Do you remember when internet first went mainstream? I do.
I remember sitting in my Dad’s office after he finished setting up his clunky, beige-colored Microsoft computer and turned on the internet using AOL with that almost unmistakable dial-up tone.
Not to mention how exciting it was to hear “You’ve Got Mail,” come out of your speakers. If you feel like living through a surreal flashback, just listen here. Thinking back to that it’s really amazing to see how far the internet and technology have come.
Nowadays, the internet isn’t just something cool to have, it’s almost a necessity. In the age of the Millennial, social media and using it for business is one of the best ways to connect with you audience and convert people from knowing your brand into loving it.
But, today, there are so many options. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest, just to name the big ones. And if that wasn’t enough to overwhelm you, now there is yet another type of social media taking charge and growing in popularity:
Live Video
While live streaming video has been around for a couple of years through places like Google Hangouts, with Facebook’s recent Live Video update, this new feature — and its use across all live video platforms — has really taken off.
Some people are declaring it the new way people will consume all information. One company even found that social video received 1200% more shares that text and images combined.
While many recognize that video is taking a new role in content marketing there’s no doubt that like with most things, there are downsides to it.
Here’s is a quick list of some of the good and the bad that come from using live video.
The Pros and Cons of Live Video for Your Content Marketing
Pro: It’s New, Fun Way To Connect with Followers
It’s tiring to write content and copy. I would be lying if I said that it didn’t feel a bit monotonous sometimes.
But adding live video to your marketing can be a bit of fresh air when it comes to creating content and connecting in a new way with followers.
Instead of spending 5 hours writing a how-to post, you can spend 15 minutes doing the same thing in a video. It gives you a chance for you followers to see you face-to-face, and you can take that video and repurpose it across other channels or even as a new opt-in.
Con: It’s One More Thing To Add To The Mix
OK, let’s get real for a minute. There’s only so much time in the day.
Whether you’re a solopreneur or in charge of social media for a business, adding another layer to your marketing plan isn’t a small thing. Video is a whole different type of content and it takes planning to come up with a plan to use it as well as implement it.
If you don’t take a lot of time planning and coming up with a strategy for your video, then you’ll be wasting your time. And even if you do hunker down and do this, it’s just one more thing that you’ll need to juggle.
One quick way to avoid this downside? Find out what your competition is doing first to see what works and what doesn’t!
Pro: It’s a Great Way To Engage Your Audience
One of the coolest things about live video is that the people that show up and watch you are excited to be there and usually have a lot to say. This gives you the chance to make an actual connection with a person who either is or will become a customer.
That connection of talking back and forth, laughing at the conversion, answering a question, it’s invaluable. It can help bond those people to you and your brand.
And it helps you stand out in the noisy world.
Should You Start Using Live Video for Your Business?
Despite the time and energy involved in video marketing and using live video, I believe that using video, no matter what type of business you run, is becoming more and more important.
According to Gary Vaynerchuck, “the single most important strategy in content marketing today is video.” But, as with most things in the marketing world, whether you should pursue this really depends on your business and the assets that you have to invest in this.
You may be happy to learn that adding streaming video to your plans can be very flexible. Unlike blogging or emails, you don’t really have to invest a set amount of time every week if you don’t want to.
For example, might decide that you’ll do live videos only at events, when you interview someone, and with special occasions to test things out. Give it a shot.
If you’re a bit camera shy, start with a video tool that doesn’t throw you into the spotlight right away. Once you are comfortable working with the medium, keep building until you are ready for a live stream.
Video gives you the chance to finally and honestly connect with your audience to build love of your brand.
And as the Beatles say, you can’t buy love.
Jimmy Kim
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