
Why Is Live Video Not Catching On?
What’s wrong with live video? A Sprout Social research project showed that more than half of marketers want to try live video this year, but the operative word is “try.” I bet they will not be successful.
I worked in the TV world for around 15 years. Using that former TV lens, what I see is that most people treat live broadcasts on YouTube and Facebook like a business that just puts up an OPEN sign and expects people to flow in. If you have a sale, you better do more than add a few helium balloons and cook some hot dogs.
Live TV, like anything new, requires promotion and plenty of it — and I’m not talking about a few posters on restaurant bulletin boards. We’re talking serious and extensive advertising. You need to put as much effort into your advertising as you do for your show.
Right before you go live, hit the promotion with a “coming up next” marketing effort. Even blockbuster movies require a lot of advertising to get people to watch. Many spend just as much advertising the movie as they do producing the movie.
Before you “try” live Facebook or YouTube, remember that neither will help you promote your show. You need to go all in.
And remember the great words from Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.”