As weeks go by, more and more companies are starting to understand what Periscope and Meerkat actually are in the grand marketing scheme – the soon-to-be major players in digital and social marketing. It isn’t that live streaming is something new (from YouTube and Twitch to cable companies streaming) but apps like those two have put it in the spotlight in today’s marketing landscape.
As with all the tools and apps that promise to be the future of anything, everyone is jumping on board. But unlike many, oh so many others that have failed to live up to their promises, Periscope (and Meerkat, to a lesser extent) are actually showing how any business can benefit from its potential. The great thing about those services is that your business can also use them to rock the marketing world. You just have to learn what you’re doing and put that big brain of yours into action. Here are some suggestions.
1 – Live Q&A sessions, support and tutorials
Your audience surely has lots of things to say to you – questions, doubts, opinions. Using these apps is a great way to show your customers you’re listening to what they have to say and actually answer them. By using Periscope or Meerkat to do it, you’ll humanize your brand, clear all doubts and even teach your clients something about your product. Additionally, you can turn these sessions into a weekly or quarterly event to contact your audience and gain amazing feedback.
2 – Live focus groups and demonstrations for new products/services
Talking about amazing feedback, that can be applied to anything you offer, from your product to your site and the way you do social. Feedback is always great but it becomes crucial in the development stages of a new product, service or even in a major overhaul of your site. These apps make it really easy to show your new logo, site or service and hear what potential consumers have to say. Periscope and Meerkat aren’t just useful for the development stages. Once you have your new product on the streets, both apps are the tools you need to reveal it, promote and demonstrate how it works.
3 – Show people who you are
Social networking has changed how people see and relate to companies. Gone are the faceless corporations of yesterday – today is all about the people behind the business. Social media is the perfect platform to show it and Periscope and Meerkat aren’t different. Prepare a tour through your facilities, stream an interesting part of your process, show interviews and tease new services – people will surely love that.
4 – Announce exclusive promos
We all love to feel special, so making your viewers feel that way will certainly have a positive effect. How can you do it? The easiest trick is to offer them some exclusive benefit – a viewer-only discount, a code for a flash sale or anything you can think of. Make them an offer they can’t refuse and reward people that take the time to view your streams and listen to what you have to say.
5 – Build a network
Social networks are named that way for an obvious reason – they connect people to other people. So, start following clients, potential customers, even other businesses in your field. How you connect with all of these people will impact your overall strategy. You’ll meet new opportunities along the way, while also listening to valuable feedback you wouldn’t get otherwise. Your products and services are meant for an audience – be sure you’re close to it.
It’s hard to tell if Periscope and Meerkat are here to stay or will join the hundreds of other failed revolutions we’ve seen in the past. But that doesn’t mean that using these apps is a waste of time. Ultimately, a creative use of these tools (any tools, actually) can show others there’s a huge potential in them and might help in making them stay. We’ve seen the Periscope and Meerkat’s potential – what are you going to do with it?
