Live streaming has always been a part of events but exploded during the pandemic. They provided a way for businesses to communicate over distance both internally and externally, so they work amazingly well.
While all event types are now possible again, the livestream is now such a part of our consciousness, it should be included within as many event types as possible.
Here are some apps that can help with that. We have experimented with all of these and think each has something to offer.
Why not use an app most of us are already familiar with for your livestream? Facebook Live is a fairly reliable medium suitable for live streaming some events with a simple, familiar interface.
Facebook is on almost every phone and every computer in the world. It requires minimal training, most audiences will know and trust it and you can leverage the power of social media to promote the event at the same time.
Instagram Live is similar to Facebook in that it’s a live broadcast feature added to the social network. Streams can be implemented from within the Instagram app and will be broadcast live and saved in a video archive.
Instagram Live won’t allow high quality production values but for less formal live streams, outdoor broadcasts or events where Instagram is particularly relevant to the topic or audience, it can work out well.
The Vimeo Livestream product is designed specifically for businesses and live events. It’s a more robust system than Facebook with some extra tools for promoting, engaging and running the event.
It isn’t a free service but the subscription plans aren’t that expensive and do offer some useful extra tools to help increase the quality of the stream and engagement within the event itself.
YouTube Live is the video giant’s live streaming option. It was one of the first to market and is still immensely popular. Not only can you stream events live, you can then make them available as videos after, ready to leverage your social media following.
YouTube Live has a range of tools available for scheduling, managing, promoting and broadcasting events. It enables live chat within broadcasts and can even add a short delay between live and broadcast to help avoid any NSFW moments!
Not wanting to be left out, everyone’s favourite professional social network also wants in on the livestreaming action. LinkedIn Live is an alternative to these others but is invite only at the moment.
If you do get an invite, you get some powerful broadcast tools, integrated chat tools, a host of marketing and promotion opportunities and the cachet of using a ‘professional’ social network.
If your target audience is under 25, TikTok Live may be the streaming app you’re looking for. It uses the same app and recording tools as the main app but allows you to broadcast live to your fans.
There may be work required to get it up and running but as long as your account has more than 1,000 followers, you can live stream using the app. You can also use moderators, accept comments, add effects and all the usual creativity inherent in TikTok.
Dacast is a professional live streaming platform ideal for B2B or corporate livestreams. It’s a premium product but has the quality of service you may be looking for along with a lot of controls over branding, accessibility, broadcast quality and more.
There are a lot of tools for monetising streams if required as well as analytics, content restrictions and other useful features. You cannot leverage existing audiences with products like Dacast but the quality of the end product is undisputed.
JW Player is one of the most popular video players on the web. JW Live is their live streaming product. It’s an enterprise solution suited to larger productions and events but delivers a huge range of tools and 24/7 support to all customers.
It is a premium product though but delivers high quality streaming, DVR and VOD tools, monetization options, analytics and a whole lot more.
Those are some of many live streaming apps around right now. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses and will be suitable for different event types and audiences.
There is sure to be something here you can use though!
