Integration into existing channels
At first, live video was mainly streamed via specific social media channels focused on online video, such as Meerkat and Periscope. Now, live video is increasingly being integrated into more well-known channels such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. And this investment seems to be paying off in the coming years. According to a study by Cisco, live streaming of videos will increase significantly, especially on mobile devices.
Live video can be used widely and comes in many shapes and sizes. This way of offering content also works both ways. On the one hand, media users are the first to know about the latest news and can respond to it immediately. On the other hand, companies and brands can immediately respond to this and process possible feedback quickly.
'Ask me anything'
A good example of live video is the 'Ask me anything' format. These are Q&As where viewers interact with the people behind a company or brand. Makeup brand Sephora uses this to good effect. The brand uses live video on Facebook for 30-minute blocks where experts answer questions and exchange tips.
This example shows that live video is a great way to get in touch with customers directly. But there are so many more applications for live video. Think of the combination of live with 360-degree video. This allows customers to be present at what is happening at that moment at a company or brand. Live 360-degree video reduces the difference between a real conversation and video chat.
In addition to the fact that companies and brands use social media, it is still very important to maintain contact with customers and other interested parties via e-mail. By integrating videos hotels email database in e-mails, they can be shorter in length, but contain just as much information. At the same time, these videos reach the most relevant viewers and increase the chance that readers will click through to the website or to one of the social media channels. As a result, more online traffic is generated via these e-mails.
Not all programs support playing video in e-mail. That is why it is a good solution to place a thumbnail in the e-mail, which leads to the video landing page. Think of Nuon, which presents its customers with the annual statement via video. All customers receive an e-mail with a personal video that they can click on:
In the end…
Ultimately, developments in online video remain difficult to predict. Something that works and is successful today can be outdated tomorrow. What we do know is that online video is here to stay and that there is still plenty of ground to be gained. Especially by experimenting and combining, it becomes clear what works best.
This is our list of trends to watch and try this year. Is the list accurate or did we miss a trend? Let us know in the comments or on social media.