In recent times, live streaming of Virtual Events has become the norm across the world. In the current era of advanced technology and impeccable connectivity, the process of live-streaming has become easier than ever. Post the pandemic, the live-streaming industry has grown exponentially and has become a trend, rather. Along with being a trend, it is also a necessity in COVID times owing to social distancing norms. Since coronavirus is here to stay, it will not hurt to get the hang of live streaming an event on a live streaming platform. Now is the best time to learn the know-how of live streaming.
From start-ups to MNCs and from educational institutions to sports teams, it is possible for everyone to live-stream conferences, graduations, concerts, gaming events, and much more. Live streaming is a very convenient and straightforward thing to do provided one has the right tools. Listed below are steps to live stream an event virtually:
- Devise a plan
Live streaming an event on a live-streaming platform involves several moving parts. Therefore, it is important to devise a plan and fix some goals at the beginning. The purpose of live streaming, what is hoped to be achieved, ROI, the budget outlay, and so on must be clearly defined. Once the basics are sorted, one can come up with a final plan. A vision outline for the event must be created and the tools required to reach the fixed goals must be determined.
- Pick a live-streaming online platform
A live-streaming online platform hosts the live stream of the event. While picking a virtual event platform, one should be chosen that meets the requirements of the event and is capable of bringing the set vision to life. Professional virtual event platforms provide access to great bandwidth and specialized servers to ensure successful broadcasts, among other features. Certain virtual event platforms have the capability of handling large numbers of viewers and the event can be live-streamed remotely to a global audience. If the virtual event platform has a global content delivery network, then the streaming quality will be exponentially higher and will accommodate an even larger audience.
To put it plainly, the better the streaming service in terms of features, tools, and cost, the better the service. Before picking a final platform, the hosts should compare a bunch of virtual event platforms and maybe try them out to make an informed choice. With professional live streaming platforms, unapproved ads are eliminated as well, providing a smooth streaming and viewing experience.
- Broadcasting equipment
Once the best virtual event platform is finalized, the recording and broadcasting equipment comes next. This one is a critical element in terms of video streaming. Proper research and comparisons should be done before fixating on one since it must meet the goals needed to be achieved.
If one has the budget, a professional and fully featured live streaming camera can be fixated on owing to the high-grade quality of video streaming it provides. Audio and other visual aspects of the event will also be enhanced. This is critical in attracting and retaining an audience. It is also recommended to invest in an external microphone to improve audio quality.
- Input sources and create a live channel
Source inputs vary for every virtual event platform and encoder but are a crucial part of live streaming an event. At this point, the camera, microphone, and any other sources should be connected with the encoder to be incorporated into the live stream. Post this step, a live channel needs to be created on the live-streaming online platform. The process varies on every platform though.
- Test run
Test runs are important since it allows the hosts to recognize and fix mistakes and take care of any weak links. The streaming setup can also be tested in the process and any malfunctions can be identified and ruled out. This allows planning for any backups that might be needed. The internet speed can also be tested simultaneously so that no issues occur on the day of the event.
- Promotions
To ensure a packed event, the audience must be mentally prepared for what the event has to offer. For the same, marketing and promotion of the event need to be done. Promotional teasers and introduction videos can be posted across social media handles. Regular posts on popular social media like Twitter and Instagram should be done. Mass emailing and virtual ticket buying can be implemented. This will generate revenue on the side as well. To get more coverage, press releases can be done and other forms of advertising can be implemented to reach the maximum number of people.
- The final day
On D-Day, the live streaming must be done as planned. It is critical to remain confident and put together and also have fun while streaming the event. The audience should be kept engaged throughout with the help of Q&A sessions and the chat tool. If the event is not engaging and interactive, the engagement of the event goes down. Keeping the engagement up and allowing the audience to personally contribute to the event is significant to providing them with a great viewing experience. They should be able to address queries and issues and submit feedback post the event as well.
Conclusion
Live streaming is done for various purposes like increasing brand visibility or creating a paid experience. This is an opportunity to generate revenue and maximize profits with virtual tickets. Live streams help a brand to connect with its audience remotely, especially after the pandemic. Choosing the right streaming platform, like Dreamcast plays a major role in ensuring the success of the event. Yes, live streaming takes a tiny bit of preparation but is worth it. With the ongoing pandemic to deal with at hand, live streaming has proven to be a great asset to the events industry. Virtual is the future and it will evolve even more over time for sure.
