Live Streaming: This Is the New Selfie and Here’s How Big Brands Are Owning It

We’re all familiar with the modern “selfie” and have seen how celebs, businesses, teenagers, young professionals and pretty much everyone else in the world is using them to self-promote or share their lives in some way. Remember Ellen’s famous selfie at the Oscar’s? Or when Space Station astronaut Aki Hoshide snapped a picture of himself floating around in outer space?

Live Streaming video is quickly turning into the newest way of taking over social media. The New York Times uses it incessantly to grab live feeds of protest marches and other newsworthy events. Kanye used it to promote the release of his “Famous” music video. And brands around the world are using it as a way to make an awesome impression on consumers everywhere.

Video is a very specific medium that, depending on how it is used, can be completely addictive or entirely boring. This has to do with sheer pixels and bits and amounts of neural stimulation. Live video offers a  special and specific connection to the physical, real-time world of fellow humans. A picture is a memory – a live stream is reality. See the difference?

Check out some of these brands that are totally killing it with live streaming.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met has used live videos to popularize openings, exhibitions and events. The preview of “Pergamon and the Hellenistic Kingdoms of the Ancient World” was broadcast four days before the exhibition and received 52,000 views and 1,200 shares within three weeks.

Disney and Airbnb

Airbnb partnered with Disney on a campaign called “Live There.” They built a treehouse set for a Facebook live stream of “The Jungle Book,” featuring interviews at the premiere.

Dunkin’ Donuts

America’s most beloved donut shop live streamed a tour of a test kitchen that ended with a construction of a donut wedding cake. The video resulted in 36,000 views.

Chevrolet

Chevy used live streaming to announce a teaser for a release of their new electric car back in January 2016.

Target

Target and Gwen Stefani teamed up to use Facebook Live to show some behind-the-scenes footage of the star filming her newest video.

Tastemade

Tastemade created a live version of the Tiny Kitchen series, using a miniature kitchen to cook tiny versions of food. The video ended up with over three million views.

Buzzfeed

Buzzfeed doesn’t sell products so they often stage interesting events to make advertising dollars, such as stretching rubber bands over a watermelon until it burst.

Why Does Live Streaming Work?

Live streaming is taking off and it’s time for the rest of us to get on board, just like these brands have. Live video piques viewer curiosities and promises unique value.

Hopefully these examples give you a little inspiration for your next live streaming event.

Looking for even more?  7 Ideas for Live Streaming Content.

Visit LinkedIn.com/in/brianlring to learn more.

Sources:

http://www.audiencebloom.com/7-ideas-for-live-streaming-content/

https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/we-blew-up-a-watermelon-and-everyone-lost-their-freaking-min?utm_term=.cw30YA8A6#.dyploDeDX

https://www.airbnb.com/livethere

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/06/kanye-west-famous-live-stream-music-video-premiere-tidal-1201698889/

http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/astronaut_takes_amazing_self_portrait_in_space.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ellen-degeneres-oscar-selfie-tops-757364

http://insideevs.com/2017-chevrolet-bolt-livestream-ces-2016/