Following its March debut, live-streaming platform Periscope amassed over 1 million users in its first 10 days. Currently, AppAnnie.com ranks Periscope No. 65 in the US-Overall iOS chart and No. 9 in US-Social Networking. Parent company Twitter drove attention for Periscope early on, and hopes to leverage further growth from the over 300 million monthly Twitter users. Despite this rapid early evolution, many social influencers are still left asking, "How am I supposed to use this thing?" Let's dissect the reasons why, and how, influencers are flocking to the video platform du jour.
Why influencers like Periscope
Influencers using Periscope do so to offer followers an interactive look into their lives. For one, Periscope's chat functionality allows influencers to engage in real-time conversations with viewers. Multiple people can chime in to ask and answer questions, giving an influencer instant feedback on his or her content.
Secondly, Periscope is easier than traditional online video. Social influencers know that making and editing videos can take hours, if not days, to complete. Periscope's live and unedited feed removes any expectations for perfection, and instead aims for authenticity. It gives anyone the ability to teach, share, motivate, or connect in real-time all over the world.
Periscope Best-Practices
The best way to showcase best-practices when it comes to Periscope is to highlight several social influencers using the platform extremely well. They include:
Best Practices from Influencers for Getting Started on Periscope
- Have a strategy and/or a reason for your scope.
- For first-time Periscope users, have an elevator pitch ready to go that gives your audience your background, details as to where they can view your content, etc. Summer Davis of @DirtyFloorDiary does this throughout her daily morning motivation broadcast.
- Use hashtags to help viewers find your Periscope through search and on Twitter.
- If presenting a tutorial or recipe, have everything set up and ready to go since you can't go back and edit things later. Kristi Clover of @RaisingClovers does an excellent job of prepping recipes, as she shares a weekly meal plan with viewers to help them take the guesswork out of planning a dinner menu.
- Show off your personality. This is you, unedited, so be your goofy, outgoing self.
- Publicize your broadcast topics and times in your Periscope bio, on your blog or on other social channels.
- Keep your Periscope location feature toggled off at "sensitive" places. Audrey and Vera of @AudreyandVera always make sure to turn off their location at home or at their children's school, for example.
- Engage with your viewers. Periscope is a social platform. Ask them questions, respond to their feedback and greet them by name as they arrive. Kim Garst of @KimGarst created the Periscope for Business course, interactively teaching viewers how to many money using Periscope.
- Pick a memorable handle. Periscope recently made an update so that users can change their bio, photo and name. Marty Coleman of @TheNapkinDad has one of the most creative Periscope names-and it showcases his brand.
- Practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
While still new, Periscope is committed to rapidly evolving to meet the needs of and provide an enjoyable viewing experience for those sharing and viewing video. As this platform continues to grow, influencers will continue to come up with new ways to best utilize the platform for their individual needs.