If the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words still holds true, then a moving picture is clearly worth an entire book, and if like me you sometimes prefer to watch a movie rather than read a book, then you can begin to understand the importance of video in communicating your company's messages.
Video sharing platforms such as You Tube have exploded in popularity ever since they first became prominent in the late 00’s and many businesses have used video marketing technology in some way to enhance their own marketing efforts. However, a new type of Video experience is beginning to emerge which is set to revolutionize the way that corporations do business. This technology is generally known as Streaming.
What is Streaming?
Streaming is a relatively new development which is gaining ground with the increase in broadband speeds. It allows consumers to watch video in ‘real-time’ as it is being broadcast without the need to download the video file first.
An internet broadcast in this manner is often termed a webcast or live stream. The popular iPlayer service from the BBC is an example of a streaming service where programs can be streamed live whilst they are taking place in the studio. Pre-recorded videos and movies can also be streamed. Many broadcasters prefer to stream content whether live or pre-recorded because it is a continuous stream of data and therefore difficult for users to save the data and distribute it illegally.
How can Businesses benefit from Live Streaming?
Many video sharing and streaming platforms such as Microsoft Stream and UStream from IBM are now gaining traction with the specific aim of helping businesses and educators distribute live and pre-recorded video content throughout their organizations and to their customer base. 52% of marketing professionals worldwide named video as the content type with the best ROI, with 74% of internet traffic expected to be video by the end of 2017 .
The best Video Streaming service providers allow you to stream live content, upload pre-recorded videos known as VOD or video-on-demand, monetize your videos, provide video search and analytics capabilities, all on a securely hosted platform with worldwide content delivery.
Getting Started
The first step in getting started is to empower your staff and contributors (perhaps with little or no knowledge of video technology), with the ability to create informative video content quickly and efficiently. To achieve this, a PC with a webcam is all that's required along with video streaming and recording software.
Screen Elf is video streaming and recording software developed to make the whole process of streaming and recording videos on your Windows PC as simple as it can possibly get. With only one setup dialog and a small footprint for use inside of any Windows or Office application, Screen Elf gets you started immediately; you can record videos and capture screen content anywhere with your PC.
Video Streaming/Hosting Platforms
To stream content live you will need a subscription to a video hosting platform such as You Tube, Ustream, Microsoft Stream or Facebook Live. Most business subscriptions cost as little as a few dollars per month per user. Enter the connection details supplied by your streaming service provider in the Screen Elf set up dialog. These will consist of the URL of their Streaming Server, a Stream key and additionally a logon name and password.
Multiple connection profiles can be created in Screen Elf allowing you to connect and switch between many different streaming service providers to test and compare their platforms before you subscribe.
How to use Live Streaming in Your Business
Your customers want to be participants in your business’ success story, so you can use live streaming to give them a behind the scenes look at what your organisation does and how you do it.
Reveal how you make your products and who created them. Four times as many customers would prefer to watch a product video rather than read a product description. Create live streaming events around major announcements, product releases and updates. Host Q & A sessions to add a human face to your business by answering questions that customers may have about your products or services. Build a sense of anticipation leading up to the streaming event so that your customers or staff book the time to see it. Make your customers feel as if they are part of your journey. A great way to enhance trust and authenticity is also to interview your employees and experts live and stream to your audiences or alternatively produce 'How To' tutorials and upload them as video-on-demand (VOD) resources.
Conclusion
Live Streaming is one of the fastest ways to build trust and authenticity in your company’s brand. It should not be ignored. As broadband speeds continue to increase it will become the de facto way of communicating breaking company news and important company wide messages. The ‘Press release’ will ultimately be replaced with the ‘Live Webcast’. The possibilities for using live streaming to communicate and connect with your audiences are limitless.
Live Streaming is the natural extension of video marketing and allows video marketing to become interactive, plus it is no more expensive to implement. All you require is a good camera, a PC and a business subscription to a video hosting platform. Screen Elf provides an easy and cost-effective way to empower all windows and Office 365 users within your organisation with the tool required to start participating in video streaming, recording and information sharing without leaving their desk.
For further information see the 'How To' section of the website.
If the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words still holds true, then a moving picture is clearly worth an entire book, and if like me you sometimes prefer to watch a movie rather than read a book, then you can begin to understand the importance of video in communicating your company's messages.
Video sharing platforms such as You Tube have exploded in popularity ever since they first became prominent in the late 00’s and many businesses have used video marketing technology in some way to enhance their own marketing efforts. However, a new type of Video experience is beginning to emerge which is set to revolutionize the way that corporations do business. This technology is generally known as Streaming.
What is Streaming?
Streaming is a relatively new development which is gaining ground with the increase in broadband speeds. It allows consumers to watch video in ‘real-time’ as it is being broadcast without the need to download the video file first.
An internet broadcast in this manner is often termed a webcast or live stream. The popular iPlayer service from the BBC is an example of a streaming service where programs can be streamed live whilst they are taking place in the studio. Pre-recorded videos and movies can also be streamed. Many broadcasters prefer to stream content whether live or pre-recorded because it is a continuous stream of data and therefore difficult for users to save the data and distribute it illegally.
How can Businesses benefit from Live Streaming?
Many video sharing and streaming platforms such as Microsoft Stream and UStream from IBM are now gaining traction with the specific aim of helping businesses and educators distribute live and pre-recorded video content throughout their organizations and to their customer base. 52% of marketing professionals worldwide named video as the content type with the best ROI, with 74% of internet traffic expected to be video by the end of 2017 .
The best Video Streaming service providers allow you to stream live content, upload pre-recorded videos known as VOD or video-on-demand, monetize your videos, provide video search and analytics capabilities, all on a securely hosted platform with worldwide content delivery.
Getting Started
The first step in getting started is to empower your staff and contributors (perhaps with little or no knowledge of video technology), with the ability to create informative video content quickly and efficiently. To achieve this, a PC with a webcam is all that's required along with video streaming and recording software.
Screen Elf is video streaming and recording software developed to make the whole process of streaming and recording videos on your Windows PC as simple as it can possibly get. With only one setup dialog and a small footprint for use inside of any Windows or Office application, Screen Elf gets you started immediately; you can record videos and capture screen content anywhere with your PC.
Video Streaming/Hosting Platforms
To stream content live you will need a subscription to a video hosting platform such as You Tube, Ustream, Microsoft Stream or Facebook Live. Most business subscriptions cost as little as a few dollars per month per user. Enter the connection details supplied by your streaming service provider in the Screen Elf set up dialog. These will consist of the URL of their Streaming Server, a Stream key and additionally a logon name and password.
Multiple connection profiles can be created in Screen Elf allowing you to connect and switch between many different streaming service providers to test and compare their platforms before you subscribe.
How to use Live Streaming in Your Business
Your customers want to be participants in your business’ success story, so you can use live streaming to give them a behind the scenes look at what your organisation does and how you do it.
Reveal how you make your products and who created them. Four times as many customers would prefer to watch a product video rather than read a product description. Create live streaming events around major announcements, product releases and updates. Host Q & A sessions to add a human face to your business by answering questions that customers may have about your products or services. Build a sense of anticipation leading up to the streaming event so that your customers or staff book the time to see it. Make your customers feel as if they are part of your journey. A great way to enhance trust and authenticity is also to interview your employees and experts live and stream to your audiences or alternatively produce 'How To' tutorials and upload them as video-on-demand (VOD) resources.
Conclusion
Live Streaming is one of the fastest ways to build trust and authenticity in your company’s brand. It should not be ignored. As broadband speeds continue to increase it will become the de facto way of communicating breaking company news and important company wide messages. The ‘Press release’ will ultimately be replaced with the ‘Live Webcast’. The possibilities for using live streaming to communicate and connect with your audiences are limitless.
Live Streaming is the natural extension of video marketing and allows video marketing to become interactive, plus it is no more expensive to implement. All you require is a good camera, a PC and a business subscription to a video hosting platform. Screen Elf provides an easy and cost-effective way to empower all windows and Office 365 users within your organisation with the tool required to start participating in video streaming, recording and information sharing without leaving their desk.
For further information see the How To section of the website.