Recently, live streaming events have become an inseparable part of every business. The reports show that live streaming grew by 99% between April 2020 and April 2021. Due to the COVID-19 situation, it is best to talk about how to live stream an event. Today, even small businesses and startups can benefit from using live streaming platforms.
This article is designed to teach you the basics of how to live stream an event effectively. First of all, let us dig deeper into the major benefits of live streaming for a brand.
Why Live Stream an Event?
There are many reasons to live stream events. Live streaming can increase brand awareness, create a paid experience, generate revenue, maximize profits, and connect with the audiences. Lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic proved the value of live streaming technology indeed.
The factors below emphasize why live streaming events is important:
- Live streaming extends the reach of events to a larger audience and creates an intimate experience.
- Live streaming can increase engagement. It allows audiences to be actively engaged and interact with a brand.
- Live streaming can grow the attendance of the next events up to 30%. This is a special feature for paid ticketed events.
- Live stream content can be repurposed and repackaged into different marketing strategies. For instance, it can be used to promote a service/product, communicate a brand’s message, or increase the audience’s engagement.
- Live streaming offers the best ROI (Return of Investment) . It is low-cost and extends reach, so it can be an ideal tool to maximize the return.
How to Live Stream an Event
Once you invest in the right tools, live streaming an event can become very simple and straightforward. Within the following steps, we discuss how to live stream an event effectively.
Live Streaming Plan
Live Streaming requires some moving parts, and it is better to develop a proper plan to identify goals and intentions from the start. The category of the event, the purpose of live streaming that event, goals, intended return of investment, monetization of the event, and the budget must be considered and identified. Once these elements are specified properly, it is time to create a live streaming plan. A detailed outline of the visions for the event must be created. The required tools to reach the intended goals should be determined as well.
Online Video Platform
There are different streaming solutions which are platforms that host a live stream. While considering how to live stream an event, it is important to choose the best live streaming solution to meet the determined needs and visions. Some professional-grade live streaming solutions such as ArvanCloud Live Streaming Platform are white-labeled, equipped with video players, and can easily be embedded on a website, application, and social platforms. A reputed live streaming solution will offer access to specialized servers and high bandwidth, and other features to ensure successful broadcast.
A great streaming service can handle large volumes of viewers so an event can be streamed live remotely. Suppose a live streaming solution uses a global CDN (Content Delivery Network). In that case, streaming an event virtually will accommodate large volumes of viewers in remote locations worldwide, and the streaming quality will be higher.
There are some main features to consider before choosing a live streaming service. If the plan is to generate revenue, the video platform must offer monetization features such as pay-per-view, subscription, and advertisement. Another advantage of a professional live streaming platform is the absence of unapproved ads. With a white-labeled video player, creating and embedding specific watermarks and logos onto the original content is possible.
Broadcasting Equipment
After choosing the live streaming solution that fulfills the needs, the type of recording equipment must be determined. This part can be a crucial component for live streaming. It is better to research some options before making any decision. This way, the invested equipment will fit the goals and needs. If the budget allows, opting for a quality camera ensures a better streaming experience. It improves the quality of video/audio aspects and pays dividends for the broadcast. Canon Vixia HF G30, Canon Vixia HF R300, Sony HVR-NX5U are the most used ones. Smaller streams can be done with lower-costs webcams and capture devices. It is up to the owner to determine what sort of streaming quality is needed to suit the audience and deliver the intended message.
The laptop’s webcam streams do not need capture cards and are stream-friendly. It is also a good idea to have an external microphone to enhance audio quality.
While live streaming with a camera, a capture card is often required to convert the video into stream-able content. Capture cards can be purchased and installed on the computer. Once installed, the camera can be plugged into the capture card and get ready for the stream.
Streaming Staff
It is not possible to live stream an event alone. There are some moving parts when it comes to streaming an event, especially large ones like concerts. A large group of people runs these events. Based on the venue event size, plan, and other goals, at least one more person is needed to help with the setup, teardown, and management. If the cameras are not remotely controlled, an operator is needed. One person can not be in two places at once to both monitor and fix the situation. Additional staff is needed to help resolve the issues and upcoming incidents.
Encoder
An encore is needed to convert RAW video to streamable digital video, whether using a camera or webcam. The software or hardware encoder can be used for this matter. It is essential to choose an encoder that is compatible with the live streaming platform. How an encoder is configured will affect the quality of live streaming.
Source Inputs
When the encoder is configured, it is time to input the source. Source inputs are different for every encoder and video platform. Now the camera, microphone, and other sources must be connected to the encoder to the switcher. This way, they all can be incorporated into the stream.
Live Channel
Creating a live channel can be a different process on each live streaming platform. Create a live channel based on the chosen live streaming platform.
Embedding
Embedding video is simple, especially via a professional streaming service like ArvanCloud. The embed code must be copied on the live channel and paste into the code of the website.
Test Run
At this stage, everything is set up to live stream an event. Conducting a test run will ensure an easy experience. Test runs are an essential part of good live streaming because once live streaming starts, audiences will be there, and troubleshooting and fixing issues can be challenging. Testing the setup before streaming can help identify weak links and any other related issues. The test run must take place simultaneously on a streaming day so that everything will be in control. Also, do not forget to test the internet speed and make sure it is sufficient. The upload speed must be about double what is needed for the stream.
Audience
To extend the audience base and attract new ones, a live streaming plan must be promoted in advance on different social platforms. Creating promotional teasers, post clips, and other social media can be helpful. Using the customer’s email list and asking them to RSVP to buy virtual tickets is another way of promoting the plan. Running ads on social media, sending press releases, and advertising can help to reach the target audience.
Streaming
Now, the live channel should be switched to online and click to start streaming. And now you are streaming live. Stay confident and have fun. Remember to encourage the audience to participate by offering Q&A sections so everybody is engaged with the content.
Conclusion
Live streaming an event has lots of advantages for businesses of any kind. It only needs a bit of initial preparation, setup, and equipment, but the whole process is simple and achievable.
Choosing the right live streaming platform affects the success of a live stream. We hope this article helps you gain a better understanding of how to live stream an event. If you are not sure where to get started, give Arvan Cloud Live streaming a try. Contact us with any further questions.
