Okay, let’s get real a moment. With COVID-19 and social distancing, we’ve seen just about everything move into the virtual space. And yes, that includes conferences, meet-ups, date nights, and more.
This means that your inbox and social feeds have likely been filled with buzzwords like virtual summits, virtual conferences, live streaming, video conferencing, Zoom, webinars, and more.
And maybe your head is spinning.
Don’t panic! We’re here to help. The good news is that you can do just about anything with some helpful apps and a ton of creativity. And double good news! You can partner live streaming with all of the other video “things” we talk about below, so you can create affordable, valuable, professional content quickly.
Bam. Let’s dive in!
In this post we’ll cover:
- What are all of these different things, anyhow?
- A deep dive into the differences between each
- Pros and cons
- How to leverage each type correctly
- App and platform recommendations
Watch the full episode
Go LIVE Now! is a weekly live video show hosted by Luria Petrucci of LiveStreamingPros.com. You can catch new episodes each week on Facebook and YouTube.
What are all these video or virtual things, anyhow?
Everything is cancelled and everyone is home. This means that you’ve probably had to jump online and do everything virtually or with the help of some video. This includes things like meetings, events, conferences… even games night and happy hour. Thanks to COVID-19, it’s now all virtual.
So let’s break down what all of these video and virtual things actually are so you understand what you may need for your business and where to get started.
As you flow through each of these types of video, be sure to ask yourself “what am I trying to accomplish?” That way you’ll know what plan of action makes the most sense to you and your goals.
Live Streaming
What is it?
Live streaming is where you speak to the camera and reach people en masse. It’s one way delivery, but two way conversation. Unsurprisingly, it’s also live instead of recorded. Ecamm Live is an example of a live streaming app that helps you broadcast live video out to social channels like Facebook or YouTube.
Pros
- Connect to people in a powerful way
- Reach more people
- Easy to do on social media platforms
- Can be done publicly or privately
- Can range from easy to do (lower quality) to hard to do (TV broadcast quality)
- Replays are available immediately on social platforms
- You can record and repurpose
- Flexible
Cons
- Not face-to-face
- Fear factor. Yes, things can go wrong (but people are really understanding)
Can Be Used For
- Connecting with customers
- Growing a new audience
- Public webinars
- Virtual summits
- Virtual events
- Bringing customers into conversation
- Interviews
How to Use Live Streaming
As we’ve mentioned in previous episodes, there are four levels of live streaming. Here’s a quick recap.
- Live from your phone – great for getting started
- Go live from the desktop – use browser based services or go directly from Facebook or YouTube
- Downloadable software – like Ecamm Live!
- Full live streaming studio
However you’re going live, it can be a great way to take your business or brand to the next level and can be used alongside any of the video “things” that follow.
Video Conferencing Apps
What is it?
Video conferencing apps allow you to have private group conversations, face-to-face, and in real-time. The most popular video conferencing app right now is Zoom. While Ecamm Live is not a video conferencing app on its own, you can use a video conferencing app alongside it with the Ecamm Live virtual camera. Here is how Zoom and Ecamm Live work together.
Pros
- Private
- Group conversations
- Recording capabilities
- Can do a one-way conference this way, too!
Cons
- Not good for growing an audience
- Not high quality
Can Be Used For
- Work meetings
- Gatherings with family & friends
- Virtual weddings, funerals, and graduations
- Summits
Virtual Summits
What is it?
Virtual summits are private events that attendees register for. This means that virtual summit tools collect user data and, sometimes, payment. This is not something that a live streaming app can do on its own. The most popular virtual summit tool right now is HeySummit, but you can also create a virtual summit using Zoom, or set up a summit on your website by embedding videos from YouTube or Vimeo.
You’ll just need to think through how you’ll be collecting personal data and making sure you keep it secure.
Pro tip! You can use a site like HeySummit or even EventBrite to capture email addresses and payment and then run the live video sessions (your summit content) in a closed Facebook Group or onto unlisted YouTube videos that you can embed into a password protected website.
Pros
- Private
- Can run an entire event online
- Book speakers back to back
- Live or recorded sessions
- Grow your audience
- Potential to generate revenue
Cons
- Not good for reaching new social media audiences
- Time consuming
- Need to make sure you’re protecting sensitive data like email addresses and credit card information
Webinars
What is it?
A webinar is a private training in a one-to-many delivery style. Popular tools/service options for webinars are Demio, EasyWebinar, or use a private page on your website with embedded videos from YouTube unlisted or Vimeo.
Again, you can use live video as part of a webinar, but you’d still need to house it somewhere (unlisted YouTube video or closed Facebook group) in order to keep it private. You would also need a tool or app to collect and store sensitive data like email addresses or payment.
Can Be Used For
- Teaching in a focused environment with no distractions
- Offering products and services
Pros
- Grows your email list quickly
- Offers focused value
- Helps to grow revenue
Cons
- People are often skeptical that you’re trying to pitch them
- Time consuming
As you can see, there are pros and cons for each type of video tool. With a bit of clever planning and out-of-the-box thinking, you can do just about anything with a combination of a few apps and tools.
The important thing is to ask yourself: what am I trying to accomplish? What are the most important things to me?
Remember: live streaming is incredibly versatile and you can likely incorporate live video in each step of your virtual plans to create a professional and affordable workflow.
We’re here to help!
Wherever you are right now with your business, you’re not alone and we’re here to help. Go LIVE Now! is a weekly live show on YouTube and Facebook. If you join us live, you can ask your questions at the end of each episode. If there’s a subject you want us to cover, let us know in the comments below.
Want to learn more about Ecamm shows? We have lots of amazing shows to choose from so you can take your live streaming to the next level.
Or…
Join the Ecamm Live Community to network with other live streamers like you.
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