Live-streaming is a great solution for companies that want to spread their technological wings without spending a fortune on hardware and video equipment. Today, all it takes to go live is a decent smartphone, a strong connection, and the right app.
No matter how you use it, live-streaming can be engaging and help build brand connection, drawing your audience in and, done right, keeping them there. The question you need to ask is not if a live-streaming video is an effective marketing asset, but how can you put it to work for your B2B strategies.
Here are eight creative ways you can make live-streaming work for your business.
1. Walk New Customers Through Any Process
Live chatting is passé compared to streaming video. Give your new customers -or old ones if you are introducing a new service or product - an opportunity to see how something works first hand.
Let's say you want to walk a new customer through the ordering system - you could put together a pre-recorded video showing them the steps, but why not make it more personal? Set up an appointment and live-stream a demonstration.
You can factor this added benefit in with other perks, like having the account manager on hand to answer questions during the stream, perhaps. You could also live-stream your video to multiple offices within the same company so they can communicate with each other, too, and get everyone on the same page.
2. Live-stream Your Customer Service
Along the same lines, you could also consider letting customers request a live-stream for customer service issues.
By using streaming for this process, you immediately remove that annoying game of tag that often comes with online customer service - no more misunderstandings because of poorly worded emails or disconnected chats.
Your customer gets to make a personal and direct connection with the exact person handling the problem.
3. Make the Most of Beta Testing
Adding live-streaming to your testing process can give you expanded real-time feedback on new products and services.
You can interact with testers from all over the world without ever leaving the office. Take the concept a step further by using it to bring in new stakeholders, or even for crowdsourcing.
4. Live-stream Project Updates
Lose the photo updates and slideshows and go live - your business customers will appreciate the real-time peek into a project, and the transparency you provide by streaming.
You can walk them through key milestones and offer impromptu demonstrations, all while getting immediate feedback for quick and easy changes.
5. Get Connected
There's no rule that says you have to be the one in front of the camera - use live-streaming to connect to influencers in your industry by attending their shows.
Take the opportunity to introduce yourself, chat about your company and, generally, just get noticed. You can never tell where that kind of influencer marketing strategy might take your business.
6. Sign Them Up
Offer exclusive live-streaming seminars and information sharing to sign people up to email lists and social media accounts.
You can gate your streams by asking for an email address to take part in the broadcast, for example.
7. Behind the Scenes at Industry Events
Give your customers a peek into the newest trends at conferences and expos by live-streaming the event.
This gives your audience a firsthand look at things that may directly affect their business in the coming year - while also giving you a chance to see which new ideas and trends they find most appealing.
8. Provide Content They Can Use
Live-streaming can also be your connection to your customer's customers.
Think about that for a minute.
You can use live-streaming video to help your customers increase their sales or deal with customer service issues, perhaps help them showcase products by offering a behind-the-scenes tour during a sale or store event.
How about working with your customer to create an online class for a product you produce but they sell?
The potential use cases for live-streaming are almost limitless, and given the engagement live videos generate, it's definitely worth considering how you can utilize this medium in your marketing process.