Event streaming has become an increasingly popular way to host conferences, workshops, and other gatherings. Attendees can join from anywhere in the world and participate in real-time or watch the recording at their own convenience, while organizers reap the benefits of convenience, lower costs, higher reach, and data collection. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of virtual event streaming and provide tips on how to successfully host virtual events.
Jump to:
- What is event streaming?
- What are event streaming platforms?
- Benefits of event streaming for businesses
- How to stream your next event the right way?
- Top 3 event streaming platforms in 2023
- More about Kaltura
What is event streaming?
Event streaming is the process of broadcasting a live event or pre-recorded content over the internet using a streaming service. Viewers can then attend the event in real time or consume its content on demand from anywhere with an internet connection.
Virtual event streaming is often used to host conferences, concerts, workshops, and other types of events and overcome the limitations of in-person events, such as time, location, venue/audience size, cost, etc. …
Event streaming can be used to host online-only events (virtual events) or online elements and event streaming in conjunction with an in-person event (hybrid events).
What are event streaming platforms?
An event streaming platform is a software or service that lets you create, manage, and broadcast live or on-demand video streams for virtual events. Professional event streaming platforms offer features such as video and audio encoding, scheduling, audience engagement, and analytics.
Event streaming platforms, such as Kaltura Events, can be used by organizations of all sizes to host a wide range of events, from small-scale interactive webinars to company town halls to multi-day, multi-track events.
Notice that, while YouTube and Vimeo are free and popular streaming platforms, businesses don’t host their events there. The limited options for branding, engagement, lead nurturing, and security make these free platforms unfit for professional use.
Benefits of event streaming for businesses
Virtual event streaming holds many benefits for businesses. We’ll list what we believe to be the 5 biggest advantages of event streaming:
Increased reach – Virtual event streaming allows businesses to reach a wider audience, enabling people to attend, regardless of geographic location, physical ability, schedule constraints, or other limitations. This is especially useful for businesses that want to reach a global audience or have a dispersed workforce.
Cost savings – Virtual event streaming is often more cost-effective than hosting an in-person event, as it eliminates the need for venue rentals, travel expenses, and other costs associated with in-person events.
Greater flexibility – Virtual event streaming allows businesses to take everyone’s convenience into account. Their own as well as that of their audiences and speakers. Everyone can tune in from their preferred time and location. With in-person events, the choice of speakers is not always one of quality and relevance, but also often who’s available. That limitation is mostly removed in online events that offer the possibility of on-demand streaming or simulive streaming (prerecording a session and then streaming it during the live event, with the ability for the audience to chat and interact). Of course, on-demand viewing also keeps on increasing your reach over time, as more viewers consume your content post-event, which in turn does wonders for your ROI.
Enhanced engagement – Event streaming platforms often provide tools for audience engagement, such as live Q&A sessions, polls, social media integration, chat, and audience reactions which can help businesses connect with their audience in a more meaningful way.
Analytics – Virtual event streaming platforms often provide detailed analytics, such as viewership data (performance, engagement, …) and audience demographics, which can help businesses understand the effectiveness of their events and make data-driven decisions about future events.
How to stream your next event the right way?
Many steps, processes, and people are involved in the streaming of a virtual event. Especially live events are prone to issues. And of course, it’s not all about the glory of it. Whether for marketing, branding, or sales, a good event needs to achieve goals. The following 6 steps will help you stream your next virtual event the right way and make it a success in every aspect:
- Choose the right event streaming platform: There are many event streaming platforms available, each with its own features and pricing plans. Take the time to research and compare different platforms to find one that meets your needs and budget. We’ll review the top 3 platforms in the next section.
- Test your setup: Before the event, make sure you have the necessary equipment and software to stream the event. This may include a webcam, microphone, and video editing software. Test your setup to ensure that everything is working properly.
- Promote the event: Share information about the event with your audience through email, paid ads, social media, guest posts, and other channels. Be sure to include a link to the registration page and event site so that people can easily find and access it.
- Engage with your audience: During the event, make sure to engage with your audience through the chat function or other interactive features provided by the event streaming platform. This can help keep people interested and connected to the event. Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) should play a key role here.
- Monitor and optimize the stream: Keep an eye on the stream during the event to ensure that it is running smoothly and to make any necessary adjustments. If you are using a live stream, you may also want to have a backup plan in case of any technical issues.
- Follow up after the event: After the event, follow up with your audience to thank them for attending and to gather feedback. This can help you improve your strategy for future events and increase engagement.
Top 3 event streaming platforms in 2023
Here are the three best streaming platforms you can’t go wrong with in 2023, though we have an outspoken preference for the first contender…
1. Kaltura
Kaltura’s Events platform puts emphasis on the event experience and ease of use with event templates, endless customization and branding options, and many other features that make Kaltura Events an engaging and highly personalized branded experience for the attendee and an ROI treasure trove for the host.
From small interactive webinars to company town halls and multi-day, multi-track events Kaltura delivers reliable and high-quality events streaming at any scale and for any purpose, live or on-demand.
Put your audience and content front and center with simple registration, personalized agendas, fun engagement tools, and ice-breaking networking features.
Get maximum ROI with granular attendee data collection, user action tracking, and post-event analytics for effective lead follow-up and performance reporting.
Kaltura is the most reliable, customizable, feature-rich but convenient event streaming platform that offers an all-in-one solution for memorable and engaging branded experiences. Get a free demo to find out how Kaltura Events can improve your business in 2023, with no strings attached.
2. Hopin
Hopin is a virtual event platform that allows you to host and attend online events, such as conferences, meetups, and trade shows. It offers great live streaming, networking, and breakout session features.
One of the main benefits of using Hopin is that it provides a seamless and immersive experience for attendees, with a variety of interactive elements such as polls, Q&A sessions, and virtual exhibitor booths. The platform also has a user-friendly interface, making it easy for both organizers and attendees to navigate.
Additionally, Hopin offers a range of tools and resources for event organizers, including the ability to customize the event page, promote the event through social media, and track metrics such as attendance and engagement.
Overall, Hopin is a reliable and feature-rich platform that can help you host successful virtual events.
3. IBM Video Cloud
IBM Video Cloud is a cloud-based video platform where you can host and attend online events, from webinars to conferences. Some of the key features of the platform include live streaming, on-demand playback, and interactive elements like polls and Q&A sessions.
IBM Video Cloud provides a scalable and customizable solution for hosting online events. The platform can accommodate a large number of attendees and offers a range of tools and resources for event organizers, including the ability to brand the event page, promote the event through social media, and track metrics such as attendance and engagement.
In terms of user experience, IBM Video Cloud offers a smooth and seamless experience for attendees, with a user-friendly interface and a variety of interactive elements. The platform also has a number of security and privacy features to ensure that your event is safe and secure.
Overall, IBM Video Cloud is a reliable and feature-rich platform that can help you host successful online events.
More about Kaltura
Kaltura is a video platform that offers a wide range of video products and services for businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations. Some of its features include live event streaming, video hosting, and video management tools. Kaltura is the leading solution offering a feature-rich, robust, and reliable platform that is famed for its flexibility and ability to integrate with other systems, making it a popular choice for organizations looking to incorporate video into their communication and collaboration strategies.
