it all figured out. But why not make sure by taking at least 15 to 20 minutes to check your:
- Settings: Every livestreaming service allows you to customize your experience. Take some time to get familiar with them.
- Lighting: Do you need to grab a ring light? Or will your desk lamp do the trick? Don't wait until the day of your event to make adjustments. Call a friend, do test run to ensure that you look and feel your best in advance. You could also use this as an opportunity to record a short teaser or announcement about your upcoming virtual event.⠀⠀
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5. Forgive yourself for a less than perfect first try
Even after you take every single step to make sure your live event is PERFECT; take a deep breath, forgive yourself for any mishaps, and make corrections as needed for your next live-stream.
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