Live streaming first rose to prominence on YouTube, and since then, it has continuously grown in popularity on the Internet. Today, it is a well-known feature on social media that individuals and businesses alike are using to their advantage. Live streams, when used effectively, can yield significant benefits. However, are they appropriate for your company’s needs? To help you decide, we’ll discuss what live streams are and the pros and cons of live streaming.
What is live streaming?
Live streaming refers to the process of broadcasting real-time audio and video content over the Internet. This technology allows individuals, businesses, and organisations to share live events, presentations, performances, or discussions with an online audience. Unlike pre-recorded videos, live streaming involves the immediate transmission of content as it happens, allowing viewers to watch and interact with the broadcast in real-time.
What are the Benefits of Live Streaming?
Live streams have grown in popularity over the years. Here’s why:
Potential for More Earnings
The availability of free live streaming creates avenues for exploring new business prospects, offering opportunities to connect with potential clients. As a strategic approach, your company can consider introducing a fee for viewers to access your live streams. This adds an exclusive element to your content and serves as an additional revenue channel.
Easy to use
The convenience of live streaming is at our fingertips, thanks to smartphones and tablets. Live streams are easy to set up in any device. Simply join your preferred social media platform and begin your stream. You can connect with a broad audience. The best part is, it won’t cost you a dime!
Streaming across all social media channels is absolutely free. Unlike traditional video ads and pre-recorded material, live streaming is time- and resource-efficient. It’s straightforward to operate and provides an easy way for your audience to interact with you in real-time.For organisations aiming to spotlight specific initiatives like product launches or conferences, live-streaming marketing offers an ideal means tto update your followers on significant developments quickly
Real-time Engagement
Businesses like getting questions from interested people, but sometimes they can’t answer all of them quickly and completely. That’s where live streaming can come in handy.
Hosting live Q&A or discussion group sessions online offers a distinctive opportunity to engage with your client base. It’s a chance to answer common questions right away and give more detailed explanations. It’s like having a live chat to make sure everyone gets the information they need right away.
Live streaming allows immediate and direct interaction with the audience, fostering real-time engagement. Viewers can ask questions, provide feedback, and participate in discussions, creating a sense of community.
Wider Reach
Live streaming not only allows advertisers to access a global audience but it also allows companies to communicate with fans all over the world.
Although the number of viewers is not publicly disclosed, major social networks and video sites are likely the most active consumers of live streaming.
Live streaming breaks down geographical barriers, enabling a global audience to access content simultaneously. This expanded reach is particularly beneficial for businesses, influencers, and organisations looking to connect with a diverse and widespread audience.
Authenticity and Transparency
Any live video stream provides an unfiltered and authentic experience. It allows presenters to showcase real-time events, reactions, or demonstrations, creating a transparent and genuine connection with the audience. You see everything in real time.
Cost-Effective
Live streaming often requires less investment compared to traditional broadcasting methods. Many platforms offer free or affordable live-streaming options, making it a cost-effective way to share content with a large audience.
Content Repurposing
Your live stream, once finished, can still be used on other platforms. Live videos can be repurposed for future use. Recorded live streams can be edited into shorter clips, highlights, or promotional materials, extending the lifespan and value of the original content.
What are the Disadvantages of Live Streaming?
Despite its benefits, live streaming marketing is not without faults. Here are its drawbacks:
Distracting and addictive
While live stream video content can be a wonderful way to stay in touch with friends and family, it can also be a source of distraction. Live streaming can also be addictive, leading to bad outcomes. Live streamers often spend a couple of hours to gain popularity or monetise their content.
Timezone Difficulties
While live streaming helps save money on venue and travel, there’s a catch. Live streaming requires viewers to be available at the scheduled time. This may pose a challenge for individuals in different time zones, with conflicting schedules, or those who prefer on-demand content.
If your audience is spread across the country or even the world, dealing with different time zones can be tricky when scheduling a live stream.
Technical Challenges
The major drawback of live streaming is that there are no second chances! You can’t redo it if something goes wrong. Live streaming is susceptible to technical issues such as bad internet connection, poor audio quality, video glitches, or platform outages. These challenges can disrupt the seamless delivery of content and impact the viewer experience.
Limited Control
Unlike pre-recorded content, live stream offers limited control over unexpected events or audience interactions. Unforeseen disruptions or negative comments can affect the presenter’s ability to maintain a controlled and planned presentation.
Quality Concerns
Maintaining consistently high-quality audio and video during a live stream can be challenging. Factors such as bandwidth limitations, device variations, and technical constraints may impact the overall quality of the stream.
Monetisation Challenges
While live video streaming offers opportunities for monetisation, generating revenue can be challenging. Dependence on ads, sponsorships, or viewer contributions requires a substantial and engaged audience, and success in these areas may take time to build.
Varying Cost
The expenses associated with live video streaming can vary significantly based on your event’s complexity. If you’re live video streaming, a big event often demands more equipment and may require a team of engineers, resulting in long-term costs.
Complex live streams may involve various audio and video sources and expert personnel. In addition to this, complex streams may require specialised equipment, higher bandwidth, and more advanced technologies.
Need a partner for a live stream event or your live streaming strategy?
Live streaming marketing has both pros and cons. While it provides a valuable means of connecting with friends and family or making events more accessible to attend virtually, it can also be challenging to organise and monetise.
Live video content can reach a wider audience and be used to build relationships with potential customers. However, like all other marketing efforts, make sure that you understand how to do it properly.
Understand your target audience and make sure you have plenty of content ideas up your sleeve. It would also be best to consider the advantages and disadvantages of live streaming before deciding whether or not to incorporate it into your marketing strategy.
Ready to explore the possibilities of live streaming for your business? Consider Chorus Call as your trusted live stream partner. From virtual events to live broadcasts, Chorus Call provides cutting-edge technologies to enhance your live streaming experience.
Engage your customers today with seamless and engaging live content. Contact Chorus Call today at 1800 98 88 98 to learn more!
