Showing posts with label Live Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Live Video. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Mastering YOUR Live Social Media Marketing?


Social media marketing: How to master the art of going live..

More than possibly ever before, social media is all about being in the moment. It’s no wonder then that live video capabilities have been adopted by multiple social platforms as of late.



Going live is an excellent way to engage with audiences and can open up a business to new opportunities.

Due to its immediate nature, going live allows people to experience what your business is doing and react in real time.

Live video can be a huge asset for companies that know what they’re doing, have a clear brand vision and are prepared. Otherwise, an unintended message, image or event may make its way through to potential clients.

To help you create a successful live video and avoid any pitfalls, we asked 15 members of Forbes Agency Council to share their top tips for creating a masterful live video marketing campaign. Their answers are below:




1. Plan Ahead

Do your research in advance. Time your video when your audience is most active, and promote it ahead of time as if it were an event. Include what you’ll cover in the video and tease an announcement. During the live stream, remember you’re in a two-way conversation; reply in real time to comments users post as you stream. Throughout the video, tease the announcement that will come at the end. -Kathy Broderick Selker, Northlich

Related Article: YOUR Video Content Is King?


2. Give Your Audience Something They'll Value

You're competing with friends, family, celebrity crushes, etc. for attention, so you really want to hook the audience within the first few seconds and make a good first impression. Be prepared. Avoid tech mishaps by testing things in advance, and give the audience an experience they can't get elsewhere or a glimpse into something they want to be a part of. Make it worth their time. -Mae Cromwell, PACIFIC

3. Optimize For YouTube

YouTube is the planet’s second biggest search engine (next to Google) and consistently outperforms other social platforms when it comes to conversions. In addition, YouTube is incredibly cost-effective when it comes to placing video ads. High conversion and cost-effective ad placement are what defines a successful video campaign. -Randy Soderman, Soderman Marketing



4. Repost And Amplify

Delivering your message to your target audience via a "live" video is a great first step. To keep the momentum going, repost the video to your platforms along with targeted ad buys. This ensures that the video is seen by your target audience, and they get introduced to your message in a creative, dynamic form. -Danielle Wiley, Sway Group

5. Make It Worth It

Our most successful live videos have offered viewers one of two things: a big announcement or behind-the-scenes content. When your brand delivers a moment consumers feel is fun, exciting and worth their time, they'll continue to tune in to future live videos. -Jess Cook, TMV Group

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Brand Screenplay?


6. Prebuild An Audience

If you interview an expert or multiple experts like a live summit and they're in a complimentary niche that will provide tremendous benefit to your audience, this would be a great first step to getting traction. Be sure to promote the live stream at least three days in advance. The final tip is to have everyone on the stream like, comment and share it in exchange for a reward. -Imran Tariq, WebMetrix Group LLC

7. Be Consistent

Consistency helps with reputation, search engines and with building good customer relationships. Each video campaign should be consistent with the brand's image and include graphics/sounds that customers identify with the brand. Also, consistency in terms of content schedule can help with loyalty because people know that on that specific day, they will have something to look forward to. -Daniela Pavan, The Ad Store New York



8. Know Your Role

The reality in the live video game is that you need to know the role you play in the conversation with your audience. You need to know what your customer is expecting you to be -- social and fun, corporate and informative, product-focused, culture-focused or maybe just impromptu free-form opinionated. If you choose the wrong path, you won't be able to keep an audience. -Paul E. Benninghove, Phalanx Digital Inc.

9. Give Them A Reason To Keep Watching

Start strong and give them a reason to keep watching. When users join your live feed, they decide in seconds whether or not to continue to watch. To support this, you want the number of people watching to increase, so help them stick around by making your live content engaging. Once you're known for your live content, people will want to catch it every time you go live. -Benjamin Collins, Laughing Samurai



10. Show, Don't Tell

Avoid branded content that comes off as too promotional or self-serving. Instead, use live video to engage with audiences and amplify connectivity through real-time content. Themes like how to, did you know, where to find, what we learned, steps to take, etc. offer solutions to viewers they’re likely seeking. The raw, unrehearsed content is relatable, becomes reliable and is fun to share. -Fiona Bruder, George P. Johnson (GPJ) Marketing Experience

11. Get Live Feedback In Real Time

The voice of the customer is essential in building brand loyalty. There are myriad ways to make the most of reviews. When orchestrating brand experiences in a live setting, the immediacy of customer feedback can be extremely powerful. Social media walls and broadcasting feedback throughout an event can create an authentic and organic buzz about your brand with very little effort or investment. -Chris Cavanaugh, Freeman



12. Have A Strong Call To Action

The key to any campaign is the call to action. When we're doing live video streams, it's easy to forget to plug the call to action in at some point. However, be mindful that it doesn't interrupt the users' experience and causes them to drop off. Go live about 15 minutes before your scheduled stream to remind your followers that you're about to go live and ask them to invite their friends. -Danielle Sabrina, Tribe Builder Media

13. Start With The Narrative

Live video storytelling is only as good as the story. When thinking about adding a live video component, first determine what the narrative of this program will be and why video is a good way to share that. A great video narrative is engaging and should fuel a conversation among the audience. It should inspire people to share, comment and invite others to view along. -Daryl McCullough, Citizen Relations



14. Mix It Up

By combining "talking heads" expert commentary with product photo stills and stock photography or video, you can provide the viewer with a richer, multi-sensory experience, while at the same time limiting the time and expense involved with traditional video production. It means being more creative with your storyboard skills, but it is well worth it. -Francine Carb, Markitects, Inc.

15. Use Premieres On Facebook

One of the major challenges for brands using live video is quality control (poor camera angles, potentially incorrect product claims, etc.). But the positives are increased exposure because the algorithms favor video right now. Facebook recently launched "Premieres," which lets brands premiere a pre-recorded video just like they would a live video. It's a great way to share quality work "live."-Jim Tobin, Carusele

Guest Authored By Forbes Agency Council. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Find out if you qualify. Follow Forbes Agency Council on X.





Get ready to have your best year on social media yet.

Following these tips, not only will you get more likes and follows than ever before, but you'll gain more loyal customers too..

    • Post Crafted By:
      Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO. where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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    Friday, December 21, 2018

    YOUR Next Level E-Commerce Strategy?


    These 4 social media strategies can take your e-commerce business to the next level..

    In the content-riddled world we live in, it’s no secret that standing out as an e-commerce brand is no easy task.



    Despite the difficulty, there are a handful of proven tactics to help you cut through the noise across the crowded online marketplace. One of those methods is fully embracing social media.

    In fact, according to Constant Contact, brands that engage with customers via social media gain 20-40% more revenue per customer relative to companies that do not.

    From Facebook advertising to leveraging live video to partnering with Instagram influencers, the benefit your store will gain from social media is undeniable, but the problem lies in knowing where to start.

    Let’s look at four effective social media strategies your business can utilize to take your online store to the next level.



    Maximize Your Impact With The Facebook Pixel

    When it comes to the world of digital marketing, there are few “hacks” more effective than re-targeting. Defined, re-targeting is simply placing ads and other media in front of individuals who have taken action within your sales funnel in the past. This content typically encourages them to finalize their purchase, subscribe to your newsletter, or other call-to-actions to take them further down the funnel.

    According to SalesForce, in the noisy age we live in, it takes anywhere from six to eight touch-points to create a legitimate sales lead. With data points such as these, it’s hard to deny the power of re-targeting, and the single greatest opportunity to conduct re-targeting is with Facebook’s tracking pixel. Whether you wish to re-engage a visitor who scrolled down your entire home page, one who clicked through but quickly exited the site or something else entirely, the Facebook Pixel makes it possible. On top of that, from Shopify to Magento or other third party solutions, the Facebook Pixel is compatible with just about every e-commerce platform.



    “To ensure you capture relevant data at all major stages of your online sales funnel, it’s important to know which segment or content caused a visitor to purchase your product or elect not to,” says Lance Essihos, a social media marketer who has had success building online businesses on the back of great content and helpful affiliate products.

    To get started with the Facebook Pixel for your e-commerce store, Essihos recommends adding the following custom conversions to your website once the pixel is successfully installed:

    --View Content
    --Add to Cart
    --Initiate Checkout
    --Complete Purchase



    As a result, you’ll be able to segment these groups into custom audiences, making for effortless re-targeting.

    “Specifically, the custom audiences that are most advantageous to zero in on are your site visitors, email subscribers, those who have added your products to their shopping cart but have yet to purchase, those who have completed a purchase, and those who purchase from you on an ongoing basis, “adds Essihos.

    All of these touch-points represent crucial phases of the sales funnel, making it important to treat each of these audiences differently as opposed to speaking to them all in the same way. In e-commerce, personalization is key to long-term success.

    Plain and simple.



    Leverage Live Video

    Over the past few years, live video has become an indispensable social media strategy for e-commerce businesses because viewers thrive on the immediacy and engagement that live video creates. In fact, 80% of people prefer watching a live video rather than reading a blog post, and 82% of people would choose live video over any other type of social post, according to Neil Patel. These types of metrics cannot be ignored by e-commerce businesses looking to increase their bottom line.

    Maybe your customers are on Facebook, or maybe Snapchat has been successful for you. Wherever you’re reaching customers on social, there’s an opportunity to be connecting with them via live video. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter all offer the ability to stream live.

    For instance, if you’re an e-commerce fashion company, what better way to create hype around new styles than a live unveiling of your newest designs? Or maybe you’re launching a new line of dog treats for your online pet store. What pet lover wouldn’t want to see adorable puppies chowing down on your latest flavors? There are endless ways to connect using live streaming video and it’s a worthwhile strategy. According to Agorapulse, users watch live videos on Facebook three times longer than pre-recorded videos and live videos get ten times more engagement in the comments section.



    As a final tip, remember to be authentic. Live videos have been successful because they present an unscripted look into your brand. This content gives customers the chance to relate to you and your brand further when you showcase the human qualities that make your brand unique.

    Split Test Your Way To The Top

    Without consistently split testing your online ads, you will always run the risk of leaving money on the table, and with the technology available to us today, there’s simply no excuse not to be A/B testing ad performance.

    On Facebook alone, users are able to split test based on everything from the country one lives in to their relationship status to their age and more. Take advantage of this data by testing to see who your brand resonates most with.

    The key to effective split-testing though, as Essihos explains, is to never try everything all at once. Instead, similar to science experiments, isolate the variables to be certain of which preferences are resulting in the desired outcome. He also recommends running your ads for three to fourteen days for the sake of statistical significance. You will then be able to apply the insights gained to revise your ad copy, creative and more.



    Whether you decide to utilize a platform like AdEspresso, Optimizely or Adobe Target, the important thing is to remain consistent in your testing and relentless in your pursuit for customer data.

    Integrate Social Proofing

    Believe it or not, it has been reported that 92 percent of consumers are more likely to trust recommendations from individuals they don’t personally know over brand recommendations.

    As a result, consumers today are looking to their peers, influencers and customer reviews to help them make a decision, so social proofing is more important than ever. While influencer marketing is one of the fastest growing methods for gaining customers, it can also be an expensive endeavor if you only focus on major influencers.

    If you’re considering using influencers as a form of social proofing, focus on micro-influencers as opposed to macro-influencers.



    Today, consumers are gravitating toward influencer content that is authentic and believable.

    This is great news for your bottom line because you can partner with real brand advocates who truly love your product, even if it’s niche. In return, the influencer’s audience will trust their recommendation. If you already have people online advocating for your product, reach out to them and propose a partnership.

    User generated content is another effective way to grow your business, as it engages your customers and lets them shine using your stage as a platform.

    Encourage users to tag you in their product photos for a chance to be featured on your page or run a contest for the best live video that shows customers opening their product packages.

    Guest Authored By Jia Wertz. Jia the CEO of Studio 15, a socially responsible fashion brand. After leaving behind a 15-year career in the corporate fashion world, She started a company that focuses on doing good and supporting women. It’s Studio 15’s mission to promote and collaborate with other female-owned businesses and to support female entrepreneurs in developing countries through a partnership with Kleos MFG, a non-profit organization. Follow Jia on Twitter.





    "Establishing yourself as a viable force in the world of e-commerce can be a daunting task, but with a clear strategy and the right tools to track data, you can tap into the 3.1 billion consumers using social media across the globe.." -JiaWertz


    • Post Crafted By:
      Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO. where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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    Location: Loveland, CO 80538, USA

    Monday, October 9, 2017

    Best Practices For Live Social Media?


    Social media has successfully allowed users to experience moments in real time with the live feature on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (Periscope) and Instagram..

    Success with live goes beyond having a smartphone and a good internet connection. Going live on a personal account is certainly much different from going live on a brand page. On your personal account, your goal is most likely to make your friends laugh.

    As a brand, your goal is to stay ahead of the competition and represent a company that is successful, innovative and creative. Below are some live best practices from the brand perspective.



    Know Your Audience

    If you are your company’s social media guru, you most likely monitor your social media audience and current trends. Part of being successful on social media is knowing what your followers want to see. Find the content that resonates with your followers and bring it to life.

    Notify Your Followers

    Don’t jump in and start your live video without giving your followers a heads up. They need to know when your broadcast will start so they can make sure to tune in.

    And, most importantly, let them know what your broadcast will be about. It will give your followers something to look forward to -- and better yet, the opportunity to share it with their friends if it’s something they might be interested in.



    Develop Promotional Visuals

    Develop a promotional graphic or video that your followers will find engaging. Add the following elements to your promotional content: topic or event name, persons featured, date and time. If you intend to share your graphic across all of your social media channels, modify it to meet the spec requirements of each platform.

    Rehearse

    Meet with your stakeholders beforehand and prep them for the video because some people are camera shy. Reassure them that your social media followers are not looking for a perfect video, but rather an interesting one. If you’re doing a Q&A-style live video, review the questions and let them practice their responses. They will most likely realize how comfortable they will become when they start talking about a passionate subject. Most importantly, show them the simple camera you will use to record the video, such as your smartphone. Bright lights and large cameras can be intimidating.



    Check In On Connectivity

    You’re ready to get that livestream started, but before you do so, make sure your internet connection is strong so that there are no delays or interruptions during the broadcast. You can do a test run using your personal account.

    Conduct A Sound Check

    You want your followers to be able to hear your video clearly and not have to turn the volume on their device all the way up.

    Use a lavalier microphone to ensure quality sound if you have people speaking directly into the camera. If you are recording an event, use a shotgun microphone.



    Go Live

    You have pre-promoted your live video, checked your internet connection and sound, and rehearsed beforehand -- you are now ready to go live.

    There might be a bit of anxiety that will come with the idea of going live, especially if it is your first time. But once the video starts recording and you begin to watch the number of viewers increase, a sense of relief comes over you. I still get a bit nervous before I record a live video, and I've gone live more than a dozen times.

    The most important tip of all: Make sure to have fun with live recording. It is the perfect opportunity to show off your brand in and out of social media. Celebrate the great work taking place at your company while also highlighting your company's social media trending tactics.

    Guest Authored By Chloe Politis. Chloe is Associate Director at Mount Sinai Health Systems, overseeing digital and social media strategy. Follow Chloe on Twitter.




    “The most important tip of all:

    Make sure to have fun with live recording.

    It is the perfect opportunity to show off your brand in and out of social media.

    Celebrate the great work taking place at your company while also highlighting your company's social media trending tactics.."


      • Authored by:
        Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com/ready & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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      Location: Loveland, CO 80538, USA
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