Video accounts for the overwhelming majority of Internet traffic at more than 80 percent. Granted, a lot of that traffic stems from a handful of streaming services that specialize in movies and TV shows.
The thing is that most of that streaming happens on-demand. You search for something, hit play, and service queues it up for you. For businesses, though, there is another approach you can add to your digital marketing strategy: Livestreaming.
While you certainly can take the reins of your livestream production, is a production team the way to go? If you’re unsure what livestreaming is, how to do it, or if you need a production team for it, keep reading for our overview.
What Is a Livestream?
Have you ever watched a live performance on TV? If so, you already have the basics of a livestream. In essence, a livestream is a digital broadcast that happens and transmits in real-time.
The main difference is that livestreaming happens online, instead of being broadcast to a TV channel or network. Most businesses also make a point of recording the livestream so they can repurpose the content.
In some cases, they’ll simply upload the entire recording for people to watch on-demand. You see this with things like presentations and sometimes with events. In other cases, the business will chunk out pieces of the broadcast as individual videos they post separately.
How to Livestream?
The how-to of a livestream production isn’t especially complicated in theory. You only need a few things to make it work:
- A camera
- A microphone
- An encoder
- A streaming platform
- Sufficient bandwidth
The camera and microphone provide the raw video and audio. The encoder converts the raw video and audio into something you can transmit online. The streaming platform receives the encoded video and audio and makes it available to audiences.
To make the whole thing work, you need enough Internet bandwidth at your location to upload the encoded video and audio in real-time. Based on these requirements, it sounds like anyone with a decent computer and internet service can livestream.
That’s true, as far as it goes. At this point, it becomes more a matter of production quality than a matter of whether I can do this from home.
What Is a Livestream Production Team?
If you forget to turn off a movie or you’re waiting for another show to start, you see the credits roll. Almost all of those names and job titles are the production team for the show. Those are the people who handle a truly staggering number of technical and non-technical tasks that make a show or film possible.
A livestream production team fills the same kind of role for your livestream. For a lot of businesses, the primary roles the production team fill are technical roles. The production team handles things like:
- Technical checks
- Managing the streaming
- Recording
A production team may take on other tasks, though, such as pre-production design and scriptwriting. Some teams may also handle post-production tasks, such as editing and graphics. For example, if you only want a specific section for a video upload, they might add things like your logo at the beginning of the video.
In-Studio vs On-Site
Different businesses bring different needs to their livestream productions. Some businesses want to keep the production in-house as much as possible. That means they set up the area where the filming/streaming happens, provide all of the equipment, and use the production team primarily for technical assistance and consultation.
This approach maximizes control, but it’s not necessarily the best solution. Securing all of the equipment, such as cameras, lights, and microphones can cost a lot. Plus, you need people on staff who know how to position the lighting, mics, and cameras for the best effect.
The other option is working with a livestream production team that has its own production studio. Instead of setting up a dedicated space in your own offices, securing the equipment, and hiring staff, you use the production team’s space, equipment, and staff.
Benefits of Studio Production
Studio production offers several key benefits that make it superior to trying to film in-house. Right at the top of the list is that a studio is designed with video production in mind.
For example, most studios have some level of soundproofing to minimize environmental noise. While you can theoretically soundproof a space in your business, it’s another expense and studio-level soundproofing is hard to replicate without a major investment.
On top of that, people who work in studios know when not to walk into a room. While you can try to safeguard your on-site livestream space from unwanted interruptions, it’s a tall order.
Plus, the production studio will have all the necessary equipment for streaming on hand, as well as ensure the necessary bandwidth for successful streaming.
Hiring a Production Team
If you decide to hire a team for your livestream production, there are some things you should look for in the team. Some of the most important things include:
- Experience
- Technical knowledge for multiple steaming platforms
- Solid communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Necessary equipment
If you want a team that also provides studio production, you should take a tour of the studio. If possible, ask to sit in on them running a livestream. Ask what other productions they work on, then review the end results online.
That combination should help you find a team that will provide you with solid results.
A Production Team and You
At first blush, a production team might seem like overkill for you. Once you dig into all of the moving parts that must function perfectly for a good livestream, though, a production team will likely start looking like an absolute necessity.
A production team brings technical experience, production experience, and even pre- and post-production services to the table. They can help you deliver a livestream that runs smoothly, every time.
San Francisco Media Group provides livestream video production services. For more information or question, contact San Francisco Media Group today.
