Self-employment has its downsides. Working for yourself can be a lonely affair and whisper it quietly but not everyone enjoys marketing. A new business-building tool though is now rolling out across social media, and for the self-employed it’s a fun way to grow and build a customer base. Here are three reasons that you should be using live video to promote your business:
1. Live Video Has Built-In Urgency
Live video is the only marketing format that lets you control when it’s seen. As soon as you start broadcasting, your social media followers will get a notification on their phones telling them that you’re live. You actually get to poke thousands of people at the same time, and say: “Look at me now.”
They might be able to watch a recording of the video later but if they want to see you live, they need to take action now. And by action, I mean they have to just sit back and watch.
2. Live Video Is Interactive
No other marketing channel gives audiences the opportunity to interact with the broadcaster. As you’re talking, your followers will be able to write comments and ask questions, and you’ll be able to answer them and address their issues in real time.
Forget about wondering what your customers think about your product or your service. Stop trying to second guess the issues that bother them the most. Live video lets you ask them directly, and get an answer right away. It’s the fastest and most enjoyable form of market research you can conduct.
3. Live Video Is Easy
Facebook is now rolling out its own live video to desktops but you can expect to be broadcasting from your mobile phone. You’ll just have to click an icon, enter a title and decide who you want to broadcast to. It’s the kind of thing you can do between tasks or while you’re taking a coffee break. Instead of slurping your Java alone, share your mug with the customers and followers who take your posts on social media.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t go further. A live video conference call with your customers is simple, but you’ll get the most viewers if you give them time to share and tell their friends. Somewhere between half an hour and an hour has been found to be the optimal time. And they’ll be more likely to share if you can provide content that’s entertaining, informative, or ideally both.
So don’t just film yourself talking to your phone. Bring in a colleague or a partner and interview them about their work. Give viewers a tour of your studio or office, and show them how the work gets done. Ask your audience to set you a professional challenge and meet it live on camera. Once the broadcast is over, Facebook and Twitter will keep it online, letting you benefit from the content in the future.
Live video is a whole new way for the self-employed to connect with their audiences and their markets. You should be playing with it now.
For a free PDF featuring a proven 8-step formula to help you succeed with your live videos, click here.
