Live streaming is on trend. Everyone, from online gamers to large corporations, seem to be incorporating it into their media plans. And this trend will continue – it’s estimated that the live streaming industry will be worth $70 billion by 2021.

The reason for this sudden popularity is simple: Live streaming provides an immediate connection between streamer and viewer. It’s fast to produce. Cost effective, too.

Streaming is accessible to everyone.

All you need to get started is a high quality HD video camera and a reliable internet connection. Popular streaming platforms include Periscope, YouNow, Facebook Live, Twitch and LiveStream. Choose your platform carefully – each one has a different audience. Twitch, for example, connects you with the gamer community; Facebook Live target users of high school and college age. In general, the audience for live streams tends to be millennials and young adults. Once you’ve chosen the right platform, the creative process begins. Start with an outline of what you’d like to achieve, then stream!

Why live stream?

The point of live streaming is to be in the moment, authentic and unscripted. Today’s consumers want brand transparency. The goal of your stream should be just that. Some ways to create it include: responding to comments and questions; showing behind the scenes footage; and, even, holding tutorial sessions to educate your customers. You may even find your customers interacting with one another on your stream, thus creating a community around your brand.

One you start live streaming countless opportunities will open up. Many major companies, such as Target and Nissan, have begun implement live streaming in their marketing plans. The clothing designer Marc Jacobs previewed his 2016 line via live streaming. The Tonight Show streams behind-the-scenes footage. Taco Bell has even held mock press conferences in this format! Countless other opportunities, such as influencer marketing, are waiting to be discovered.

Now is the time to add live streaming to your media plan. A word of caution, though. The quality of live streams varies widely. While anyone can take up a video camera, not everyone can do so in a way that will burnish a company’s brand. At ARTÉMIA, we know we can. We’d love to help you take your live streaming to the next level.

For more information on live streaming, or for help beginning your stream, contact us here or call us at 415-351-2227.