Are you on a tight schedule and you don’t want to miss out on an important event? Are you a manager who values productivity more than anything else, and you want to talk to your employees virtually? Do you live in fear of contacting Covid-19 by traveling to various meetings? Well, look no further; live event streaming provides tons of opportunities for anybody who wants to pass information, entertain or have fun at the comfort of their home and office.
Virtual Events
Nowadays, you can be on vacation or in your bed and still get things moving, as usual, thanks to the unlimited opportunities presented by the internet and the power of live events. Live streaming has grown by over 99% from April 2019 to April 2020, according to Daily eSport.
As much as live streaming sounds like an already accomplished mission, if you narrow it down to finer details, it is an intricate plan. Planning virtual events, from preparing your audience to set up equipment to saying “see you next time,” is very complex. Not only do you need a team of professionals, but I also hope luck will be on your side. To simplify your work easier, in this article, we are going to give you a live streaming plan from A to Z that will make the event go on smoothly. Let us hit it!
But first, let us find out why live streaming is great for your business:
Social media marketing is getting fiercer and more profitable as time goes by. In fact, according to Social Media Examiner, approximately 57% of marketers are using live streaming to reach their targeted customers. This has, in turn, catapulted their sales up the ceiling since most customers are looking for fresher, top-notch, latest content, news, and tracks.
If you are stuck with starting a live event, let us pull you out.
- Create a Plan
Believe me when I say even the simplest thing you are accustomed to doing requires a plan. Planning is essential for your upcoming live streaming session. It helps you foresee challenges and possible hurdles that may prevent you from reaching your objective. For simple live streaming, you need to ask yourself the following questions;
- Why am I opting for live streaming?
- What is the purpose of the event?
- How much do I intend to benefit from the event?
- What is my budget for the event?
The answers to these questions will help you create an elaborate plan. The plan also includes tools that will aid you through the session.
- Choose the best Online Video Platform
This is also very important. In fact, it carries more weight than any other part of this plan.
A good live streaming company is well equipped with high-definition cameras and other accessories that will broadcast the information to the intended audience. It should also be able to handle millions of viewers at a go.
The latter is a very important bearing; the higher the number of viewers, the higher the probability that the live event may buffer.
If you intend to monetize your events, ensure you are dealing with companies that support your objectives. A video platform should give room for a paid subscription and other monetization options.
Lastly, do not choose a company that will cloud your event with authorized ads. You are not in a competition; therefore, your audience deserves the best.
- Set up the Equipment
There is no shortcut to this; you need only high-quality equipment. Good recording devices should store power for a long time and, above all, communicate very well with the servers.
For professional-grade services, we recommend you invest in cameras meant for live streaming. These cameras are fully-featured, simple, and won’t give you a hard time recording. However, their costs might be overwhelming, doing research prior to purchasing them is advisable.
As always, there is an incentive for using top-notch services and equipment. You will not only retain your current viewers, but you will expand your audience, which means more income.
- Connect your encoder
An encoder is a tool that converts raw videos to digital files that can be streamed online. You can encode videos using either software or hardware. Though they produce high-quality videos, hardware encoders are not as elaborate as software.
Software encoders are the best though only a couple are free for use. Most high-end software encoders with tons of features come at a cost exceeding $500.
But when choosing any software encoder, make sure it is compatible with the video platform. For this, let experts help you out.
- Create a Live Channel
The next process after sourcing and connecting your tools is to create a live channel. Though the process differs from platform to platform, you will have to log in to the live streaming platform, add a live streaming channel, name your channel and indicate the region. You are good to go.
- Do a Test Run
Once you have done everything, do a test run to ensure everything is running correctly. A test run will help you locate possible problems before you go online. It is important to note that once your session has begun and you have an audience on the other side, it will be difficult to troubleshoot.
During testing, the presenter might have a chance to check on their content and make sure they deliver the best in less time. For better results, run a trial test on the same day you will be airing the live event.
Other than that, ensure your internet speed is capable of transmitting videos without buffers. It is advisable that your internet connection should have an uploading speed of at least two times faster than what you need to stream. This way, your videos will be online prior to them being viewed.
Bottom Line
If you are struggling with live events streaming, we have given you steps to follow. The most important things are finding a good company that offers live event services and delivers your best to the audience.
