Periscope is one of the leading live video services and it has many applications. Not everyone sees how useful this type of application is for business purposes. Live streaming makes it possible to engage with your audience in an exciting way and make them feel like they're part of the action. Let's look at some of the best ways to use Periscope for business.
An Introduction To Periscope
Periscope is part of the fast-growing live streaming phenomenon sweeping the internet. A report by MarketsandMarkets projects video streaming will grow from $30 billion in 2016 to more than $70 billion by 2021. While all kinds of video marketing are popular now, live streaming takes video to another level. When you broadcast live, your audience is right there with you. In a way, it recaptures the early days of television, when many shows were filmed live. One of the nice things about Periscope is that, while it lets you broadcast live, it also lets you create videos for people to watch later. In other words, if they miss your live event, they can watch the video later. So it combines the best of both worlds.
Periscope Marketing Ideas
Periscope is an app anyone can download to their smartphone or tablet. This makes it convenient for people to watch live streaming broadcasts from anywhere. Let's look at some ways you can use Periscope for marketing.
- Combine Twitter and Periscope marketing now. Twitter bought Periscope in 2015. Twitter announced in 2016 that over 200 million broadcasts were created on Periscope. Use Twitter to publicize your Periscope streams. Users can pick up the phone in their pocket, download the free app and start instantly broadcasting live video to the world through Twitter. That means business owners will have access to the hundreds of millions of Twitter users to spread the marketing or informational message they desire. If you use paid advertising, sponsored tweets about your broadcasts are a good way to attract an audience. I predict it won't be long before Periscope is completely integrated into Twitter and ceases to exist as a separate platform. So, get comfortable with the app now.
- Create a schedule for your streams. The more consistent you are with your streams, the easier it is to build a loyal audience. Identify the best day and time and turn your broadcast into a regular event. If your Twitter audience is in many time zones, try to schedule multiple broadcasts each week and different times of day.
- Engage with your audience. One of the benefits of live streaming is the opportunity for engagement. On Periscope, people show their appreciation by liking your broadcast. Likes produce heart icons on your screen. Hearts aren't just nice badges, however; Periscope counts them and ranks your broadcast according to the number of likes. Invite people to ask questions. Acknowledge likes and comments. The flip side of this is to block trolls who, unfortunately, exist on Periscope as everywhere else online. Don't let them ruin the experience for everyone.
- Conduct live workshops. One way to use Periscope to grow your business is to conduct live training or educational sessions. Demonstrate something of interest to your audience, whether it's a new product, a software application, how to prepare a dish, or groom a dog. Anything your audience wants to learn is a suitable subject for an instructional live streaming session.
- Create live broadcasts for interesting events. If you're participating in a live event, let your audience participate by streaming it. This works whether it's your own event or you're simply a participant (at a convention, festival, or celebration for example). Periscope can provide the viewers an inside look at live events. Imagine broadcasting a video right before stepping onto a stage and giving a speech at a conference. The audience is brought into the moment and experiences it the same way that the broadcaster does. That engagement forms a tighter relationship that leads to long-term customers.
- Interview experts in your field to make your broadcasts even more informative.
- Live video streaming can be utilized at all sorts of occasions. The first is providing instant analysis of an event. For example, if you are a financial analyst or wealth manager and want to provide instant feedback on monthly job numbers, use Periscope. Similarly, if their is a major financial crisis and you want to broadcast your reaction to all of your clients and onlookers at the same time, you can use Periscope. This has the benefit of creating an on-going relationship with clients as well demonstrating expertise and authority. Lawyers may also provide instant analysis to major court cases or laws.
- Use Periscope to build your email list. As valuable as live streaming is, don't think of it as a replacement for traditional forms of marketing such as your email list. Rather, use it to enhance your list and other marketing platforms. Encourage viewers to sign up for your email list, visit your website, Facebook page or other social media pages.
To distinguish themselves, business professionals and service providers need to constantly seek to use new marketing strategies and means of expressing their authority and expertise. Professionals can write in-depth analysis on topics and easily share it to their network via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. But, it remains a good idea to keep adding tools to your marketing toolbox. Periscope can be one of those tools.
Using Periscope to provide instant analysis and feedback can also grow a business as many potential clients will be seeking information on the specific topic at the specific time of the broadcast. Periscope is an open platform and interesting discussion at the right moment can attract a huge audience which trickles into a new client base.
In addition, Periscope can be used to demonstrate success or competence. Professionals can hold weekly broadcasts at pre-arranged times to discuss relevant topics. Over time, the audience that is attracted to these concepts will seek out and find the content. Some portion of the audience will then become customers.
Brands are using this tactic to attract new customers. For example, Men's Health Magazine provided a weekly broadcast of different work-out techniques using real-life trainers. A CPA or accounting firm like Ernst & Young could easily hold a weekly session on certain accounting rules and how they are applied in the real world. They may discuss common tax strategies and where the line is drawn between legal and illegal write-offs.
Periscope also allows for instant feedback as well as give and take. Audience members may ask more specific questions about the way a tax rule is applied. With a good answer, the prospect may could hire the CPA for help.
Check out this Infographic for even more information and helpful ideas for using Periscope.
Live streaming video has lots of potential for marketing and engaging with customers. Periscope is still a fairly new application and businesses are still figuring out the best ways to leverage it. Come up with your own Periscope marketing ideas that are right for your business. For more information, please contact us.
