Videos are becoming lifeline of any marketing strategy since last decade since it creates a bonding with the audience. In this digital age, consumers do not want to speak to salesmen advocating them to buy a specific product; it is rather beneficial that business uses video marketing that creates personal touch with audience for sale of its products. Also, with rapid increase of smart phone users, making and viewing videos are affordable than ever before.
Video enhances consumers trust and satisfaction levels in the brand as compared to written message about the product. When a company launches a new product or service, it wants to win trust of desired audience and a video showing the description, operating and functioning of the product is of utmost importance in its marketing. It allows them to learn about the services of the company and see the action thus increasing sales and revenues.
With the huge penetration of mobile phones (smart phones), streaming of video live is becoming new way to communicate. People want to see everything live without any changes and alterations, which to them show the real world. We all like to see live news, live sport matches and live conferences since these all are real and happening at same time. Same is true for any business promotion and ideas. With the Covid-19 pandemic endangering our lives since last seventeen months and refusing to perish, it has decreased physical mobility of people, here live streaming has stepped into people rescue as it allows live online meetings, live online classes, live demonstrations, thus allowing lives to run.
The same is true for companies and business. Live videos allow companies to showcase and promote their brands as everything is live in front of audiences and nothing is unreal. It creates personal engagement and wins trust of the audience, thereby enhancing popularity of brand and driving its sales. A business can show live presentation of working of its product, hold question-answer session by experts, promote offers in real time to enhance brand value and sales.
Facebook live feature was launched in 2016 which allows an individual or business to present a live video to the audience. Facebook also allows viewing the recording of live event after it has ended. By using this feature, a business can create brand awareness among new customers thereby leading to more business.
Instagram live feature (also started in 2016) also allows live videos to be shared with audience in real time. It also allows business to connect to broad audience in its live stream. Ways to grow any business by using Facebook live and Instagram live are:
- Large base of Online Audiences– For any business to grow, it needs more and more consumers who buy and use their product and services. These live platforms do the same by attracting audiences to view the promotion of the company, benefits of its product and services and brand awareness. If successful, it creates big base of viewers who can enhance reputation and sales.
- Features to Capture Live Comments and Reactions– Facebook live have build in feature wherein during the live show you are able to engage with the audience and know their feedback which again is very helpful to know the shortcomings if any. It provides live interaction with people and instant reactions which are very real.
- Features to track the Performance– Facebook Live and Instagram live provides features and tools to track the live video performance, audience engagement, clicks and negative feedbacks. A business can easily know how the viewers are responding, average watch time of video and how the video is shared. In short, business can do post show analysis using these tools to improve further.
- Simple, Easy and Economical– Making live videos on Facebook and Instagram are very easy. It can be done by the business easily and the expenses incurred are very less. There is no rocket science knowledge required in going live but certain simple points should be kept in mind.
- Well Prepared Platforms– These are beautifully developed having features to interact, stay connected using most advanced technology and software. Instagram and Facebook are continuously modifying their live platforms to make them better and user friendly.
With passage of time it is becoming clear that business and organizations that use online videos especially live streams are more successful than those who not using. Hence, every business must try to increase their social reach by going live, be it with their employees, consumers, influencers etc.