Automation, AI, and 3D printing: these are just some of the technological breakthroughs of 2017. Live Streaming is one that continues to make strides in 2017 as well. Faster broadband speeds, improved audio plus video quality, and improved mobile technology have enriched the capturing of memorable moments. It has also introduced a world of instant entertainment that has taken off, surpassing any capacity limitations a physical location may have. Off the cuff “human” moments can be especially entertaining, making your brand more accessible and relatable to your audience.

Source: Wikimedia

Live video is swiftly becoming a core element of social media marketing strategies as more and more people are watching and sharing videos. It is believed that 68% of users are already sharing videos on their smartphones. Top brands and well-known personalities have already recognized that live video is the perfect medium for instant interaction and a strong connection with the public without them being physically present.

Source: Flickr

We have identified two popular apps that are platform-specific and two that are platform-independent. What is common to all is that competition is fierce and apps are constantly improving.
Twitter–owned Periscope was one of the first and is responsive to public demands, for example, the ability to backup broadcasts and not have videos disappear into cyber-oblivion 24 hours later. Users can simply drop the #save into the title of their stream, which also captures the comments and hearts left by viewers.

Source: Wikimedia

Periscope interfaces with Twitter very well, but to be effective it will need to have a large following. It scores high on ease of use and has precise location sharing, which allows you to be seen on the app’s interactive map and then found by users. Plenty of options are available and it’s quite easy to comment and ask questions.
Facebook Live is also very popular and, conveniently, if you have the Facebook mobile app you have Facebook Live. You can see the number of live viewers as well as read incoming comments. Once finished, it can be uploaded immediately to your timeline. The video can even be saved, which makes it easy to share your video like any other Facebook post. It is ranked easier to use than Periscope, but as it is confined to Facebook, it has a more limited audience. However, differences and competition are always good for improvements: Facebook is sending signals to other competitors that it will aggressively match whatever features are being developed by others.

Source: Vimeo

This limited audience issue can be addressed by apps that are usable on multiple platforms. Streamago, for example, is ideal for this. You can stream your studio session or live performance and instantly get your fans’ feedback. Streamago has over 2,000,000 registered users with 200,000 daily active users and has partnered with Facebook, but the user can choose to advertise it in other social networks.

Source: Wikimedia

In addition, fans that were not online at the time to see the show can record the broadcast. It can be later saved and then a link can be shared on Twitter and Facebook, or you can embed it on your blog. Another cross-platform live streaming app is Hang w/. This established app allows you to broadcast live video on up to five different platforms and streams can be saved and archived on your smartphone. Other features include the ability to share streams privately or publicly and upload them directly to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or your website. There is also a monetization option for users through ad revenue, digital tipping, and digital tickets. With this popular live streaming tech development, brand managers and app developers are successfully harnessing the power of FOMO (fear of missing out).

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