#2017Trends – Video on a Budget (How Live Video Will Make You an Influencer in Your Industry)

The hottest trend for influencers in 2017 will be video marketing. Live video options hit Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter last summer, and the trend is still going strong. With 1.442 billion monthly mobile users on Facebook and the 600k skyrocket of Instagram active Instagram users since the introduction of ‘Instagram Stories’, live video can’t be ignored.

But how do you create live video that doesn’t suck the life out of your viewers? You want to be an influencer in your industry, and that means your live video can’t be amateur hour. It also can be done without breaking the bank budget-wise.

Here are some key ways to create video on a budget and become an influencer in your industry:

1.      Know the limits of your camera. Your smartphone or streaming device needs to be clear and focused on you or the event you’re tracking. Shaky phones, hands, and scenery can jerk the viewer out of their comfort zone. Stabilize your phone using a tripod, if possible.

2.     Prepare, prepare, prepare. You are giving a speech or presentation to the world. Should you do it off-the-cuff? Unless you are a king or queen of improv, the answer is no. Practice before the live event, know what you want to say and how you’ll say it. Practice in front of your recording device multiple times so you can see how you do. Are you staring at the camera? Looking off screen? Constantly twitching? Awkwardly looking around? Do you tap your pencil as you talk? These things are important. If you look nervous and uncomfortable, it’s hard for viewers to be confident and you lose that influence you’re trying to gain.

3.      Record your live event! You can record your live event using independent apps such as Replay Video Capture. Keep in mind that the only way to record it is through another phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet. Recording while streaming on your phone is almost impossible since you have to stream from the Facebook mobile app (sorry, no browser options yet). You can offer up a reply to subscribers of your page or newsletter, save it for future use, and release it on your video social networking site (such as YouTube).

4.      Have a goal before you start your live event. You need to know what you want to gain from your audience before you begin. There should either be a call-to-action, informational, or an instructional component that will benefit your viewer. A great example of an instructional video is one where you assemble or use a product from your company (or another company, if you’re reviewing a product). Informational could be reporting live from a convention or other event. A call-to-action could be to sign up for your newsletter, webinar, buy a product, try a product, or more.

5.      You can have pre-recorded content in your video. Ensure that over 90% of it is live or else you will lose the confidence of your viewers. Use a free app like Adobe Spark Video to create your video intro and outro, or, if you are reporting on an incident or event, use Adobe Spark Video to compile those clips to be aesthetically pleasing for the viewer.

The sky is the limit when it comes to influencer marketing and live video. Be prepared for the best and worst. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be.

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Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedInFacebookTwitterBlogGoogle+,YouTubePinterestInstagram and the tools to manage them.

#2017Trends, Facebook Live, Influencer, Influencer Marketing, live video, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, video, Video Marketing, Visual Content


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