The way we connect with people has changed drastically, and the way we work has also evolved. Imagine reaching out to a massive audience over video right from where you are seated. Does it seem difficult? Maybe it used to, but not anymore, and we owe it all to technology. In 2020, we had to say good bye to hosting physical events and resort to connecting virtually. Virtual events are now running the show, thanks to the video broadcasting tools that have made this possible.
According to Wordstream, one third of all online activity is spent watching videos. When it comes to video content being generated globally, video broadcasting has played an important role. A study by Cisco reported that live video will account for at least 13% of all internet video traffic by the end of 2021 (as compared to 3% in 2016).
Live video has helped businesses reach out to employees, clients, and potential customers, and in turn contributed to higher retention and revenue generation. Let's take a look at how video broadcasting came in place and how it’s shaping up today’s communication.
The start of something revolutionary
Today, if you have a decent internet connection and a mobile phone, you can instantly start a video call right from where you are. It's as simple as that. But to get here, there had to be a beginning and it wasn’t easy. Although various theories around video communication existed in the early 1900s, the practical application happened through the concept of Videotelephony in the 1930s. Video conferencing wasn’t commercially available for people to use until 1970when AT&T released the Picturephone. The Picturephone's run was short-lived as the adoption cost was high and couldn’t be scaled.
Fast forward to the 2000s: video conferencing began creating a revolution as more businesses started adopting it with improved technology and affordable pricing. They realized they could cut down on travel costs and easily connect with people across borders while seated inside their office. This development in technology fueled the growth of video communication as different kinds of businesses like hospitals, universities, software giants, and more began connecting rapidly through video.
Video conferencing offers many advantages, but it also comes with limitations with respect to the reach you get. Most cloud-based communication apps support video meetings up to 1000 users on a single call. But what if you want to connect with a bigger audience? That’s when video broadcasting comes into play.
Live video broadcasting: connecting people across borders
Video broadcasting helps you reach out to people over live broadcast, allowing you to host events and let people be a part of it. Whether it's a simple town hall discussion in your organization or an external launch event, live video broadcasting has become one of the go-to tools for most organizations during work from home.
All you need is a laptop or a mobile device with a browser and internet connectivity to get started with video broadcasting. Cloud-based video broadcasting tools can be accessed from the browser or as applications on your device. Once you are set up with these tools, you can start streaming your video live using your broadcast platform and connect with people.
As reported by Uscreen, live streaming events increased by 300% between March to August in 2020. With the COVID situation forcing us to shut down offices and work from home, organizations started investing in seamless online communication platforms to keep their team communication up and running. This also led to a stark increase in video conferencing feature upgrades, giving way to stronger means of communication. Notable annual events usually attended by thousands of people like Apple WWDC conferences and product launches completely shifted to live broadcasting. The Apple WWDC 2020 event (the first online-only conference by Apple) was live-streamed and recorded around 22 million views, with people tuning in from all over the world.
We at Zoho completely shifted to hosting virtual events for customers spread across different regions like APAC, MEA,and the US. We've also been conducting on-demand training using our video streaming applications.
How to use video broadcasting for your business?
The main purpose of video broadcasting is to provide a wider reach and help connect people across locations. You can stream live video for multiple purposes. The key is to identify your needs and start using the tool in the best way. In 2020, watch time for live content went up by 250% according to Think with Google. The growth of live video has been tremendous over the past year and shows us how people are depending more on to live streaming applications now. If you are wondering how video broadcasting and live streaming will benefit your business, here are some examples:
- Market your product online: Video is the fastest consumed content online and there's no better way to expand your reach than to put your product out there for millions of users to watch. Since video is streamed in real time, it can increase engagement rate as well.
- Educate people through live video: As per Uscreen's reports, e-learning saw an increase of over 980% in minutes live-streamed between March and August of 2020. People are turning more to online learning, and this is the best time to make use of this platform.
- Connect with employees via internal broadcasts: If you are someone who used to host regular town hall sessions at work to connect with your employees, you should try out video broadcasting for your organization. Host sessions to make announcements, share performance updates, and easily connect with your entire organization.
Finding the right tools for powerful video communication
With the necessary tools, video communication can go a long way. Once you've identified why you want to start using video broadcasting for your business, the next step is to find an app that will precisely suit your needs.
Virtual events are booming, so if you're planning to host one for your customers or to grow your audience, you can try out live streaming applications available in the market. Some popular apps for virtual events are Periscope, Dacast, Ustream,and Livestream. You could also make use of your social media presence and host free live broadcasting events on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Vimeo.
In addition to connecting with your customers, you can also use live video broadcasts to interact with your teammates. Since enterprise organizations have vast employee strength, bringing all of them on board for a video call might not be feasible. For company-wide announcements and interactions, you can use the live broadcast option to talk to your colleagues. Zoho Cliq supports up to 10k users for every live video broadcast session, through which you can power your organization's video communication. While opting for a communication app for your business, ensure it comes with a built-in video broadcast feature to facilitate seamless communication.
Here are some pointers to note while you're choosing a video broadcasting app for your business:
- Good bandwidth
- Security features
- Ad-free broadcasting
- User-friendly interface
- Live chat and interactive features
- Session recording
- Real-time analytics
- Mobile-friendly
- 24/7 customer support
Try out a video broadcasting application for your business today and start connecting with your employees, customers,and potential users around the world.
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