For some of us, going live brings back memories of standing up in front of the class and giving a presentation, but fear not! Live streaming is a fantastic way to build and engage with your business’s target audience. In this blog post, I’m going to inspire you for your first video and offer some tips to keep your community growing.
Target audience
The first step in live streaming is identifying your target audience. A target audience is a specific group of individuals a business intends to serve with its products or services. Even if you’re producing great content, it won’t increase your revenue if it’s shared only among people who aren’t likely to patronize your business. For example, if you’re selling women’s jeans and you’re live streaming a video game on Twitch, most of your audience will likely be middle school boys without access to a credit card.
Live streaming service or social media platform
It’s advisable to review the demographics of the social media platforms your business uses. That way, when live streaming, you are reaching the optimal audience. Some key demographics of past purchasers to examine would be: age, gender, education, and location.
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Where to go live stream
- Facebook: With a vast number of users, Facebook is an excellent platform for live streaming. 88 percent of internet users between the ages of 18-29 have a Facebook account, with women being slightly more likely to use Facebook than men. It is also used by 84 percent of people aged 30-49, 72 percent of those aged 50-64, and 62 percent of those aged 65+. This makes Facebook a slam dunk for any business wanting to stream.
- Instagram: In comparison to Facebook’s larger market, one-third of U.S. Internet users have adopted Instagram, most of whom are between the ages of 18-29. Women are once again more likely than men to have adopted the platform.
- Twitter: Twitter is a great live stream platform for younger Americans, as only 10 percent of Internet users aged 65+ use Twitter. Twitter is also more popular among highly educated individuals.
- LinkedIn Live: LinkedIn is most popular with college graduates and high income earners who are likely to live in urban areas. Men are slightly more likely to be LinkedIn users than women.
- Twitch: Twitch is most popular with young men. In 2022, 78.36% of Twitch users were male, and 19.64% were female. Only 13.59% of users are aged 45-64+.
- TikTok: TikTok, one of the newest social media platforms, is growing quickly. Note that 47.4% of their active users are aged between 10 and 29.
In general, don’t focus solely on one platform, but also don’t spread yourself too thin. Social media platforms constantly change their policies and update their technology. To stay abreast of these changes and keep up with recent trends, stick to a few platforms that work well with your audience.
Shareable content ideas
- Show Off Your Product or Service: If your product is complex, provide a walkthrough on how to set it up or use it. This can be a great tool for clarification and re-sharing. You might add a call to action at the end asking your audience how they use your product. Speak from the heart—you know your product or service best!
- Hold a Giveaway: If you want to build an audience quickly, promos and giveaways are your best options. Make them fun to watch by adding an interactive game
- Hold a Q&A Session: This is another great way to engage your audience. A Q&A session is also useful for addressing frequently asked questions. Prepare some questions beforehand in case the stream isn’t very active. You could also send out a message before the stream asking for questions to address on-air. This is an excellent opportunity to interact with your community.
- Give a Tour: Tours are a great way to form a personal connection with your audience. This works best for businesses that sell physical products or if you work in an interesting environment. Showcase your team for an even more personal touch. If you have a pet, don’t hesitate to feature your furry friend on stream!
- Interview Someone: Running out of breath? Invite a friend to join you! Interview a team member, a satisfied customer, or an industry expert. Two people are better than one when it comes to avoiding dead air.
- Tell a Story: Who doesn’t love a good story? This is a great chance to give product line updates, or to share your mission or the personal story of your company. It’s another opportunity for your audience to connect with you on a personal level. Encourage your audience to share their experiences.
- Collaborate with Others: Don’t be afraid to participate in social media trends! The most important part of social media is its community aspect. Get involved with social media challenges and stay current with trends. Reply, retweet, and share for greater visibility.
Additional live streaming tips
Always interact with your audience. One of the most important features of a live stream is the direct link to your viewers. Address questions in the chat, react to comments, and maintain a friendly and open stream.
Make your stream watchable! It might seem obvious, but it is incredibly important to ensure you have a high-quality stream setup. Invest in a good camera and microphone, and don’t forget good lighting.
Keep it professional! Even if you have a small business and you start out live streaming to friends and family, it’s important to maintain a professional tone on your streams. Anything you say online can be clipped and saved indefinitely, so make sure you stay on brand.
In conclusion, research your market to select the most suitable social media platform for live streaming, get comfortable with the process, and create content that resonates with your target audience!
For seamless broadcasts or web services and maintenance, consider BHirst Media. We ensure professional livestreams and a polished online presence. Need help or info? Reach out to us here.
