Why producing video content?
YouTube has become the second biggest search engine in the world. This platform is, in fact, where people are now searching on for everything: from recipes to demos, how-to videos, reviews and so on. Here is some data:
82% of Twitter users consume video content on the microblogging site.
87% of Internet marketers leverage video content to meet their business goals.
92% of mobile video viewers like to share them with other people.
So; If we managed to convince you that nowadays, your business (small or big), cannot afford to take video content for guaranteed, the next step would be to ask yourself:
Why producing LIVE video content?
Live video is a great way to reach as many of your followers as possible organically (on Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn). In fact, each of these platforms’ algorithms often prioritize live-streamed content. Furthermore; on live streams, you can directly interact with your audience with comments and Q&A. Hence; you will ensure a stronger engagement level, from your office in real-time. The next logical question is…
How to produce good quality videos cost-effectively?
The good news is that video production is no longer the difficult and expensive practice that it used to be a few years ago. Today, nor you or your team are required to spend a crazy amount of time and resources on creating a video. Studio-level quality is easily achievable from the comfort of your home/office and we are here to give you some useful tips on how to go about it.
1. Buy the right affordable tools:
As we said, you don’t need to spend a crazy amount of money on tools. What you will need is:
– A light and portable camera ($ 80)
– Good lights ($ 300)
– A good USB microphone ($ 70)
2. Did you think about your internet speed?
Make sure your internet connection speed is strong enough for a Live HD Video (if you are operating on WIFI or Ethernet, you can run a simple Google search for “run speed test”).
3. Don’t forget the battery and laptop storage space!
Make sure you keep your devices constantly charged and always have a backup battery as Livestreaming is a heavy drain on batteries. Do keep in mind that most laptops are not made to upload HD footage in real-time so try to free up as much storage space as possible if you want to help your laptop’s engine run better (also, always keep an eye on your laptop for overheating).
4. The right software
Before considering different software options for live streaming, it is always good to determine what is the scope of your video. You can live-stream on Facebook or YouTube quite easily and social media allows you to target a larger audience, but if you need more control over your live-stream, choose a platform that looks professional and has options like permissions and password protection.
5. Marketing, marketing always marketing
It is important to create the right hype around a video before you launch it. Ideally; you should start advertising two weeks before it begins, then again the week before, one day before, and finally one hour before you go live. Record your live show so anyone who misses it can catch up later. Also, regular broadcast is the key to build a strong following engagement.
6. Test drive:
Even the “easy-at-home” type of live streaming can be a lot of technical work for a beginner. Hence it is vital to always test-drive your live-streams and watch them before you go live to the world. You will be surprised at how many tech details you might miss out on. While reviewing your videos, pay attention to sound quality, optics, and lighting. (Also, minor details like the correct color of your shirt or the visibility of your brother’s dirty socks in the background can be affecting the success of a live stream)
7. No one likes it perfect. The important thing is to have fun!
Striving to perfection should not be the purpose behind live streaming and, needless to say, it can drive you insane! This is a real-time video so don’t let little mistakes or unplanned things put you down. Just be yourself, engage with your audience and have fun!
