Finally, our favorite forms of social media have introduced a new feature to their sites: “Live.” Live-streaming is a great way for brands to engage with their customers and showcase what makes them unique in real-time. Utilizing this feature on Facebook or Instagram allows instant connection with users and starts a valuable conversation for your brand.
Going “live” can make a big impact on your brand’s ability to form customer relationships, so learning how to utilize it effectively is integral. Check out our 5 tips for going “live” successfully (hint: that means avoiding the awkwardness and uncertainty that often comes with using this feature for the first time).
Be Transparent
No matter what business you’re in, people love to know how it works! Whether you film yourself frosting cupcakes at your bakery, unpacking new merchandise at your boutique, or anything in between, people take interest in seeing what happens behind-the-scenes. This is especially true when it comes to food and beverage companies, as people take comfort in seeing how their food is being made and all of the amazing ingredients that go into doing so. Just consider how much love Dunkin’ Donuts got when they live-streamed employees making donuts for Valentine’s Day. Giving viewers a little peek into how much care goes into all that your company does displays your brand in an organically honest way that gets people excited.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Regularly sharing the ordinary happenings of your business is a great way to utilize the live feature. But, sharing extra special events can be just as interesting for viewers. Live streaming during events like holiday parties, employee yoga sessions, and other celebrations will highlight how special your brand is and how great it is to work for you. Sharing your company culture is the perfect way to get viewers to feel connected to and become loyal to your brand.
Make it Worth the Viewers While
While people love to catch a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes action of your business, they will certainly be more receptive to your “live” stream if you make it personal. This can include offering viewers something special, whether it be a tangible item or even a sneak peek at a work or idea in-progress. Offering coupons, samples, raffles, and other giveaways during your live streams is a great way to boost customer interest and gain new customers. This can make your streams more engaging and will certainly guarantee repeat viewers.
Engage with Your Audience
Utilizing live streaming to answer questions (whether asked live, or curated from a suggestions box, etc.) is a great way to personally address the concerns of your customers. On the flip-side, feel free to use this time to ask your customers for feedback. Some examples include asking for product reviews, suggestions and interest in future products/services you are considering. Asking for your customers’ opinions will definitely flatter them and remind them that their voice is heard.
Be Consistent and Clear
While going live may seem like a natural and spontaneous event, it helps to plan before you film – even if only a few hours in advance. By doing so, you can write posts like, “Join us for a live stream today at 4!” on all your brand’s social media to boost views. Furthermore, having a set time and day each week that you devote to going live can help you to grow your viewership.
Check out how we engage influencers to help your brand’s social media posts and live streams reach their peak! http://www.wearelms.com/our-deets/