Here are some live-streaming apps to consider for your business’ social media marketing.
The way people see businesses online is more instant than ever thanks to live streaming on social media. Apps such as Periscope, Facebook Live, Blab and Snapchat give consumers a behind-the-scenes look into the more human side of their favorite companies. That being said, here are some of the apps and platforms businesses use to reach the masses and the way each one caters to the community.
Periscope
Before it was acquired by Twitter, Periscope was nothing more than a new way to share fun moments with people around the world. But now that it’s owned by one of the world’s largest social networks, and one of the most popular for businesses, companies are engaging with customers over video in real time.
The advantage to Periscope is it’s easily connectable and promotable through Twitter. All you need to broadcast to the world is a good smartphone with a high-quality camera, such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
Facebook Live
When a new trend hits social media, Facebook is there to replicate and dominate. There’s not a big technical difference between Periscope and Facebook Live, but small businesses who are heavily invested in their Facebook communities will find Facebook Live to be a natural transition. The videos stream directly into followers’ news feeds, and anyone can comment and reply below the video as it’s airing.
YouTube
Periscope and Facebook Live are great for live streaming and personal engagement. For example, you could answer customer questions in real time as you’re broadcasting.
But if you want to broadcast a large event that’s going out to thousands of viewers, then broadcasting live on YouTube is the way to go. Because it’s owned by Google, YouTube has a huge infrastructure to broadcast big events — everything from live sports to keynote speakers.
Twitch
Twitch’s bread and butter is in live video game broadcasts. There are people who can make thousands, even millions, of dollars broadcasting “Let’s Play” videos online through both Twitch and YouTube. But if your business markets digital products, Twitch could be a great network for live demonstrations such as a software demo.
Blab
If your business wants to get out in front of a streaming platform before it gets too popular, Blab might be a good choice for your company.
Blab is similar to Periscope and uses a more personal approach to live streaming, but it also gives customers the chance to engage and video chat with each other over your content. This gives your broadcast a more personal touch and can create a community among your brand.
Snapchat
While Snapchat isn’t technically “live” video, the 10-second posts are viewed in semi-real time. And with more than 150 million active users, it’s too big of a social network for businesses to ignore.
Snapchat is a great platform to give fans and customers a personal look at your company and what’s happening behind the scenes. Since the videos can’t be scheduled, edited or uploaded from anywhere but the phone you used to record, customers trust that what they see is the real culture of your brand.
Meerkat
Meerkat is similar to Periscope and Snapchat because it records live video that is instantly pushed to Twitter. Your followers receive push notifications in real time and they can only watch it live. This is a great tool to use during events, conferences and expos because it helps your customers see what’s happening at your booth or section at that moment. And like Snapchat, it is unfiltered so it boosts your brand’s authenticity.
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