Today’s rapidly evolving technology has revolutionized the way in which organizations go about their day-to-day operations. One such innovation to take hold of the business world in the past couple of years is streaming media solutions.
In fact, with 80 percent of consumers preferring to watch live videos from a brand (Livestream) and the fact that live streaming is expected to account for 82 percent of all internet traffic in 2020 (Go-Globe), there’s a clear opportunity for organizations to realize significant benefits from streaming solutions.
Streaming media solutions are video hosting platforms that allow businesses to upload and broadcast video content to an audience. Organizations can use video streaming for lead generation, hosting meetings, building brand awareness, training, advertising, event hosting and much more.
In this blog, Genesis Integration will take a look at the popular streaming media solution, webcasting.
What is webcasting?
Webcasting, which combines the words “web and broadcast”, is a live or on-demand streaming solution in which a business can present slides, videos and graphics to a large audience using a “one-to-many” model. This broadcast could be both video or audio-only.
Through the use of webcasting, a host is able to broadcast their presentations from anywhere to anyone with an internet connection. Audience members are able to watch the webcast online from anywhere in the world and on any device, all they will need is an internet connection and access to what is usually gated entry.
To encourage audience engagement and retain the benefits that come with a face-to-face meeting, webcasts generally field questions from participants and facilitate interaction.
Webcasts can be used by businesses to:
- Communicate with customers to advertise new products or services
- Host investor and corporate presentations
- Present product information for customers, partners and employees
- E-learning training and seminars
- Host employee training courses
- Host live meetings, whether with your internal team or external partners
- Make live announcements about your company
- Create awareness about your company’s upcoming events
How your company will benefit from webcasting
Whether your business is looking to reach out to remote employees or a globally spread out customer base, webcasting will bring a number of benefits that help drive your organization closer to achieving its business goals. Some of the key benefits of webcasting include:
Reach a wider audience: To access a webcast, participants only need to have an internet connection. Our organization is able to reach your entire audience/employee base, no matter where they are in the world. This means you can significantly improve access to product information, employee training and investor presentations.
Build better relationships with your customer: Webcasting ensures that your company is able to engage participants like you would in a one-to-one meeting. By improving accessibility to information and allowing customers to engage with your webcast through questions and answers, you’ll be able to create better customer relationships that lead to better-informed and more loyal customers.
Create content urgency: Creating urgency is an important marketing technique that leads to increased conversion and sales. Webcasts do this by allowing the user access to videos for a limited time frame. By creating urgency for an event, presentation or product release video, you’ll generate a buzz online that results in increased leads.
Increased convenience: Webcasts put online by your brand can be watched or listened to by customers, employees or investors in the comfort of their own home or office. This convenience generally leads to higher turnout. Meanwhile, your presenter or instructor can deliver the video from anywhere, saving you money on expenses such as room rental and travel.
Higher quality content: With webcasting your business has a variety of content to choose from. You can host presentations, create radio broadcasts, host live events or partner with renowned instructors to host seminars. By creating richer content that is valuable to your audience, you’ll be able to keep existing customers happy and reach new audiences at the same time.
What is needed to host a webcast?
The hardware and software needed to broadcast a webcast will vary wildly depending on the event that your business is hosting. Hardware can be as easy as a single computer, to as complex as an entire film crew.
Meanwhile, specialized software solutions are used for all webcasts to ensure audience members can access it correctly, that it is steamed seamlessly and there are no issues either before or during the uploading process.
If your business is keen to get into the webcasting game, the most important aspect is choosing the right technology provider. It’s important to choose a technology expert that is able to work with you to create a customized webcast solution that helps meet your organization's unique requirements and goals.
Interested in learning how your business can start webcasting today? Contact our team of technology experts today. Genesis Integration is a leading provider of audio visual and collaborative communication solutions across Canada. We are here to help answer any questions that you may have.
