Video engagement is one of the more prominent ways to target your audience. Blog posts are nice, but videos are proving to be more profound. However, there is more to a live stream on YouTube than just a marketing ploy.
It helps create a community, boost brand awareness, and make you more likable and approachable. And people love a brand that displays the “human” element.
Why You Should Live Stream on YouTube
Going live on YouTube is one of the easiest things to get into. All you need is a webcam, a decent microphone and streaming software. In fact, you can get started right now with something you have in your pocket.
The smartphone.
Although state-of-the-art video production equipment can make a world of difference, it’s not necessarily needed in the beginning. Many YouTube influencers started with nothing more than a cheap webcam in their parent’s basement.
So, why should you live stream on YouTube?
You Have Access to a Wide Scope of Viewers
There’s no doubt that YouTube is the go-to platform for video engagement. From news to entertainment, it is a monster in the realm of online video consumption.
Personally, I started a YouTube channel to accentuate blog posts. I wanted to add videos to articles so visitors had an option. Today, the YouTube channel for WriterSanctuary.com is growing at a much fast rate than the blog.
Another added bonus is being able to link back to the blog from the videos. In fact, a large portion of visitors to WriterSanctuary.com came from the videos.
Engaging with Your Core Audience
Running a live stream on YouTube lets you interact with people who are interested in your brand or message. It makes people feel like they are part of something special, especially if you directly respond to viewers.
Although I don’t have a lot of concurrent viewers, I do wind up helping those who interact with the live stream. As a result, many of them come back every time I click the broadcast button.
It’s those loyal fans who can easily improve any business platform. Especially when you consider the effectiveness of word-of-mouth advertising. Those ardent viewers can quickly spread the content among their own friends and family…on a variety of social media hubs.
Getting Ideas from Viewers
One thing a lot of YouTubers do while doing a live stream is taking notes regarding future content. By letting the core audience guide what to create next, you solidify the relationship between you.
During my live streams, I’ve received many ideas for how to manage the channel as well as the blog. The end result was a blog post that now rests at the top of Google search results as well as a few well-performing videos.
Don’t underestimate the value of your fans. Engage them in a live stream on YouTube and build your brand around what your target market wants.
Gives Your Brand a Face and Personality
Most people would rather trust the face of a brand rather than a logo. This is why many companies hire social media influencers. It’s not merely to drive sales, but to associate with the “human” element I mentioned earlier.
And if your brand is associated with a likable personality, it can take your business much higher.
In reality, people are more likely to trust the suggestions of friends and family over advertisements. Part of this is because of the human connection. And live streaming can have a similar effect.
Improves Watch Time on YouTube
If you’re trying to reach the illustrious 1,000 subscriber and 4,000 hours of watch time on YouTube to get monetized, it takes a bit of effort. Live streaming helps the watch time, overall.
However, don’t assume you’ll pull in a ton of subscribers through a live stream. Some YouTube channels can do it easily while others have to work harder. It all comes down to connecting with the audience and being able to keep them watching.
My point is that every minute people are watching the live video is on that is added to your total watch time. This can help reach the monetization goals of YouTube.
The Live Feed is Added to Your Video Library
Once the live stream is over, it is saved on your channel. This means people can come in and watch the show at a later date. So the live stream on YouTube can pull in watch time while it’s live or after as a saved video.
The hard part is remembering to add thumbnails, proper titles and video descriptions afterward. If you treat it like a normal upload, you can expand even further by getting others to watch the feed.
And if you stick to a schedule, those fans know when to be ready for the show as well as the video itself.
It Can Be Quite Addicting
Perhaps the biggest reason why I still push to live stream on YouTube is that it’s addicting. I love interacting with the audience, sharing ideas and helping anyone in need.
It’s the same reason why I like streaming on Twitch when playing games. It’s not to show off how good I am, but to interact with the viewers. I get more of a kick talking about random stuff than I do when playing the game in most cases.
It’s how I planned for a one hour show only to have it run for 3.5 hours. The conversation was just intense, and I didn’t want it to end.
Just Click “Broadcast” and Go!
It doesn’t take much to start broadcasting live on YouTube. As long as you can engage the audience and keep them chatting, you can make it quite big on the platform. The best part is that it costs virtually nothing to get started.
Most of my videos are created using the free software, “OBS.” However, I do live stream on YouTube using XSplit Broadcaster only because it has more tools.
Everything else is equipment I already had lying around the house.
All you need to do is hit the button to go live.