Rise of Live Streaming: Trends & Marketing Tips [Infographic]

Where are the live streamers?

When it comes to live streaming, the first question you’ll need to answer for yourself is which platform you’ll embrace.

There are five major players in the field as of the development of this infographic, each with different advantages. They are:

Facebook Live: 

• Over 360 million users watch regularly
• Videos are watched three times longer than other video content
• Features live reactions in real time and ability to replay later
• Facebook Live Map makes live broadcasts across the globe easy to find
• Viewers can re-watch content or share after the broadcast is over

Instagram Live Stories:

• About 200 million regular users watch
• Features real-time likes and comments
• Presenters can choose to pin comments for all viewers to see
• New Live Stories are easy to discover through “Top Live” section on Explore tab
• May be engaging a new market, Snapchat growth slowed 82 percent after launch

YouTube Live:

• One billion people use YouTube
• Live streaming is only for verified channels
• Option available for mobile live stream once you have 1,000 subscribers
• Real-time comments are in chat mode
• Super Chat gives viewers a way to highlight their comments during broadcast

Twitch:

• Active daily users of 9.7 million people
• The average user spends 106 minutes watching live streams each day
• Real time comments and emoticons available in the chat window
• You can cross-promote other streams when your channel is offline using Host Mode
• Bit Emoticons are able to be purchased so fans can give additional donations to streamers

live.ly:

• 6 million total users view content monthly
• Average users spend three sessions per day in the app, or about 3.5 minutes a day
• Features real time comments and “emoji-loves”
• Guesting option allows live streamers to include fans as guests in the broadcast
• Fan-purchased virtual gifts and icons can attach to comments and stay on screen longer

What drives live streaming viewers?

Live streaming has a very passionate and dedicated fan base for quality content, but what makes them feel that way for their favorite broadcasts might surprise you.

Two significant contributors to the live streaming trend are a built-in element of urgency, since the broadcast will only be live for a limited time, as well as the fear of missing out entirely.

When surveyed, 87 percent of users say they’d rather watch online than on traditional TV so they can be privy to behind-the-scenes content. They also indicated that 82 percent of the population would prefer to watch live video from a brand instead of engaging with social posts. And, don’t forget, quality is a big factor for live streaming, according to 67 percent of viewers.

Live streaming tips for brands and marketers

Live streaming can be a risky endeavor, but the payout can be equally impressive.

Based on survey data and experience, we’ve developed a list of live streaming tips to get you started. No one tip will work for every brand on every platform, but they’re a solid place to start if you have no experience with live streaming marketing.

1. Consistency is key. As with any sort of marketing, consistency is key. For live streaming, that means keeping themes consistent with what you want your brand to be, broadcasting consistently so users know when to expect you and choosing a solid, consistent connection for the best quality video.

2. Narrow the broadcast’s focus. Some podcasts and even live streams meander, but your brand stream should be focused so that users who want to learn about or discuss a particular topic will be able to do so. This might require designing a rough outline so that the presenter doesn’t wander too far off topic, making the broadcast uninteresting to your target demographic.

3. Interact with viewers. The key to live streaming is giving your viewers something more than just a little brand song and dance. There should be a personal level of interaction, which can be achieved by going behind the scenes of product manufacture, interviewing people in your organization, allowing Q&A sessions with brand representatives or doing exclusive product launches on your live stream. Whatever you choose, remember to acknowledge viewer comments as they happen.

Our infographic includes additional helpful information, including monetization tips for live streaming marketers. From donations to pay-per-view models, there are many strategies that brands can employ to further improve both engagement and revenue generation with live streaming.