Best Ways To Use Livestreaming for Your Business


By Kim Key Published Mar 02, 2021

Best Ways To Use Livestreaming for Your Business

Livestreaming has been hugely popular in building audiences in online gaming. You now have a chance to get more interest in your business products and services by using many of the same ideas gamers and entertainers have been employing for years in front of online audiences.

Whether you own a salon, restaurant, gym or shop, you can offer your customers a first look at your services by using a livestream. According to Livestream.com, streaming will be a $70.5 billion business this year, and adult Americans spend nearly six hours a day watching video.

It’s intriguing, and you have questions.

What should I livestream?

You can stream just about anything. On your livestreaming platform of choice, you can broadcast live video of the community project your business sponsors, offer a “Tutorial Tuesday” at your hobby shop, take the camera into the kitchen to show off new dishes at your restaurant, run live demonstrations of styling at your salon or even hold a virtual Q&A session with your viewers.

The streaming possibilities all come down to your creativity and the strength and reliability of your internet connection. Be aware: Many consumers have little tolerance for spotty streaming experiences and will duck out of a stream if there are connection issues.

How do I get started?

From content to equipment to promotion and beyond, consider the following when you decide to add a livestream to your business:

Top streaming platforms

YouTube
This large video and livestreaming platform lets you set up password-protected streams to try out the service before going live. Just be aware that when you hit that “Go live” button, you are broadcasting to a very (world)wide audience, and with that audience comes the inevitable internet trolling. On the other hand, you have a chance to put your products and services in front of a massive group of people who may be interested in what you have to sell.

Facebook Live
You can go live on Facebook from a mobile app or your computer. This flexibility allows you to create livestreams anywhere, anytime. You’ll be competing with lots of other people for views, but if you’ve made a Facebook business page, you can easily advertise your business all from the app.

Twitch
Originally just for gamers, Twitch now has a diverse livestreaming audience with plenty of livestream programs centered around art, music, programming, cooking and more. Discoverability on Twitch can be hit or miss; if you don’t have a lot of viewers or followers, it can be hard to gain an audience quickly.

Instagram Live
This is another app for mobile devices that allows you to create your own livestreams. Once you have a business account, you can create stories as often as you wish. When your followers open the app, they will see at the top of their Instagram Stories that you’re broadcasting. That’s great advertising.

More viewing options

Not everyone will be able to watch your stream when it’s live. It’s a good idea to embed videos of past livestreams on your website. These are commonly called VODs. YouTube and Vimeo are two services that allow you to upload your locally recorded broadcast content and embed a link to the video on your website for free.

Livestreaming can be an easy and affordable way to promote your business. You know what’s best for your clients—now it’s time to show them a live look at what you have to offer.

Product features may have changed and are subject to change.