If you are concerned about budgeting when it comes to organizing an event, you should start looking at event production in a different light. The key ingredient for a successful live event is proper planning. An event provides you with a chance to catapult your business and/or services into the limelight. Throw in the potential for networking and showcasing your brand, and it’s not surprising that event marketing accounts for approximately 20-25% of company marketing budgets. In fact, a whopping 79 percent of marketers in the United States use live event marketing to generate sales!
The Power of Going Live
A live event is one of the best business building models out there today and for 83 percent of marketers, the main goal of hosting an event is to increase overall sales. Whatever you are aiming to get out of live event production, you should first understand the capacity of video and even more so, the power of hitting that ‘live’ button. You never know what your target market might be doing when you stream an event in real-time and so, you can really learn new things about the people in your field when you go live. What’s more, live streaming boosts engagement and will get your name known among a sea of competitors.
Capitalize on Live Event Production
In order to be recognized as an expert, you must first have a clear vision and establish a plan. From selecting your production environment to visualizing the finished result in your head, the outcome of a live event all depends on the preparation you put into it.
Let the following best practices for live event production push your event in the right direction:
- Know the Audience – How are you supposed to connect with your audience if you don’t really know them? Viewership can be increased if you are able to interact properly and embed your event’s live video stream in the right areas, e.g. on your brand’s Instagram account.
- Make a Plan – Your audience is expecting something from you, whatever that might be. Leave them feeling enlightened by sticking to a plan and getting your message across. Don’t be afraid to play around with themes and make sure every member of your team understands what role they are playing in the live event.
- Arrange a Rehearsal – Don’t be too worried if you make mistakes during your live event broadcast, but do try to avoid them. Practice makes perfect and during a rehearsal, presenters and crew members can familiarize themselves with camera angles, set-ups, the way the show opens and closes, etc.
- Remain Consistent – Colors, settings and the timing of your live events should remain consistent, if the event is an ongoing thing. Always launch the event at the same time and try not to leave too much of a gap between broadcasts.
- Use Suitable Equipment – You would be surprised to discover just how many people will stop watching a live event if it is produced with low-quality recording equipment. Don’t just focus on using reliable equipment to produce the event but also, pay attention to how the content will be delivered. Opt for servers, networks and software that aren’t prone to buffering.
- Venue Limitations – Before you book the venue for an event, make sure it is equipped with suitable lighting and Wi-Fi access. Take into account limitations for streaming quality and viewers, too.
Streaming your event live to an online audience in real-time depends on the technology you use and how strong your Internet connection is. By integrating the right technology platform for live event production, it is possible to boost revenue through increased exposure.