5 Kick-Ass Ways to Use Live-Streaming to Promote Your Business

Several years ago my boss, a digital marketing whiz at a large New York company, said to me, "the future of social media is video." I didn't believe him. After all, those were the days of "poking" each other on Facebook, uploading picture albums, and writing notes. "What do you mean like YouTube?" I asked. "No," He responded. "Better."

Well, I had no idea just how right he would be. Flash forward to today and my finger is almost always on the "Go Live" button on Facebook. Whether it's Instagram Stories, SnapChat, or Periscope, you are sure to find me out there sharing my world on the digital screen.

Although live video is a booming marketing tool, I am still surprised to see how few businesses and entrepreneurs are turning to live-streaming to reach their potential clients. Live streaming is not just a way to reach a new audience, it's also a way to satisfy your current audience.

Here are five kick-ass ways to use live-streaming to promote your business:

1. Show Us The Real You

People do not want to connect with a "brand," they want to connect to the person or people behind the brand. They want to know who you are and see the real faces of your company. One brand that is just totally kicking ass when it comes to understanding this concept is The New Yorker. Everyday I log on to SnapChat to see what the reporters are up to at The New Yorker and they never disappoint! I remember when reading a newspaper used to be just words on a page, now I get to see the actual reporters and editors dance around on social media as they write their witty puns. Pretty sweet if you ask me. They also just won a Shorty Award for being so bad ass on social media.

2. A Day in the Life of Your Business

Another great way to use live-streaming is to show your audience a day in the life of your business. Show them as you are opening up the store early, show them as you are flying to meet a client, show them as you are problem solving or creating a vision board. Get your online audience involved in your business! This is the best way for your online tribe to really get to know you and see how your business is run. Remember that one of the biggest motivators for making a purchase is trust. So the more your potential customers begin to trust you, the more likely they will be to step in the door.

3. Answer Community Questions

Community Q and A's are not only a great way to build engagement on social media, they are also a great tool to survey your clients. Ask them honestly, "what are we doing right?" Or "What can we improve on?" Ask them what they would like to see more of on your social media channels. Ask them anything! And then turn it around and have them ask you questions, like what year did you get started? Who's your favorite Beatle? The possibilities are endless!

4. Product Breakdown or Step-By-Step

If you're introducing something brand new, live-streaming is the perfect way to unveil your new product. Subscription boxes like Ipsy and Yogi Surprise have been using brand ambassadors - including celebrity ambassadors - to open their subscription boxes on live feed on Facebook. It's been wildly successful with people wanting to see what's in the box and then running off to buy a box of their own.

5. Promo, Teaser, or Specials

I learned this from the amazing Danielle Ford, video marketing genius, she said, "Always, always, always leave them with a call to action." So now whenever I come to the end of my life stream, I always throw in an offer, a link, a code, something! You can't give them all this great free content and not toss in your chance at a return. Live streaming is the perfect place to give your audience a taste of what you have to offer. Just make sure you give them a way to contact you at the end.

Want to learn more about how live streaming can transform your business? Join me at Social Fresh 2017 in Orlando, Florida from December 8-9th. I will be speaking in the panel "Quiet On Set: Clarifying the State of Video Marketing Strategy" at 10:45 on Saturday. Register here and save 10%!

Happy Live-Streaming!

Suki

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Suki Eleuterio is a social media junkie, expert blogger and digital content queen. By day she works as social media specialist and by night she is a full time mom, blogger, yoga teacher, speaker and creator of the book She Loved Herself. She has contributed to the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, MindBodyGreen and other publications.