Public speaking doesn’t just happen in the front of a room full of people. These days you need your public speaking skills in a wide variety of situations. One of the most popular ways to reach your audience is video. They’re everywhere! Periscope. YouTube. Facebook.
Live video is clearly the hottest thing since Facebook, and marketers in every niche are taking advantage by hosting their own events.
Some of them are good. Some are well-attended, fun to watch, and you leave feeling like you benefitted from attending. But some of them feel like they’re an afterthought, put together at the last minute, and don’t really bring out the best in the host.
If you’re thinking of hosting a live video event (and you should), you don’t want to fall into that latter group! Here’s how to avoid it.
Promote, Promote, Promote
On many platforms, a live video event is just a few clicks away. You can literally plan and host a video in just a few minutes, and an impromptu event can be fun.
But with a little planning, you’ll have a much better turnout. And that planning must include promotion. For the best turnout, start promoting at least a week or two in advance to give people time to plan and put it on their calendar.
Let your private groups, Facebook friends and Twitter followers know about upcoming events. Email your list. Post a blog. Even consider running paid ads for your upcoming video event if there’s the potential to grow your list or increase your sales.
In short, don’t just throw a party without extending invitations to your friends!
Interact with Your Audience
One of the biggest draws of a live video event is the opportunity to interact with the host. Your viewers want to see you and get to know you better. They also want to chat with the other participants and have the opportunity to ask questions. (All the things they are not able to do from just a download.)
Don’t make the mistake of ignoring them. To do so is to say, “You’re not important to me.”
Instead, take the time to chat up the audience, acknowledge their presence, and answer their questions. Even if it takes you out of the flow and you lose your place momentarily, it’s worth it to make viewers feel respected and as if they’re a part of the event rather than just a passive viewer. Remember, building rapport with you audience also builds trust. The more you are trusted the more people will turn to you when they need your expertise.
Remember to check the comments later, too. If your video is available for viewing after the live event is over, encourage the conversation in the comments.
Also, remember to include the people who signed up and may not have been able to attend. Email them a link to watch the video at a later date. Be sure to include any offers you made and a link to purchase them.
Repeat What Works
You have a lot of options when it comes to live video. Periscope, YouTube, Facebook, and others all have their place, and I encourage you to try them all. But in the end, you’ll want to concentrate on what’s working.
If your audience loves Facebook but can’t figure out Periscope, it makes no sense to broadcast there. The same goes for length, topic choices, and day and time of broadcast. You’ll want to test all the variables, track your results, and do more of what’s working.
Here’s what you don’t need to worry about when it comes to live video: Perfection.
No one expects you to look like a cover model or to speak like a news anchor. In fact, looking too perfect, might actually negatively impact your results, because you could come across as unapproachable. Having said that, don’t show up looking like you just rolled out of bed. People make decisions based on what they see. If you show up looking a mess it suggests your business is a mess too. Take a few minutes to put yourself together so you look somewhat professional. Being real does not mean unpolished!