How Livestream Events Can Help Your Business
Livestream events can be a helpful tool for your company’s image. If used properly, livestream can skyrocket your popularity among audiences out of your reach.
However, you must be thoughtful about what you put on the Internet, because it can have a non-desired effect. But don’t worry, here you can find a list about everything you need to know about livestream events, and how to do then from scratch.
So, if you’re planning a special event, and you don’t know what you will need, this will walk you through everything. From a list of the necessary equipment to the actions you’ll need to take.
This way, your streaming will now have a large production value and you will get the benefits of live-streaming.
What is Livestreaming?
First, we must understand what exactly is live-streaming. The term of live-streaming refers to the streaming of content in real-time via the Internet. While the stream takes place, both broadcasters and viewers can engage through an online chat (or even money donations!).
YouTube was one of the first platforms to have actual success in the livestream world. Lots of content creators switched from uploading daily videos to alternating between them and streams. This way, they were able to engage their audience without having to change their content drastically.
However, livestreaming’s popularity increased exponentially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Platforms like Twitch completely took over the world of live-streaming, maintaining itself as one of the biggest players in the sector.
1. High-Quality Audio-Visual Equipment
You will need certain equipment to continue with the live broadcast. This equipment consists of the following parts:
Cameras
The cameras installed on MacBooks and PCs are enough for these types of events. However, they fall short of the quality provided by cameras regarding the depth, exposure, and focal length, among other factors.
Hence, you can use your present camera as a webcam if it has an HDMI or USB connector. If this isn’t enough for you and you want to take things a step further, we recommend investing in a higher-end camera.
And obviously, if you want to avoid having shaky footage, use a tripod suitable for your camera / mobile phone…
Remember viewers are watching 2 things: the content from the livestream event, and that who is talking to the camera. So, make sure whoever is presenting looks good on camera.
Microphone
It is key to have high-quality audio so that your viewers can always understand what you are talking about. For this, we suggest using a wireless mic. This way, you can walk around freely while maintaining a flawless audio connection and quality.
Lightning
You may have the finest camera in the world, but you are done for without good lighting. Lighting is vital when it comes to make the frame look professional and clean.
If you have natural lighting, then you are playing with a valuable advantage. However, if you don’t, make sure you have one bright source of light next to your face, set slightly above your head.
Now, check the frame doesn’t look too bright or too dark, and you can start your livestream event.
2. Reliable Internet Connection
This may seem like a foolish observation, but it isn’t. Many companies, when they are about to start a livestream event, don’t check the quality of their internet connection.
It is a risky strategy, as your stream can contain lagging and slow refreshing rate. Sometimes, a bad internet connection won’t even allow you to start an event. This affects negatively to your brand, as viewers get the impression of a low-quality, unprofessional company.
Hence, make sure you broadcast your livestream event from a place with good internet connection.
3. Encoders
Encoders are the tools which convert video content into streamable formats. These encoders can be for instance software applications.
Watch the following video to know more about how encoders work
4. Streaming Platform
This step is critical to ensure the success of your event. You should choose a decent platform that aligns with your event’s goals.
We recommend making thorough research on how these platforms work, and how they engage with the audience. Test them by watching a stream yourself and see where you could add value to your own livestream events.
To help you do so, we already have a blog talking about which platforms are suitable for your business, so don’t miss out on it.
5. Interactive Tools
And last but not least, make sure you entertain your audience and engage with them through the live chat and Q&A. This is a fantastic way to get to know what your audience thinks of the event in real-time, and it’s a tool you can use to lure even more viewers in on your livestream.
A nice way of doing that is through polls and surveys. If you get your audience to complete them, you’ll have instant feedback about how your livestream is doing. Additionally, you can share the results to attract and engage more viewers.
Your Next Steps
As you can see, you don’t need much to get started with livestreaming. Your next steps should start from figuring out some content ideas for the livestream events first. Then, you need to make sure you have everything you need equipment-wise. And finally, it is your time to engage and entertain your audience.
We would like to believe that this information has helped you better understand how to live stream events. Is there anything we’ve forgotten to mention? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Lucas
Contact Impress Video now
So, interested in getting started with livestreaming events? Got everything you need? Don’t worry, we have you covered! If you feel like you need help with this matter, at Impress Video we can help you. With a team full of professionals, we can help you make the most of livestreaming events to grow your brand. Don’t hesitate to contact us here!