This article will cover live streaming advantages, including its various benefits for content creators and businesses. From boosting engagement and expanding audience reach to monetization opportunities and cost-effectiveness, we will explore how live streaming can benefit you.

From gaming to instructional, educational, or even entertainment content, there is always something captivating when it comes to screening a live performance. Nowadays, most people would rather watch a live stream than read a blog post (hopefully, this one doesn’t count). In fact, according to a report by Influencer Marketing Hub, 80% of digital consumers prefer watching a live video over reading a web post. Additionally, live streaming is expected to increase by 15 times by 2022, accounting for 17% of all internet traffic.

Going live no longer needs a professional video recording studio or fancy cameras. These days, live streaming can be done through a social media or web account straight from your smartphone. This makes it easy for everyone to be their own live screening director.

Aside from merely creating content and sharing information, live streaming also allows you to promote yourself or your product for more exposure. Have some hidden talents you would like to share and be discovered? Live streaming may be your answer.

Reasons to go live

Live streaming offers a plethora of advantages. In this article, we would like to share 4 reasons why you should start live streaming now. If you’re interested to know how live streaming will benefit your platform, read on!

1. Live streaming allows instant feedback

Live streaming turns a video broadcast into meaningful conversations and interactions. Viewers can share their comments, like your broadcast, and respond to you in real-time. More importantly, if you can engage actively with your viewers, this would help you establish a trusting relationship with them. It will eventually grow your online following, which will then increase the number of viewers who will be looking forward to your live stream videos in the future.

Since feedback comes from viewers themselves, like what happens for most of the crowdsourced products or directors out there, you can create or modify your content for better quality based on their requests and suggestions. This will optimize and create a strong demand for your content.

2. Live streaming captures attention

Live Streaming Advantages | A live streaming make up tutorial

With everything available on-demand, most audiences prefer video over written media. Video media captures more emotions. While written content is easier to produce, video content provides viewers with quick and rich information in a visual format. In a report made by HubSpot in 2018, 54% of consumers prefer to see more video content from a brand or business. The ability to include interesting images also makes audiences more engaged compared to traditional written media.

3. Live streaming builds connection and grows your following

Live streaming enables you to communicate with your audience directly, which makes it possible for live streamers to build meaningful connections with their viewers. Most established live streamers are now known for their achievements worldwide. Some even made it to fame just because of their ability to connect with their audiences and the people around them. Tyler Blevins (a.k.a. Ninja), for instance, is a professional gamer who has over 16.9 million followers on Twitch. He was nominated as Favorite Gamer during the Kid’s Choice Awards in 2020 and as Favorite Male Social Star in the same show in 2021. He also donated some of his earnings to charities, such as the Alzheimer’s Association.

4. Live streaming is simpler and more spontaneous

Unlike a published video, creating video content for live streaming is much simpler. The raw nature of live streaming requires relatively low production costs. Though some live streamers may shoot in a studio or hire a professional team, others simply broadcast their content straight from their bedrooms using their smartphones.

Sure, you can use a good camera, lighting, and a well-written script during the live stream; however, once you go live, everything needs to be spontaneous. Imagine your dog suddenly jumps on your lap while you are live streaming. Or that BBC newscaster who was suddenly interrupted when his kids crashed his room while he was broadcasting live on national television. While that may have been the death of the newscaster’s career, it was comedy gold for the audience. The video went viral and even reached over 45 million views.

These are some of the few spontaneous moments that can only be captured during a live stream. Needless to say, live streaming has its charms and a unique entertainment value that could only be achieved through candid moments of brilliance.

How can I start live streaming?

Depending on your content, live streaming can be done simply with a user account and a smartphone. If you are going for general and spontaneous events, a mobile phone should do the trick. If you are planning to be a game streamer, you’ll need a gaming rig for you to stream your games. The good news is live streaming mobile games is no longer impossible with the right app mix.

A typical live streaming setup

For those who have more budget to spare, consider getting a good microphone, lighting solution, and, most importantly, quality video cameras to capture your content. You are your own director, and you decide how you’d like your live stream output to look.

Tips to make your live stream more successful and noticed.

Though live streaming is spontaneous, there are several factors that can help make your broadcast a success. Here are some of our tips:

Promote your big and unforgettable moments

Letting your audience know on social media when you will be live before the actual broadcast is one of the ways to help you establish your viewership. For instance, using the ViuLive platform, your live stream is automatically saved as a VOD. This makes it easy for you to share the content on your social media accounts and promote your big and unforgettable moments.

Make it special

Instead of the usual and mundane content, broadcast special events that only happen rarely. This will generate a “why now” hook that will attract attention and create a sense of urgency. Contents such as seasonal specials, an interview with a well-known personality, product launches, and so on are effective in capturing your audience’s interest as they do not happen every day.

Establish your teams

With the ViuLive platform, it is no longer necessary for you to stream solo. Group live streaming has always been a dream for most people because it allows 2 or more users to broadcast simultaneously and interact with each other in real-time. Sharing and broadcasting as a group combine the viewership of content creators, granting them more exposure. Aside from helping yourself to grow, you are helping others too!

Whether it is gaming with a team, interviewing someone you admire, or making a collaborative production, group live streaming is a great way to promote your content and provide a multi-faceted approach to your viewers.

Keep the topic and context clear

When you have identified your niche, it becomes easier for you to create the kind of content that you want to promote in your live stream events. If you are planning to broadcast in the gaming category, keep it to gaming. If you want to focus on music, create more content that will showcase your musical abilities, like hosting a live concert. Of course, you may change your mind down the line. However, doing so might confuse your new viewers.

It is important that your audience know what to expect from your platform, so make sure to produce content related to your target niche. Branding your stream would also attract your target audience by simply including a watermark or an overlay about your topic in the broadcast. You can read more regarding stream overlay here.

live streamer with his custom stream overlay

Engage with your audience

Always remember that your main goal for live streaming is to connect with your viewers. Engage with them and make them know that they are part of the show. Interact with them in real-time. Answer their questions, respond to their likes, and chat with them. Of course, we understand you do have your content to focus on. However, that is not a reason to neglect your audience who are investing time in your live stream.

What’s next?

Live streaming is indeed revolutionizing the way video content is produced and consumed. We hope this article helps you know how to exactly ride on the live streaming train.

Below are the four main reasons why you should consider incorporating live streaming into your content strategy:

  1. Instant feedback is possible through live streaming.
  2. Live streaming is effective in capturing viewers’ attention.
  3. By utilizing live streaming, you can build stronger connections with your audience and grow your following.
  4. Compared to other forms of content creation, live streaming is simpler and more spontaneous.

If you’re ready to start live streaming, the following tips will be helpful:

  • Make it special.
  • Establish your teams.
  • Keep the topic and context clear.
  • Engage with your audience.

On top of all of our suggestions, don’t forget to have fun!

The golden age of live streaming is indeed today and now. Whether we embrace it or not, it is one of the best ways to promote content and share information online.

Are you ready to go live? If so, tell us in the comments section below!