Virtual Event Statistics

Virtual events have had a huge success during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and they’re not going anywhere. Big and small businesses are turning to virtual events to attract their audience, promote their products, share news, and build brand awareness. Organizing a brilliant virtual event is one thing, but ensuring it gets the desired attention is a whole other thing. That’s why you need to learn how to write an outstanding virtual event press release.

A virtual event press release is supposed to ensure that the public and the media know about the event you’re about to throw. If you write it like a professional, you’ll be able to reach your target audience, get media coverage, and achieve the ROI you’re hoping for.

If you’re not sure how to write an exceptional virtual event press release, here’s a guide with all the steps you need to take.

Strong Title 

You want your press release to be attention-grabbing and instantly awaken interest in the reader. Journalists and media representatives don’t have the time to read every single email or message they receive. They’ll only read something truly interesting.

This is why your virtual event press release title needs to be:

• unique
• informative (telling what the press release is about)
• fun/entertaining

You want to hit all the right buttons with that single line of text and ensure everyone wishes to read more and find out the details. Here’s a couple of examples:

• The Seven Cellos Perform Live at D-Music’s Virtual Orchestra Summit
• Belgrade Dance Festival: Choreographer Mary Bryant Talks Ballet, Art, & Love
• SEO Conference: Guest Speaker Marketing Expert Jonah White 

It shouldn’t take the readers more than one look at your virtual event press release title to decide whether they’ll keep reading or not.

Event Summary

The next paragraph of your press release should serve as the lead to continue on a high note. It’s supposed to:

• summarize what the announcement is about
• briefly describe the main idea of this virtual event 

The lead paragraph should give a quick overview of the press release and motivate the readers to keep reading.

Detailed Description

Now that you’ve got their full attention and they’ve decided they want to learn more about your virtual event, you need to provide all the essential information. The best way to do it is to answer the following questions:

• Who’s hosting the event? Who’s the main guest/speaker/performer?
• When will the virtual event take place? 
• What can the media representatives and guests expect from the event?
• Where will it be hosted? Which virtual event platform will you use to stream the event?
• How can people attend? Should they buy tickets, or is it free? Is there a limited number of participants?

This paragraph is supposed to answer all the questions the readers might have on their minds. Providing the key information is crucial for the success of your press release and, consequently, your event success. 

Write Naturally

The tone and language of your press release will influence how the readers perceive it and whether they read the whole thing or not. Here’s what you should avoid at all costs:

• exaggerations
• overpraising
• promising unimaginable fun and a good time
• using a bunch of empty adjectives

Using this type of sugar-coating and poetic language will make your press release weak. Media representatives don’t need you to make it sound like an invitation to an amusement park. Instead, they like:

• facts
• data and figures
• meaningful information

So, write your press release naturally, using everyday language and setting a professional tone. If you lack experience and this is challenging for you, an affordable academic writing site can help you produce high-quality written content. Use it to write your press release like a professional and ensure it gets the attention it needs.

Include a Quote

To add another interesting layer to your press release, include a quote from a credible person that has something noteworthy to say. It could be anyone associated with the event:

• the quest speaker announcing what they’ll talk about
• your company’s CEO
• the main event organizer

The quote should focus on the event’s value and give a personal or professional opinion of why people should attend. Statistics show that 80% of people join virtual events for educational purposes, so you could focus on this aspect. It could also look back at similar previous event success. 

Use Visuals

Writing a virtual event press release is not just about the written content you’ll be using. It’s also about the visual elements you’ll add to make it stand out and catch people’s attention.

This is why you should make your press release visually appealing:

• add an image showing your virtual venue, main guest, or your event team
• use brand colors, fonts, and company logo
• add some textual information to the images

For instance, you’re organizing a virtual product launch, and you’ve included an exclusive photo of your new product. Add some context to the image using on-image text such as “Product Launch in April” or “XY Launches in April.”

Visuals send a clear, instant message and help you make your press release more appealing, which will help your events be more successful. Use them to make a better first impression.

Include Links & CTAs

The final touch of your virtual event press release should be a strong CTA along with a link to applying to the event. You want to make sure that the readers find it easy to follow the link and:

• buy tickets
• book their virtual seats
• get more information about the organizers, guests, or event schedule

Include a CTA such as:

• Book your seats now!
• Get tickets!
• Learn more!

This will make your virtual event press release more practical and inviting, which is exactly what you want to achieve. 

Finish With a Boilerplate

A virtual event press release should end with a boilerplate. It’s the paragraph found at the bottom of the page that briefly describes your organization. It contains information such as:

• your company/organization name
• your vision or mission
• what you do for your customers or members
• contact information

This will let the media know who’s sending this press release, and who they can contact for further information.

Final Thoughts

To write an outstanding virtual event press release, you have to incorporate all the right elements and set a friendly, inviting tone. You also have to make sure all the right information is easy to find and understand.

The 8 tips we’ve listed above will help you write exceptional virtual event press releases and get the attention and attendance you want.

The post The Utmost Guide to Write an Outstanding Virtual Event Press Release appeared first on True Film Production.

Virtual events aren’t just the biggest trend for remote meetings and internal company activities. In 2020, virtual events have become the paramount tool for marketing your business, engaging your customers, and making money. Whether you’re a nonprofit trying to adjust your annual fundraising gala, a cookie company looking to encourage more customers to buy your cookies online, or a consulting business looking for new ways to interact with clients, leveraging virtual events can provide exciting advancements and unique opportunities that meet your business’s marketing objectives, in even the most uncertain times. 

In this article, we’ll go through the benefits of hosting corporate-hosted virtual events as well as some creative examples that you’ll want to try out for yourself.  

Why host a virtual event for my business? 

There are a ton of benefits of hosting an online event—so much so that digitalization might become the preferred method of event marketing moving forward for most businesses. We encourage our clients not to think of virtual events as a quick one-off presentation but instead as an opportunity to add value, drive engagement, and create long-lasting memories for your audience. 

This isn’t about just trying to survive during COVID-19. Virtual events can be a serious money-making machine if you handle them the right way. With the right strategy and approach, you’ll never want to go back to what you were doing before. 

Also, if you haven’t read The Ultimate Guide to Transitioning to Virtual Events With the New Norm of Digitalization, we highly recommend checking that out. It’s a great introduction to the benefits of virtual events, types of events to consider, a few examples, and most importantly the logistics of hosting a virtual event. 

Let’s get to it. What are some unique virtual event ideas you might want to consider for your digital strategy? 

1. Gala and fundraisers 

We have a lot of nonprofit clients, so we wanted to start by addressing your main concern: how are you going to host your biggest fundraiser of the year, if you can’t provide the same sort of in-person experience of years passed? Whether you host a formal gala, a golf outing, a 5K, or bowl-a-thon, chances are you haven’t considered a virtual event before (unless you’re ahead of the game). You’re probably wondering how—and if—you can garner the donations you need to keep your organization running if you can’t offer that experience your donors look forward to every year. Virtual events can be just as good, if not better in some cases, to engage your sponsors and contributors. 

You can provide a new, incredible experience virtually for your donors. 

Some cool ways to involve your donors in a virtual gala:

• Peer to peer fundraising campaigns 
• Virtual silent auctions or raffles
• Incorporate sponsors with logos, links, etc. 
• Live stream your keynote speakers
• Include pre-recorded videos about your organization and all the incredible work it’s doing 
• Host “breakout sessions” that allow guests at the same “table” to network with one another 
• Highlight the funds you’re raising in real time
• Incorporate social media with giveaways, scavenger hunts for tagged photos/posts
• Try different fundraisers like virtual 5ks, readathons, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer fundraising, online auctions, virtual tours, and even virtual movie nights (pretty much anything can be moved to the digital sphere if you have the right technology and team to help you)

Check out this example of Habitat for Humanity’s Beyond The Build 2020 Virtual Fundraiser. We like that they open the “room: with pictures from builds and previous events before getting into both live and pre-recorded fundraising opportunities. Don’t forget to thank your sponsors prominently!

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2. Award shows 

The 2020 Emmys and BET Awards looked a little different in quarantine, but these prominent performances brought attention to the ability to host a virtual award show effectively. A lot of people think that the virtual avenue is going to be the future of award shows, and not just for celebrities. In fact, a lot of companies have decided to create internal award shows to celebrate and recognize their employees and clients. 

That’s because an award—even a virtual one—is a great way to keep people safe while still offering the acknowledgment and praise that individuals are craving, especially during these isolating times. 

We were privileged to work on one of the best (and first) virtual award shows The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media and digital. This awards show was a natural progression to the virtual sphere since the recognized content exists in the digital world itself. 

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Some aspects that were especially successful with The Shorty Awards:

• Pre-recorded video in conjunction with live (remote) hosting and performances
• Professional in-laid graphics, especially branded and sponsorship graphics 
• Clips from social media influencers
• Pre-delivered awards to winners (so they can still physically hold the award during the ceremony)

One of the most successful aspects of the virtual award show was that viewers got to see their favorite content creators in their “natural habitat” with their partners, pets, regular clothes, etc. Virtual streaming has become one of the most effective ways for businesses to enhance a greater level of transparency, so optimize on that. 

Important: If you haven’t seen our two-part Ultra-Ultimate Guide to Live Streaming Events, check them out here: Guide Part 1 and Guide Part 2. These will get you started on learning the must-haves for live streaming remote or in-person events online. 

3. Networking events 

Networking events bring people together, with your company at the center of it all. This could be anything from a virtual summit to a trade show to just a simple meetup amongst people with common interests. Not all virtual events have to be about selling. People are one of the greatest commodities, and encouraging discussions and networking within your industry is an incredible way to get attention as a thought leader in your sector.  

How to host a successful networking event virtually: 

• Have small breakout sessions so participants can get more individualized conversations 
• Create a live chat between participants
• Use a host or speaker to facilitate networking discussions
• Conduct live polls and voting (live feedback from customers)
• Start with a prerecorded video about your brand
• Include live presentations and speakers

A cool example was the #Celebrate Online. This brought together professionals from different companies to discuss sales tactics and techniques. It included keynote speakers, virtual booths (with company representative breakout sessions), live networking sessions, product sneak peaks, a virtual expo area, and small group interactions with friends and colleagues. They’re hosting another soon, if you want to experience it for yourself! 

Check out these basics on how to shift to virtual events during a coronavirus outbreak to learn the why and how of incorporating virtual events into your marketing strategy.

4. School and program graduations

Is someone graduating from your school or intern program? Or are you hosting another type of ceremony? Not all virtual events have to be done online. If you have an in-person event occurring, live streaming the ceremony is an incredible way to minimize the attendance in-person while still allowing everyone to stay involved with the exciting day. 

This example from Seton Hall Prep Commencement Live used an outdoor multi-cam and drone feed to broadcast the ceremony live for family members and friends at home who couldn’t attend. This was an incredible blend of in-person and virtual event strategies to create an inclusive event without risking safety. 

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Hosting an in-person event and then live streaming it at the same time is often too complicated for schools or companies to run on their own. That’s why they’ll call True Film Production in. We handle the live broadcasting, the equipment setup, and the graphics, so you can focus on what matters most: the awardees. Let us do the work of going virtual, so you know you’re getting the best and most professional results. 

5. Concerts

This may not work for every company but for those with a creative flair, a virtual concert is a beautiful way to share your art with the world while gaining sponsors, customers, and interest. For new and upcoming performers as well as establish symphonies alike, virtual concerts are a great way to get more attendees than ever before. You’re not limited by a venue or location; you can have people viewing your live virtual concert from around the world. For artists, this is an incredible opportunity to get a wider audience for your talents and gain the attention you’ve been searching for.

Check out this incredible 100th-anniversary virtual concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Paired with live hosting, these individuals are playing their instruments remotely, and yet they are still able to create a fantastic and awe-inspiring melody. 

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And it’s not just for music! Artists of all kinds—studio, literary, and more—are using this format to share their talents with the world. Virtual events are enabling the arts to explode and flourish with wider audiences and more accessible formats for engagement. 

6. Lifestyle sessions

This is possibly one of the easiest and most effective virtual events that can engage your current clients while generating new customers. Host a live “lifestyle” session virtually. If you sell yoga gear, host a live yoga session (Zoom has become the new yoga studio). If you sell gag gifts, have a comedian come on for a set—and you can even have them riffing with a live audience. Makeup classes have gone virtual to minimize one-on-one contact with makeup artists. 

Whatever product or service you sell, there is also an associated lifestyle you’re looking to share with your customers, and that lifestyle is a great opportunity for virtual engagement. 

Some ideas to incorporate into your lifestyle sessions:

• Registration (to collect participant information)
• Live Q&A or polls 
• Digital games
• Giveaways
• Send samples to participants ahead of time so they can follow along (like a sample size of the products your beauty influencer will be showing)
• Influencers in your industry

Keep in mind that these can be short and sweet. They don’t even have to be more than an hour. The focus should instead be on the quality of the video, the ability to share your brand’s message, and the engagement aspects that come along with hosting a virtual event. 

7. Online workshops

Similar to lifestyle sessions, online workshops are useful for both customers and employees alike. You can teach your clients a new skill—like how to better apply your cosmetics products to their face—or you can have employees complete a compliance certification—like how to make a sales call over Zoom. The goal is to add value first and foremost, and this level of engagement can drive interaction and  sales. 

Some tips for hosting a virtual workshop:

• Offer a live Q&A between participants and teacher
• Allow for one-on-one conversations and interactions with trainer as well as between attendees
• Have a presentation deck available for download as well as live remote instruction
• Include a platform for instructional videos, practice tests, exercises, and games
• Incorporate in-laid graphics like pie charts, voting, polling, and more
• Offer virtual ice breakers so the team can get to know one another

This Seller Financing Workshop full day is a great example of this. They have a live trainer and host, but they also have additional remote trainers, a live chat, embedded graphics (including audience questions), presentation slides and documents, and even a live countdown for breaks. 

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Want to learn how to better engage and work with your employees through virtual platforms? Check out: How to Make the Shift to Virtual Internal Communication

How to leverage virtual events for your business

There are three main things you need to incorporate in a virtual event:

1. Live streaming in tandem with prerecorded video 
2. Embedded graphics
3. Interactive features (between viewers and speakers)

Most companies can’t handle all three of these key features by themselves. Even if you can live stream, you may not have the capacity to incorporate professional prerecorded videos. Or you don’t have the tools to in-lay graphics during your live streaming. Or maybe you’re just not sure what kind of virtual event strategy you should be implementing for your business at all.

That’s where True Film Production steps in. We live and breathe virtual events. We’ve been doing virtual events long before COVID-19 hit, and we’ve got the expertise and experience to prove our success. We work with our clients to establish an effective events strategy that will keep everyone safe while engaging your customers. Whether you’re new to virtual events or a whiz in the digital sphere, True Film Production will take your video strategy to the next level. 

Stop canceling events or putting your business on hold. We’ll help you develop an online event strategy for 2020 that creates a meaningful and successful marketing campaign.  

Contact us. We focus on building long-term relationships focused on collaboration, creativity, and results through effective digital marketing campaigns. 

The post 7 Unique Virtual Events That Generate Customers and Engage Employees appeared first on True Film Production.

This is part II of our guide, it is going to give you everything you need to know about live streaming. Haven’t read part I? Click here to read 4 amazing tips to put to use on your next live stream.

Part II:

1. 8 ways to encourage engagement on a live stream
2. How to live stream on 6 key social channels
   YouTube
   Facebook
   Twitter
   LinkedIn
   Instagram
   Twitch
3. Our favorite live streaming solutions and software
4. Going live

8 ways to encourage engagement on a live stream

We get this question a lot, so we wanted to answer it proactively for you.

What are some ways I can encourage more interaction and engagement with my event participants?

Engagement is one of the greatest benefits of a live stream. You can have live interaction with viewers all over the country and the globe.

1- Live Q&A

One of the most effective forms of live stream engagement is a live question and answer on the platform. You can encourage viewers to ask questions, which the speaker can then answer in real-time at the end of their presentation (or during, if it’s specifically a Q&A panel). This is a strong way to encourage a more human-based connection for virtual events, and/or it allows you to incorporate online viewers in in-person events.

2- Live polls

Ask your viewers for their thoughts and opinions. Participants love to have a voice in your event, especially virtual events. You could ask them what their favorite feature is on a new product you just launched, or you could encourage them to weigh in about what they’d like to hear next in the lineup of speakers. This not only engages your participants deeper in the live stream, but it can also be a good tool for market research to better understand your audience.

3- Chat box

A chat box is our favorite method of engagement. This lets viewers interact with one another and your brand in real-time, as the event is happening. This allows participants to stay actively involved, so engagement is always at its peak. This is also the best method of networking for virtual events. Some apps will let you save the chat for later use for market research or to show on video replays. We recommend having a moderator (or a few) to respond to certain chats or relay messages or questions to the live speakers, if applicable.

4- Interactive slides

If a presenter is using slides to supplement their talk, it’s a good idea to offer those slides on the live stream platform or as downloadables. This gives your participants the option to follow along, learn more, or click through at their own pace. This is the best way to keep their attention virtually while allowing them to dive deeper into the discussion.

5- Downloadables

Offer additional information and value through a written format. Augmenting your live stream visual and audio with written information is a great way to boost the efficacy of the discussion and provide even more value to participants. This gives participants something to “go home” with, which will elongate their engagement with the event long after it’s over.

Some ideas of useful downloadables:

• Summary of speaker’s anticipated subject matter on live stream
• Checklist or template for users to implement the info at home
• Sample script
• Interactive slides
• Written guide
• Product catalogue
• 3D renderings of products
• Pamphlets about brand or topic

6- External links

Don’t be afraid to send your event participants to other places on the web (that are related to your event or brand). You can link out to speaker websites so they can learn more about the presenters, product pages as you’re talking about those products, and landing pages that push a specific call to action (like registering for your next event, requesting a consultation, or buying a product). You can also embed links to your social media, so viewers can follow along with other parts of your event as well.

7- CTAs

If you want your participants to take action, you need to present them with actions to take. In an event, this kind of action can be any number of things. If you’re hosting a virtual event, the CTA (call to action) might be to send them to another part of the event platform to discover new activities, events, and live streams going on. If you’re live streaming an in-person event, the CTA could be to send in a question for the live Q&A.

You want to pepper in a call to action as much as possible. You want to provide endless opportunities to engage deeper with your brand and event.

8- Moderator

One of the final pieces of the puzzle is a moderator who can keep tabs on all of the aspects of engagement. It’s their job to make sure the audience is heard, and any necessary questions/comments are brought to the speaker at hand. This keeps the speaker on track and the presentation flowing forward consistently.

Someone who knows the tech side and the event side should be the designated moderator. You want someone who can leverage the platform’s tools to interact with the audience in your specific brand tone.

How to live stream on 6 key social channels

YouTube

On YouTube, “Live” is considered its own channel. Different YouTube creators and channels can then post to the live channel in order to live stream and reach new audience members. A “Live” will also be available to subscribers on their YouTube homepage as it’s running.

Incredible YouTube statistics

• 2 billion logged-in monthly users (YouTube)
• World’s second-largest search engine (Search Engine Journal)
• Responsible for more than one-third of mobile internet traffic (Statista)
• One billion hours of YouTube content watched daily (YouTube)

Who is YouTube Live for?

With so many YouTube viewers, it’s an incredible platform for businesses, personal brands, and content creators to interact with their audience. It’s commonly used for consistent streamers, like live gamers, news, performances, and classes.

Brands can use live to connect with their established YouTube subscribers, but it’s also a unique way to reach a wider audience that’s browsing for relevant content.

YouTube Live is arguably the most versatile social platform for live streaming. It also offers the widest reach, both with current fans and new leads. There are also high levels of engagement with YouTube Live’s chat and comment features.

Benefits of YouTube Live

• No cost to live stream on YouTube
• Can stream privately to subscribers when “Unlisted”
• Offers live-chat with viewers
• YouTube Live can be embedded into other sites (like your website)
• Possibility for monetization
• Easy to “save” video to channel for future viewing

Disadvantages of YouTube Live

• Not all channels are monetized
• Little control over audience (anyone can link and comment)
• Lack of live streaming tools (unlike YouTube Creator Studio)
• Some video latency when streaming

Creating a YouTube Live

Unlike some other social platforms, YouTube Live viewers often want a higher level of production quality. They expect that the creator will show their face, share their screen, attach pre-recorded videos and images, stream with multiple cameras (with great lighting and audio quality), add music, use picture-in-picture windows, and more. Unlike Facebook or Instagram where you can sometimes get away with live streaming from your phone, YouTube Live’s audience wants prerecorded video quality and value with the benefits of a live stream.

That’s one of the reasons that we love YouTube Live for in-person events. You already have good videography equipment at the venue for your prerecorded videos, so you can add a few more cameras for high-definition live streaming purposes.

Facebook Live

Facebook Live is the “OG” of live streaming on social channels. Facebook is already where people go to connect with loved ones and with businesses, so it only makes sense that live video interaction followed suit. Individuals are using Facebook Live to share updates about their lives (like engagements and baby showers), while businesses are using them to create authentic and genuine connections with real people. Since it’s so easy to use and the barrier to entry is so low, Facebook Live is a recommended platform for any business with a strong and engaged Facebook following.

Important Facebook Live statistics

• 93.7% of businesses use Facebook, so it’s a strong B2B platform (State of Social)
• People watch a Facebook Live video 3x more than average, non-live video (Facebook)
• Facebook Live videos receive 5x more engagement than photo posts (AdWeek)
• Facebook Live had 3.5 billion broadcasts with 2 billion viewers in its first 2 years (Fidji Simo)

Who is Facebook Live for?

Facebook Live is for pretty much anyone, which can be a blessing and a curse. With billions of users and thousands of businesses, Facebook is an incredible avenue to connect with customers, partners, and B2B contacts. Facebook Live, in particular, allows for a deeper level of engagement from which brands are heavily benefiting.

Facebook Live caters to the Facebook crowd, though. If your audience isn’t already engaged on Facebook, they’re unlikely to start using the platform just to watch your Live (unlike YouTube or Twitch, for example).

You’ll want to have an understanding of where your audience is already spending time and engaging with your brand, so you can align your live streams accordingly.

Benefits of Facebook Live

• No cost, available to all viewers and businesses (with an account)
• Private stream available (for groups)
• Live chat and interaction buttons
• Allows previewing
• Advanced analytics and metrics
• Ability to add a description
• Can tag friends, choose location, or add an activity
• Easy to add filters, icons, and graphics
• Simple and easy interaction

Disadvantages of Facebook Live

• Private feeds only available through Groups function (each member needs to have FB account and be individually added to group)
• Wide sphere of competition (so sometimes challenging to stand out)
• Frequent technical issues
• Facebook censorship (they have had concerns in the past, so they’re cracking down on Live videos)
• Won’t connect with every audience (do market research first)

Creating a Facebook Live

Facebook Live is a great platform for beginners and advanced streamers alike. Whether you’re a sole coach or a huge brand, and whether you’re holding your cell phone or using a large camera setup for your event, you can make Facebook work to your advantage.

What do you need to remember to make sure your Facebook Live shows the engagement and results you want?

• First test the video stream on the “Only me” privacy setting. Always test first!
• Create a compelling subtitle for your broadcast in the comments section.
• Reintroduce yourself, your brand, and your purpose a few times. People will log in and out at different times.
• Encourage viewers to like and share the video while you’re live.
• Have a moderator (if not the speaker him/herself) who can engage with commenters. Mention a few by name to say hi, thank them, or answer a question.
• Broadcast for at least 10 minutes. The most effective Facebook Lives go on for about 15-20 minutes (BuzzSumo), so you can get enough people in the room and keep engagement up.
• Don’t be afraid to try out different lenses, graphics, or drawings in your video.
• Tag friends. Add a location. Include an activity. Make it more interactive and engaging.
• Say goodbye with an action-driven sign-off that tells viewers how to further engage with your brand.
• Keep promoting your Facebook Live after it’s over.

Twitter/Periscope

Periscope is a live streaming app that’s owned by Twitter. You can go live on Periscope and then notify your Twitter followers that you’re live. While all live streaming can be “whatever you want it to be,” Periscope has an interesting reputation for its unique content, from individuals live streaming their daily lives to brands offering super special behind the scenes content. If you’re looking for a novel way to connect with your audience, Periscope could be an interesting live streaming solution to try out.

Who is Periscope for?

The majority of Periscope users are individuals streaming from their phones or tablets. It’s not as popular for larger brands, unless they have a highly engaged following on Twitter. However, people who use Twitter consistently are very consistent about it, and they’re often religious Twitter/Periscope fans. So for those businesses or individuals who have a strong Twitter following, Periscope is an absolute must. It’s an effective way to take the personal and interactive aspect of Twitter to a deeper level that followers appreciate and love.

85% of small and medium sized businesses (that use Twitter regularly) leverage it for customer service (Twitter). That means Twitter and Periscope are also effective tools for building rapport and offering more personalized customer service options for consumers.

Benefits of Periscope

• No cost and easily available
• User- and streamer-friendly
• Real time interaction with “hearts”
• Interactive map feature
• Private stream available through Periscope
• Allows previewing

Disadvantages of Periscope

• Can only stream privately (to Periscope members and account followers)
• Users must have Periscope account
• Only shares to Twitter, not other social accounts (unless you use IFTTT)
• Frequent glitch issues
• Content only available for limited time (unless you change settings and download)

Creating a Periscope (Twitter Live)

93% of Twitter’s video views happen on a mobile device. That means you want to really emphasize the mobile, on-the-go experience as much as possible. Shoot vertically. Show some faces. And encourage lots and lots of one-on-one communication.

You also want to heavily optimize for the “Twitter” aspect of Periscope’s live streaming. Since you can’t add external links, you’ll want to use your bio to link out to websites that you’ll be referencing in your live stream. You’ll also want to craft a tweet with your 140 characters that will introduce and describe your Periscope Live. This takes a little extra finesse–but regular Tweeters are used to it.

Some other pro tips for using Periscope:

• Your thumbnail will be the opening shot of your live stream. So make sure the very first shot is going to give a good idea of the stream. It could be your website homepage, a note, a graphic, your face, or your event’s logo.
• Start with context as to what’s going on. It takes time to get the notification and launch the Periscope, so don’t jump right into the good stuff. Take your time.
• Encourage sharing and interaction. It’s easy for viewers to share the feed, and Twitter users aren’t afraid to send off a quick Tweet to their followers. In fact, Twitter has one of the highest share rates, so definitely optimize on it and ask for shares.
• Take a screenshot of your stats right after the broadcast. Twitter doesn’t keep stats indefinitely.
• Periscope only keeps your live stream for 24 hours. Make sure you share and re-share frequently during that time, and tell people when it will expire to give them a greater sense of urgency.

LinkedIn Live

LinkedIn Live is one of the newest live streaming options in social media, but it’s picked up steam quickly. It’s a useful tool to optimize on the engagement and interaction of live streaming with the top-notch professionalism of pre-recorded video. You can leverage LinkedIn Live to interact with employees, businesses, and customers with the branded quality and authenticity that people expect from your business.

Statistics about LinkedIn Live

• LinkedIn has 675 million monthly users (LinkedIn)
• 5th most popular social media platform, with 27% of Americans using LinkedIn (Pew Research)
• Brands report 7x more reactions and 24x more comments with live video vs standard video on LinkedIn (LinkedIn)
• LinkedIn users are 20x more likely to share a video than any other type of post (Marketing Land)

Who is LinkedIn Live for?

There are 30 million companies on LinkedIn (Hootsuite). It is the number one spot for professionals to connect. It’s not for friends chatting about life or sharing their vacation pictures. LinkedIn is for networking within the business world. An extension of that, LinkedIn Live video is made for connecting with other businesses and professionals.

This doesn’t mean it has to be only for building B2B relationships. It’s a great place to find educated customers who are looking to learn more and stay informed in certain industries.

Our favorite use of LinkedIn Live is actually to connect with employees and stakeholders. (Even if customers tune in, they’ll like knowing what’s going on with the inner workings of your business.) According to LinkedIn, bout 30% of a company’s engagement is through LinkedIn, and employees are 14x more likely to share content from employers than other types of content on LinkedIn.

If you’re looking to increase internal engagement and build connections within your organization, LinkedIn Live is an incredible solution.

Benefits of LinkedIn Live

• Highly targeted audience (business/professional)
• Can be accessed on newsfeed or LinkedIn Pages
• Professional and high quality feed
• Low live stream competition
• Very high engagement from viewers

Disadvantages of Facebook Live

• Must apply for access
• All streams are public (no private streams)
• No preview option
• Must use third-party to stream (Restream, Wirecast, Easylive, etc.)
• Strict guidelines (like no more than one live per day, no prerecorded content, and no overt selling)

Creating a LinkedIn Live

If you’re interested in using LinkedIn Live, you must first complete an application and get approved. Unlike other social platforms, this means there’s a lot less competition in the live streaming sphere–but it also means there’s a higher barrier to entry.

Next, you’ll need to select a streaming tool. LinkedIn itself doesn’t have streaming options, so you’ll need to work with a third party streaming tool that fits your needs and experience level best. You’ll link that platform through LinkedIn’s Resource Hub, and then you’re ready to go live.

Once you’re live, the same rules apply as above. Keep it longer than 10 minutes and focus on engaging, visually stimulating content. Unlike other platforms, though, you can’t get away with just chatting into the camera on your phone. The live stream requires high quality camera and audio with a lot of forethought and planning. We often reccomend planning your LinkedIn Live almost as though you were creating a prerecorded video, so you know how your brand will be revealed and the story of your presentation will be shaped.

Check out these LinkedIn Live best practices straight from LinkedIn Marketing Solutions.

Instagram Live

Instagram Live is one of the most popular live streaming platforms for individuals and businesses. It’s become one of the simplest and most sought-out spots for consumers to interact with their favorite influencers and brands on a more intimate and connected level. Instagram is one of the most powerful marketing tools that you can use to expand visibility and reach, and live streaming is one of the best ways to deepen relationships and engagement.

Instagram TV is also a new development that has been taking off. We won’t really discuss it here, as it’s for long-form prerecorded video (not live streaming). Still, it’s definitely worth looking into for your video strategy. Check out the only IGTV article you’ll ever need.

Awesome Instagram statistics

• Instagram has over 1 billion monthly users (Statista)
• 71% of U.S. businesses use Instagram (Mention)
• 500 million IG accounts use Stories and Live every day, and ⅓ of most viewed Stories are from businesses (Instagram)
• IG helps 80% of users decide whether to buy a product/service (Facebook for Business)

Who is Instagram Live for?

Instagram Live is for any business or influencer who has an engaged following on Instagram. It works especially well for Q&A sessions, product launches/reveals, contests and giveaways, and special guests. Instagram Live tends to be a little less “formal” than other live streaming platforms, so it’s usually best to have a few friendly faces representing your brand.

If you partner with any influencers or have an influencer marketing strategy, Instagram Live will likely be your best asset to work with those influencers to connect with your audience and promote your products.

It’s also important to note that 71% of Instagram’s billion users are under the age of 35 (Statista). If you have a younger audience, Instagram Live is a strong live streaming option.

Benefits of Instagram Live

• Popular live streaming platform
• Save replay of video to Instagram Stories for 24 hours (can save stories to page as well)
• Engage with likes/comments in real time
• Pin selected follower comments at top of video
• Instagram filters and graphics
• Free and low barrier to entry
• Ability to go live with multiple streamers

Disadvantages of Instagram Live

• Not great bandwidth (sometimes low quality)
• Lots of competition with other brands and individuals
• Can’t download for future use
• Can’t be private unless you have a private account

Creating an Instagram Live

Going live on Instagram is pretty straightforward. You can click a button and you’re live, whether it’s on your phone or connected to high-def cameras and audio. You should have a moderator to interact with followers and drive engagement during the stream, and you’ll want to ensure the stream is interesting and fun.

What we think is really unique about Instagram Live is how involved followers get. They tune in to their favorite influencers and brands, and they will be actively engaged with comments and likes, during and after the event. You can even invite specific friends or businesses to join the live stream, so you can encourage high end engagement.

To really optimize on your Instagram Live, you want to have someone on your team ready to track viewer metrics and continue interactions with followers in comments, DMs, and more. This can lengthen the life of your live stream for long-term brand success.

Other platforms

Remember that social media isn’t the only way. You can use a third party live streaming platform to live stream in private virtual events, on your website, or through just about any avenue you can dream up. Do your research to find out how your audience wants to interact with you, so you can create the sort of events that will best engage your viewers.

Psst… We like Twitch, too. It’s an awesome platform for gamers to live stream and interact. We like this beginners’ guide to streaming on Twitch if you want more information on getting started with this niche live streaming platform.

We list some of our other favorite live streaming platforms below.

Our favorite live streaming solutions and software

If you’re a beginner to live streaming, you can try just clicking “Live” on a social media platform to get the basics down. This can work well if you’re just looking for live streaming as a supplemental form of content on social media.

However, if you’re looking to see true results with your live streaming and build a credible name in quality content, you’ll want a professional solution to live streaming. We’ll give you some of our favorite live streaming software apps, so your business can have the best solutions to get started with top notch streaming.

The following solutions are best when you’re looking to create a custom or branded product with your live stream. For example, you’re running a virtual event on your branded site. You’re hosting a virtual conference, and then you can then incorporate one of these live streaming extensions on your site as part of the event for a live Q&A or a live keynote speaker.

1. Vimeo (Premium)

Vimeo is a leader in professional live streaming and video hosting. Their slogan, “Live streaming, without limits” truly delivers.

Some reasons we love using Vimeo Premium:

• Simultaneously stream events on social media and/or embedded on site, right from Vimeo
• HD quality, even with limited bandwidth
• Live streams automatically archived in 4K
• Customizable player
• Password protection and embed permissions for privacy of event
• Graphics additions
• Engagement tools: live Q&A, polls, audience chat, email capture, custom calls to action
• Advanced analytics
• Can connect own equipment (camera, graphics, audio mixers, etc.)

2. IBM Cloud Streaming

IBM is at the forefront of all things tech, and live streaming is no different. They stream over 2 million events monthly.

Some of the may benefits of IBM Cloud Streaming:

• Customizable, branded channel
• Live and on-demand video in one place
• Support for website and social network embedding
• Private video portal (with optional email verification)
• Watson-enabled machine learning
• 24/7 one-on-one support
• High-end analytics
• Automated speech to text (auto captioning)
• Live Q&A, polling, slide presentations, multiscreen video options

3. JW Player

JW Player has a lot of great benefits, but one of our favorite aspects is their quality playback on a variety of platforms. Whether your viewers are on your website, a mobile app, or smart TV, JW Player delivers a consistently professional experience.

• Player embeds in custom, private sit
• Used with custom RTMP
• Focus on ad revenue (Video Player Bidding)
• Engagement analytics
• Video gallery
• Advanced features, based on your individual needs
• Custom pricing

4. Brightcove Live (Enterprise)

Brightcove Live is a reliable platform that lets you live stream on any device, across multiple platforms. It’s a basic choice with lots of advanced options that make it a great option for virtual events.

• Customizable API
• Live ads support
• Monetization of live streams
• Buffer-free, pause-free, and glitch-free promise
• Social channel publication
• Live clipping for social (while stream is running)
• VOD playback
• Pause, play, rewind during stream

Going live

It’s time to go live! Are you ready?

We know there’s a lot that goes into hosting an engaging, interactive, successful live stream. Choosing what sort of activities and events to live stream, selecting your marketing channels, learning live streaming software, putting together the equipment, getting a team on board… it’s a lot to handle just for one live stream.

That’s why most businesses outsource their video production and live streaming. Don’t spend time, energy, and resources incorporating an entirely new arm of your marketing campaign.

Partnering with True Film Production allows you to brainstorm, create, and distribute stunning pre-recorded and live videos for your in-person and virtual events.

If you’re looking to increase your views, engagement, and return on video campaigns and live streaming, True Film Production is here to create your custom strategy. It’s what we live for, and it’s what we do best.

Request a quote now to get the ball rolling with your live streaming and video strategy. Reach out now, don’t wait. Since the world has moved more virtual since the quarantine, our lines have been ringing off the hook with businesses looking for a quality video that enhances their digital sphere. Get ahead of the game– now’s the time! We look forward to hearing from you to start brainstorming your next event.

The post The Ultra-Ultimate Guide To Live Streaming Events – Part II appeared first on True Film Production.

This guide is going to give you everything you need to know about live streaming. Whether you’re looking for basic tips on how to get started or you want more advanced training on the equipment to use for live streaming in-person or virtual events, this guide will give you the scoop on it all.

Why’d we create this guide for you?

Our primary area of expertise is event video production. In our years working on event videos, we’ve never seen event promotion flourish like it has since live streaming came on the scene. Our clients have seen massive success by leveraging live video strategies that create immersive events and engender meaningful interactions with consumers.

Still, live streaming alone won’t get you a higher ROI. If you really want to see success and differentiate yourself, the quality of your live streaming video production matters. Anyone can go live now. It’s about creating a live stream that looks and feels just as valuable as your other content.

When quality matters, you want to learn from and work with the people who know video production the best. That’s True Film Production. We’re experts in producing recorded and live videos that cut through the noise to generate views, engagement, and revenue.

We have a stake in your success. So that’s why we’re giving you our guide with everything we know about live streaming, from the equipment you need to the platforms to choose to the content you should record.

It’s time to go live.

What you’ll learn:

Part I

1. Why live stream your events?
2. Getting started with live stream video production
3. What you need for a successful live stream
4. 5 types of live streams that show massive success

Part II:

1. 8 ways to encourage engagement on a live stream
2. How to live stream on 6 key social channels
   YouTube
   Facebook
   Twitter
   LinkedIn
   Instagram
   Twitch
3. Our favorite live streaming solutions and software
4. Going live

Why live stream your events?

Live streaming is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have. Consumers expect that their favorite brands will “go live” to interact with them on a more personal and intimate level. Live streaming opens the lines of communication between brands and audiences in real-time, which creates an authentic dialogue that consumers love, appreciate, and value.

What are some of the advantages of using live streaming for your branded events?

1. Qualified interaction

The people who are watching your live video want to be there. They’ve made time in their day to watch your live stream. They’re not just browsing around and come upon your video and watch it for a few minutes. This means your live viewers have a high level of commitment and brand loyalty, which means you’re more likely to continue to engage and convert them moving forward.

2. Engagement

Live content not only increases engagement levels, it raises engagement in real time. The audience is interacting with the streamer right now, through virtual chats and digital networking. This allows businesses to provide live support, encourage Q&A sessions digitally, and even provide interactive tours or experiences.

3. Differentiation

Like anything, the first adopters are ahead of the game—and usually stay the leaders of the pack. While the prerecorded video is still a large part of visual content consumption, live stream is quickly growing—without yet being overpopulated. People are watching lives on a daily basis, but not all brands have hopped on board yet. Those brands that do—like you—will be ahead of the curve and able to differentiate before live stream becomes the new norm.

4. Cost-effective

Live streaming is one of the most inexpensive forms of video production. Even if you use high-quality equipment and strategy (which you should), you still don’t have the same sorts of costs as prerecorded video. There are a lot of free or low-cost platforms for streaming, and you can create high-quality videos with minimal additional cost.

5. Time-effective

You’re already hosting the event. Throwing it on a live stream doesn’t take much more time to set up and launch. In fact, you’re getting two birds for the price of one—an awesome event and digital content. This widens your reach during the event as well as offering content for promotion post-event.

6. Wide reach

A typical event is limited to a defined number of seats and attendees. Plus, attendees have a time and cost commitment with an event, or they may not be able to attend for other reasons. When you live stream an in-person event online or use live streaming for virtual events, though, you can invite as many digital attendees as you’d like. And they won’t have to worry about travel expenses or taking time off from their lives. There is no longer a location or size constraint (except the capacity of your servers). This allows for a much wider reach, which in turn creates a more connected network.

Live streaming is a powerful and resource-effective tool to connect to a large, engaged audience who is eager to learn from and interact with your brand.

Getting started with live stream video production

Live streaming is different than pre-recorded videos, so the strategy for execution is also a little different. Rather than having time to set up a storyline, curate the content, and polish the final product, live streaming video happens in real-time and of-the-moment. But that doesn’t mean you want to throw it to the wind and just hope for the best. Live streaming video requires ample preparation and pre-production to ensure the scene is set and the storytelling is on point when you go live.

What do you need to think about when you’re creating a live stream video strategy?

• Content strategy: What is your overall content strategy purpose? Where and how will live streaming fit in and add to the value of this strategy?
• Goals of live stream: What do you hope to achieve with the live stream? For example, do you want to reach a wider audience, engage customers from home, instill a sense of FOMO, etc.?
• Content: What will you live stream? Are you live streaming at in-person conferences? Are you live-streaming virtual events? Will you live stream behind-the-scenes or panel discussions, for example?
• Consistency: When and how often will you go live? Can you create a series of live streams during your event(s)?
• Audience: Who is your intended live stream audience? How are you going to target your prospects/customers with your live stream?
• Conversions: How will you promote action during and after the live stream? What will the call to action be?
• Interaction: A major goal of live streaming is real-time engagement between brands and customers. How will you enable and encourage interactions and conversations?
• Value: What sorts of value are you going to provide to your audience with live streams? How will you differentiate your content?
• Distribution: On what platforms will you live stream? How will you distribute your content during and after the stream? Where does your audience want to watch your live stream?

There’s a lot to think about. We’ll take you through some of the key decision factors in the rest of this guide, like distribution channels, technology solutions, and more.

The most important aspect to get started with live streaming is to understand how it fits into your current content strategy. Just like any marketing tool, you should go through your typical brainstorming and creative process to ensure your live streams align with and achieve your business goals.

Brainstorming your strategy is our very first step at True Film Production. No matter what kind of video content you’re looking for, we take the time to define what a valuable strategy will look like for your business, audience, and goals. That’s because we know getting the strategy right is the key to unlocking success with your event content. Learn about our unique video production process here.

What you need for a successful live stream

Preparation is key to ensuring your live stream goes off without a hitch (or at least as few “hitches” as possible). What do you need to prepare in advance for a high-quality live stream?

Internet connection

You can’t live stream if you don’t have a reliable internet connection to support the stream. You want at least 2x the upload speed as the bitrate at which you’ll stream.

For large-scale events where a lot of people might be in the room using the same network, you may want to stream using an Ethernet to a dedicated network. This reduces bandwidth fluctuation, so you know your stream will continue loading.

We typically recommend a minimum internet speed of 25 Mbps. For multiple cameras and larger productions, we recommend at least 50 Mbps. You also want open ports 1935, 80, and 443 to enable a flow of inbound and outbound traffic.

Cameras

The camera is the golden ticket that captures your event, so it’s critical you get the right high-quality camera for your event needs. We typically use an FS7 or c300 for live streaming most events, because it’s durable and flexible while streaming superior quality footage.

You may need multiple cameras to capture different scenes, shots, or experiences at one time. Even a presentation from a keynote speaker could benefit from multiple camera angles, so your live stream audience can see the speaker, the venue, the crowd, and the stage during the presentation.

Audio

You don’t want an awesome picture without great sound to back it up. It’s important to ensure your audio is crisp and aligned with the speakers (no lag time). There’s a lot to know when it comes to audio like mixer outputs, connection types, digital vs analog mixers, audio equalization (EQ), gain and loudness output, microphones, and more.

To make it easier for you, True Film offers different audio packages based on your needs. This includes audio packages with mixers for large and multi-camera events.

Lighting

We always start by taking a look at the venue to note the natural light sources. The sun can be the camera’s best friend—or worst foe, depending on the time of day. We’ll take a look at the scene to see how we can balance natural and manufactured light for each live stream event (noting place and time of day), so you can have the best quality stream.

Basic lighting includes a three-point light kit. This has a main light, fill light, and backlight that adds more depth and strength to the lighting. This works for interviews or contained streams, but it’s typically not enough for most large events. True Film brings in a full lighting package based on the venue’s team and location to ensure every shot is lit beautifully.

Power

Without enough power, your cameras and live stream could shut down. Large events use up more power, so you could end up with circuit failures. If the power blips for even a second, your live stream will cut off entirely. You’ll want to make sure there are different power circuits for lights, audio, encoders, cameras, and other tech to minimize power usage. You may also want a backup power source like an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in case one of the circuits shorts.

Encoder

An encoder is what allows the live feed to be viewed on the internet. You’ll likely need a strong encoder to ensure your video can make the jump from the camera to the web. Check out YouTube’s resource about encoders for more.

Switcher

A switcher helps you “switch” between multiple cameras during a live broadcast. This is important if you want to create an immersive, dynamic event that presents a grander experience to the online viewer. Check out different switchers/mixers to see the number of camera inputs and bandwidth they enable.

Crew

It’s the crew that really makes the show and stream happen. The size of your crew depends on your event and live streaming needs. For example, if you’re just live streaming an interview, you probably only need a producer and cameraman. For a panel of presenters, you’d likely need multiple camera operators, producers, production assistants, and technical directors. You’d need all that and also an audio engineer, grip, and runners for a larger conference.

Do you need a crew if you’re live streaming virtual events? Absolutely. It’s the same as an in-person event, just without the live audience. Even if you just have your presenters tuning in on their own webcams, you want at least a producer and technical director on hand for setup and to fix any technical difficulties as they arise.

Control space

It’s simple, but having enough room for your camera, crew, and equipment is a must. You don’t want people walking in front of your live stream frequently or bumping into your cameras. Work with the venue to coordinate a designated space for your live stream that will be undisturbed and house all the equipment you need.

Graphics package

Branding your live stream is just as important as branding your event. You want people to tune in and instantly know who’s hosting the live stream. To do this, we offer a graphics package that inputs your brand and other value-driven graphics right into the stream. This includes intros, lower thirds, outros, video files, Powerpoint slides/decks (especially for presentations), and other branding elements. Learn more about our graphics packages here.

Preparation

When it comes to live streaming events, you have to prepare for the worst. Preparing for everything is the key to expecting anything. You want to be aware of everything that could go wrong, so you can take steps to prevent it from happening.

You also should test everything before you go live. Test your cameras, audio, lighting, internet connection, stream quality, backup flows, switchers, and anything else you’ll be using during the live stream. Do a trial run to make sure everything looks and feels great before you actually go live. Once you’re live, there’s nothing you can do; so test and adjust ahead of time.

5 types of live streams that show massive success

There are three main reasons you’d want to live stream.

1. You are hosting an in-person event and you want to extend your reach by offering access to certain aspects of the event from home for non-attendees.
2. You are hosting a virtual event and want the interaction and connection that live streaming offers.
3. You have exciting news or information to share with your audience that would feel more genuine live, as opposed to pre-recorded video.

We’re going to give you some examples of live stream topics that have done really well for clients in the past–and that we know you’ll see success with too.

1. Conferences and trade shows

If the event is in person, you can use live streams to show off different booths, product launches, and speeches. If the event is virtual, live streams from each sponsor and speaker are a great way to replicate the personal and interactive aspects of the event. We especially love pairing 3D renderings of booths with live streaming of product releases and discussions to create an immersive experience for the digital participant.

2. Panels and interviews

Whether at an event or you just want to share some information with your audience, gathering some experts in your industry is an incredible way to demonstrate your brand’s credibility, provide value to your customers, and create meaningful conversations between your business and consumer. Live streaming an interview with your CEO or a panel of researchers that designed your product or a table talk of experts is sure to grab the attention of your audience.

3. Concerts and shows

During quarantine, Andrea Bocelli put on a beautiful live stream concert on YouTube that was breathtakingly stunning. Alone in the Duomo di Milano, he put on the Music For Hope concert “for no one,” even though over 39 people were in attendance from their homes. This is a great example that, although concerts are fun live, shows can be equally as impressive, exciting, and experiential through the screen.

4. Training

If you’re hosting a training, you can live stream it to employees in multiple business locations. This allows you to maintain a level of consistency among training while also united branches from across the country or the globe. Many of our clients have seen success live streaming parts of the training, as an introduction from a CEO or an exciting announcement from a team lead, and supplementing compliance or sales training (for example) as a pre-recorded video.

5. Announcements

Everyone wants to feel the excitement of hearing or seeing something as its announced/released. Live stream your announcement so everyone-customers, employees, partners, journalists, shareholders- can see and share in the excitement together. Apple, Tesla, and other major brands live stream all their major announcements and draw huge crowds because they know people want the excitement that comes with a live announcement (more so than a print release).

Pretty much any event, big or small, can be live-streamed for optimal success. If you want to reach a wider audience, live streaming is the way to go.

Want more? Part II will be up on July 14th!

The post The Ultra-Ultimate Guide To Live Streaming Events – Part I appeared first on True Film Production.

With 90% of offices making the shift to remote work, communication is vital now more than ever. Traversing the virtual world is a new territory for most. The best way to navigate this new path and keep your team engaged and connected is through the power of video.

Even though video has proven the highest response, engagement, and retention rates of all communication forms, most companies aren’t yet using video for their corporate events. If you make the shift to video, you’ll be at the forefront of the in-house communication revolution. Your team will appreciate and value the effort you put into creating videos for internal communication and branding.

What are the benefits of using video for internal corporate communications?

Video…

• Communicates complex information in an understandable way
• Stirs up excitement and engagement
• Increases response rate
• Enhances information retention and learning
• Consistently and quickly disseminates information at scale
• Connects brand with employees/stakeholders in an authentic, human way
• Facilitates a forward-thinking environment of tech and communication
• Shares the emotion and tone behind a message
• Encourages employees to discuss video’s information with one another

The benefits prove themselves after just one use. So how can you try this out and implement a video campaign for your internal communications?

How to use video for internal communications

There are two ways video can be incorporated into your corporate communication

1. To record and disseminate information to your team during “remote working”, like filming a training session, or getting a message out quickly to all of your offices.
2. To enhance an in-person or virtual event, like a training video or product explainer

Here are some instances that video can help with internal communication.

1. Message from the CEO

Now more than ever, it's important that your CEO is at the forefront of communication with employees. This is a time of uncertainty, and the team needs to hear from their leader.

CEOs are busy, so they often don’t have enough time to get face time with everyone on the team. But it’s important for employee engagement and retention for the organization to see and know their leaders on a personal level.

Utilizing video is a great way for the CEO to share announcements and connect with employees. This builds a level of trust and transparency that resonates with the team. We like to think of CEO messages as virtual events. Your executives are creating a digital experience that tells a story, manages change, and interacts with the audience.

Whether it’s a live broadcast with an announcement, a CEO spotlight, or your leaders just saying ‘hey,’ a video is a great way to create a conversation, spread information, and engender the company culture from the top down.

2. Meetings

Meetings are inherently boring, right? Not with video! Whether it’s a small team meeting, a sales department meeting, or a town hall, video is an effective tool to make meetings more enjoyable. You can add a video before the meeting starts to get people excited and to share the purpose of the meeting in a fun, stimulating way. Or you can transform the meeting into a virtual discussion, with prerecorded information paired with live streams of participants. People will be much more engaged with the material and more likely to collaborate when provoked with an on-topic video and interactive digital tools.

Also, record your meetings. If someone’s missing from the meeting or you have teams in multiple locations, you can disseminate the same information by sending them a link to the meeting virtually, or send a recap video afterwards. This is a fast and consistent way to get information out to your team.

You can also live stream the meeting to encourage collaboration across the country or across the globe. Everyone is in the loop and in on the innovative process together.

3. Board meetings

Do the same thing but for your shareholder updates and board meetings. Your board members don’t want another plain old packet of information. Use video reports to highlight what stakeholders need to know in your brand tone. The professionalism of a video shows the time and care your team puts into the shareholder meetings, which demonstrates a level of care for the business overall. Video is the best way to “wow” your shareholders to show them exactly what they’re invested in (and why).

Have board members all over the country or globe? We love using video for virtual board meetings to disseminate consistent information and include all voices in the meeting.

You may also want to record board meetings for future purposes or record keeping. Some companies even use recorded board meetings to their employees for 100% organizational transparency.

4. Training + onboarding

Make your training fun and engaging. Videos are the most successful way to showcase your values and culture to employees. If you show the culture, people are more likely to reflect their own behaviors accordingly. For example, you might show the CEO and a few employee testimonials to get the culture across, and then use product explainer videos to discuss the details of how to sell a product. Whether it’s new or experienced employees, a “culture video” can help keep people engaged with the brand and what they’re doing in their roles. This can be paired with on-job training or totally virtual.

Also, the majority of people learn better through visual and audio stimuli. Training with videos gets their attention while reinforcing the learning process, so people are more likely to remember and recall what they learned in the training. If you want the greatest return on your investment with learning and development, interactive videos and exercises are the way to go.

Like the other examples, recording your training sessions means you can disseminate training across all departments and locations to ensure consistency and engagement. Prerecord trainings for online classes, or you can also record in-person trainings and turn them into online videos to train other teams or offer online resources.

5. Recruitment videos

You can also use video before you even get employees in the door. Recruitment videos help you cut through the noise of the job search. Just like video works to attract customers, it can work wonders to attract employees too.

Recruitment videos work especially well at corporate events or college fairs to attract talent. Most of your competitors will have flyers and brochures, but your enticing video with employee testimonials and brand values can get people excited about your business. Plus, you can curate the video to demonstrate the type of employee you want to hire and the culture you want to create. So the people you attract will be those interested in the brand culture you’re looking to create.

We also like putting recruitment videos on your careers page on your website to share information with curious candidates. You may even want to create a virtual recruitment campaign, centered on prerecorded videos that intrigue potential talent.

P.S.: Testimonial videos from current employees can be your secret weapon during the recruitment process. They work like customer testimonials, but to sell the “product” of your brand!

6. Investment events

There’s a lot of competition to find investors, especially on investor days or at financing corporate events. Loop videos about your brand and products/services are one of the most effective ways to catch the right investor’s attention. An incredible, emotion-driven video will stay in their minds long after the day is over—when they’re ready to open their wallets.

We offer video boards to make your vision come to life at trade shows or investor days. Check out our vision boards services here.

7. Company culture

Fun clips from your employees can show off your culture in recruitment videos or as marketing clips (if you’re service-based).

Plus, like any event, your employees want to relive the fun times. Creating a sizzle reel of your past internal corporate events is a fun way to keep your employees engaged and happy (which also boosts retention).

A lot of organizations are also seeing success by creating a digital culture. Move your trainings and experiences online–especially if you’re moving more towards a work-from-home sort of mentality. This enables a more global and interconnected team, and your employees will love the tech advancements, quality videos, and virtual interactions.

Ready to use video for internal communications?

If you think right now is the time you can lean on video, storytelling or live streaming,True Film Production would be happy to get on a call–even if you just want to get feedback on your current virtual communications strategy.

Remember that the majority of communication is non-verbal. If you want to take charge of corporate transitions, engage your team, get people excited for updates or changes, and cultivate your company culture, the emotions and tone of your video can be the key to your internal communications strategy.

Do you want to take your engagement, retention, and company culture to the next level, both in-person and digitally?

Reach out to us for a FREE consultation about how to implement videos for your corporate events. Whether you’re live streaming an announcement, sharing information at a training event, or encouraging investors to finance your company, we can help your video visions come to life. We look forward to hearing from you to start brainstorming.

The post How to Make the Shift to Virtual Internal Communication appeared first on True Film Production.