You would be remiss not to consider the advantages of live streaming for business. For starters, the fact that anyone with an internet connection can check out your broadcast from any location can help you reach a massive audience. Thanks to that, you increase brand awareness, establish relationships with potential customers and increase the company’s overall reputation, which leads to increased sales.

Streaming is not only about the potential profit. You can also save money because you are streaming everything online. There is no need to organize accommodation and travel for visitors, pay for catering etc. All this makes streaming a cost-effective strategy for broadcasting your brand message.

Would you like to join the world of corporate live streaming? Here is a detailed guide on how to prepare an online broadcast and ensure everything goes smoothly.

Step 1: Establish the Specifics of Your Event

Your first move is to establish the specifics of your event. We are saying that because there are different types of business events that can be streamed.

Those include:

• Product presentations
• Webinars and training
• Virtual conferences
• Team meetings

However, the equipment and other requirements depend on the desired event type. For example, if you plan on a product presentation, having the item presented from multiple angles and using several cameras can make the entire stream more impressive.

Those who are streaming webinars and conferences should ensure that the viewers can hear anyone who is speaking. However, a webinar might involve the instructor moving, which suggests that a clip-on microphone is the best idea. As for the classic conference where the participants are sitting, a stationary microphone might be better. However, if it is a large event, you will surely need multiple microphones.

Video demands are not as high when organizing internal events. That is because you don’t have to worry about every detail when streaming a team meeting. Decent video quality and knowing that everyone can communicate and be seen clearly should be enough.

Step 2: Inspect the Location for Specific Requirements

Apart from the event specifics, you need to consider the location. That is because the premises will dictate how you will place the equipment, as well as the possible angles for deploying the cameras, microphones etc.

That is why you need to inspect the location for your live stream carefully. Start by assessing where you could position the camera to record everything without disrupting the participants. Don’t forget about the importance of proper lighting—if it is necessary, you might need a back or front light.

People often forget about the cables, although they are an essential component of preparing any live stream. It is critical that you have all the proper cables and that they are of sufficient length as well. You should aim to avoid cables being visible on the stream and try to ensure that they don’t bother the participants. It would be bad if someone trips over a cable while streaming the event!

Step 3: Gather and Install the Equipment

The next step is to gather and install the equipment. Here is how that will work:

1. Position the camera(s). If you are using a smartphone camera, always go with a tripod mount as it secures stability.
2. Place the audio equipment. Some events require microphones and an audio mixer can be helpful when you receive sound from multiple sources.
3. Connect everything to the base. The “base” is a PC or laptop you use for the stream. USB and other parts will serve to connect the equipment. Don’t forget to install suitable streaming software on the computer. You need it to send the signal to the desired platform.

Step 4: Test If Everything Works

It is now time to see if everything functions the way it should. You will need a reliable internet connection that offers at least 1.5x bigger upload bandwidth than your desired streaming rate. For example, an HD video stream at 2mbps will require at least 3mbps of upload capabilities.

Access the desired streaming platform and confirm that everything works. Even if it does, check it one more time right before the event starts. Don’t forget to be around during the event because something might go wrong at any moment.

As you can see, live streaming for a business is not the easiest task. If you don’t want to risk anything, consider contacting a professional streaming service. That is a guaranteed way to impress everyone watching the stream while saving yourself time and effort.