Live streaming is nothing new – but, the way businesses are using it, customer behaviors, and the technology that support it are constantly changing.
So, let’s take a look at some of the live streaming for business trends to watch out for:
1. Interactive Experiences
In today’s day and age, more and more consumers are looking for interactive experiences. Gone are the days where simple live streams are new and exciting – instead, streams that include engaging interactive elements are on the rise. This trend has already been seen in other sectors, particularly iGaming. For example, when game show enthusiasts play Adventures Beyond Wonderland live online they will be greeted by a human host, as you’d expect. The game also has avatars within the game that converse with the host and the players in real time. This adds an additional layer of interactivity to the already interactive medium of live online casino games.
With this in mind, businesses might consider going a step beyond live streaming for business trends. Consumers may not be satisfied with just watching your content, so find ways to get them involved. Whilst interactive avatars might be a step too far for some industries, the logic still applies. Get audiences involved with live polling or question and answer sessions, or include interactive graphics that allow audiences to carry out actions without leaving the stream. In doing so, this can help to keep consumers engaged, gather useful data in real time, and provide improved customer support.
2. Virtual Events
Traditionally, brands who cared about the environment were just ‘nice to haves’. However, the climate for eco-friendly brands is swiftly changing. According to PWC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, 85% of global consumers have experienced the disruption of climate change first-hand, and so prioritize brands that consider the environment in their practices. In addition 31% of consumers are traveling less or differently in order to reduce their overall carbon footprint.
It is no surprise, then, that virtual events are becoming more popular. Whether it is a product launch, conference, convention, or a business meeting, making these events virtual reduces the need for travel, thus lowering the impact on the environment. Further, virtual events can be more cost effective for businesses to host, particularly if travel and accommodation is expensed. This also shows consumers a dedication to the environment, promoting your business as a sustainable brand.
3. Multistreaming
Today, it is a rarity if businesses don’t use social media. When streaming, however, businesses may have a tendency to sway towards a preferred platform. That said, each platform captures a different demographic. According to Forbes, Facebook commands 53% of social media visits in the US. Globally, Facebook racks up 2.9 billion monthly active users. YouTube also scored high, with 2.5 billion monthly active users.
But, people don’t just use one platform – the average American has 7.1 accounts. With this in mind, there has been a rise in multistreaming, otherwise known as simulcasting or multi-destination streaming. This technology allows you to stream across multiple platforms simultaneously. In other words, you could host a webinar on Zoom, and stream it on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube at the same time, boosting the audience reach.
As you can see, consumer demands are changing, and technology is progressing, so businesses need to adapt their live streaming for business trends to meet this. All that’s left to do is try out a few ideas, and see what works best for your business.
