Trade shows can draw hundreds of visitors to your booth in one day, but can you imagine expanding your audience into the billions? Live-streaming is trending as one of the hottest mediums today, with over eight billion videos being viewed on social media outlets like Facebook and Snapchat alone.

So, here are the facts. Users are spending 3 times longer watching a video on Facebook Live and commenting 10 times more on a live-stream video than any other media. Live streaming your trade show experience can expand your audience across the globe bringing your product or service to life right before their eyes.

Showcase your brand

Since live streaming showcases your brand to a live audience, it’s important to choose the best way to show it off. And since viewers may join mid-way through the broadcast, be sure to keep reminding the audience of the purpose of your live stream.

Here are some formats companies are using to showcase their brand:

Q&A sessions

Q&A’s are a popular choice for live streaming since the viewer feels they are hearing the information first-hand, straight from the horse’s mouth, without any editing or sugar coating.

Behind-the-scenes look

Getting a sneak-peek into the company and its product is a fun way to get viewers excited about what your selling. You’re not only building trust and loyalty, but giving them a bird’s eye view of the excitement behind the product.

Product demonstrations

Seeing is believing, right? Well, there’s nothing more straight forward than a demo. The key to a great demo is to show how much fun you’re having so your audience will have fun too.

Have a plan

Live video can’t be edited, so whether you’re doing a Q&A session, behind-the-scenes look, or a product demonstration, it’s important to be prepared. Although, you can’t always prepare for the unexpected, plan to handle anything and everything in real time.

Here are some ways to set it all in motion:

Chose the right person to host your live stream

Your host’s personality is everything when it comes to how your brand is perceived. They will be the face and voice representing your company and can heavily influence the success of your broadcast.

Develop talking points

Engaging your audience is rule number one to keep the conversation flowing. Avoid using a script since they can tend to be boring and diminish the authenticity of your broadcast. Keeping your live-stream upbeat and entertaining will increase the chances of viewers tuning in to your next trade show.

Do a test run

Technical difficulties can do more than put a monkey wrench in your live-stream. Viewers expect instant results and quality sound, so be sure to work out all the kinks before you go live. Check your internet connection and conduct a test run from your booth to be sure you’re coming through loud and clear.

Save your video

Post-broadcast strategies and opportunities can extend your reach even further to those who may have missed viewing your video the first time. Saving your live video to your archives allows you to share it on your website, social media channels, and other digital platforms.

Choose the right service

Although other live streaming platforms such as Periscope exist, Facebook Live is dominating the market. Here are the top reasons why Facebook Live is the way to go for your next live-stream:

• Quick and easy to use
• Can help build your brand’s presence on social media
• Free advertising
• Can save the video to include on your Facebook page

Scheduling the right time

Depending on trade show days and hours, you may want to test different broadcast lengths and times of day to gauge when your audience is free to view.

• Facebook recommends going live for at least 5 minutes; although anywhere from 2 – 20 minutes is acceptable.
  Alert your customers/followers in advance of your live-stream so they’re aware of it.
  If you choose not to alert your customers/followers, then choose a time when your page sees the most traffic.

Don’t miss out on reaching an untapped market at your next trade show. If you haven’t gone live yet, now is the time to capture the excitement and live-stream your next trade show experience.

Contact an expert at Watson Productions to learn more about live-streaming at your booth!