Nothing lures people in more than a good story. American story consultant, Robert McKee once said, “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.”  And in an age of technology, storytelling has become a cakewalk.

Gen Z, the youngest generation of consequence, comprises approximately 72 million Americans and 27% of the population.  For Gen Z, storytelling and digital engagement is a daily priority as they connect on the Internet and social platforms for over 10 hours every day, according to a survey made by Adobe. They seek real-time communication with content creators, chat with trusted peers, engage in political discussion and answer live polls. They are, in effect, the primary active target audience sought after by video livestreaming services.

A survey by software company Livestream and New York Magazine shows that 80% of audiences prefer livestreamed videos to blog content. Moreover, with livestreaming becoming a popular feature on social platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, brands have accepted it as a vital component of social media marketing and invested28% of their budgets on livestreaming shows.

Create authentic connections 

Accelerating the importance of livestreaming is the fact that Gen Z is evolving into a critical consumer category. The “Next Generation Report” from Business Insider Intelligence says Gen Z will shortly become the largest consumer population in the U.S. According to Business Insider, they are already estimated to influence $143 billion in spending in the U.S. alone. With their ability to influence purchasing decisions, Gen Z is transforming livestreaming into an industry worth over $30 billion, which is expected to be worth over $70 billion by 2021.  A new study by ABI Research further estimates there will be 91 million subscribers utilizing livestreaming by 2024.

What is more, Gen Z completely shuns traditional media, seeking instead platforms where they can directly connect with brands. Characteristically, this generation is partial to honesty and transparency, which livestreaming offers, with all the glitches of spontaneous reality. Savvy brands, therefore, are creating fresh digital marketing strategies incorporating livestreaming, especially during these challenging times, bringing events in real time to locked-down audiences.

Related: 5 Content Marketing Trends You Need to Know for 2020

Recycle content once and build new video assets

Brand marketers are discovering the value of livestreamed content beyond the event, incorporating livestreamed content in subsequent videos and building an arsenal of marketing collateral.

Vogue used the livestreamed Met Gala for a live video on behind-the-scenes activity in making it happen. The video received over 200,000 views. After National broadcaster KBS launchedBMW’s M2 on Periscope, it subsequently used the launch to return with the brand’s first interactive live-action adventure, on the app.

Similarly, many brands are recycling livestreamed content as live video footage on regular brand videos, as an important part of subsequent marketing strategy, to draw new customers. Forbes quotes Brandlive as stating that nearly 95% of brand and agency executives said live video would be an important part of their marketing strategy.

Brand marketers, thus, see it as two for the price of one, and an opportunity to capture new customers.

Related: New To Instagram Live? Here’s How To Show Up Like A Pro

Bridge the virtual and physical worlds

Not long ago, there were significant gaps in streaming media technology that made live streaming inaccessible to many organizations and limited their brand expansion within the boundaries of their business’ country of origin. Today all this seems like prehistory, as the technology leapfrogged into its current user-friendly format, providing digital marketers the option of using livestreaming to get their brand in front of global audiences in real time.

Related: 5 Content Ideas for Making Money With Facebook Live

Generate Valuable Market Insight 

At a live event, a brand cannot quantify how many in the audience are captivated or bored. But livestreaming allows brands to obtain information by asking questions like:

Were there more viewers at the beginning of livestreamed event that at the end? If so by how much?

When people return to re-watch the presentation, what do they watch?

What does the audience say about the presentation?

These features unique to livestreaming video provide criticalfeedback on real audience reactions that cannot be obtained in any other way.

Essential for improving brand awareness

Using livestreaming video has the potential of becoming a clear growth hack for almost any brand, as you will be better positioned to form those invaluable connections with your clients. If you know how to make use of the technology available, creating those connections could be easier than ever. Understanding why livestreaming matters could be crucial to improving your business’ brand awareness.

By: Prabalta Rijal Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor

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Philip VanDusen

Increasing brand awareness should be the number one goal of every entrepreneur, business and creative professional. If no one knows that your brand exists and cannot recognize your brand when they come across it in the marketplace, then you have some real important brand design and marketing work to do. There are many ways to improve brand awareness ranging from strategic partnerships to content development, this video will help you understand if you are taking advantage of all the opportunities that are available to you to build your business effectively and efficiently. —————————————————————————————— Philip VanDusen is the founder of Verhaal Brand Design, a strategic design and branding consultancy in the New York City metro area. He is an accomplished creative executive and expert in strategic branding, graphic design and creative management. Philip gives design, branding, marketing and business advice to creative professionals and entrepreneurs on building successful creative practices and brands. —————————————————————————————— MY WEBSITE: http://www.philipvandusen.com JOIN THE BRAND•MUSE NEWSLETTER: http://www.philipvandusen.com/muse FREE MINI-EBOOK DOWNLOAD: “9 Design Elements Your Brand Absolutely, Positively Needs” http://www.philipvandusen.com/direct-… FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/philipvandusen SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/c/PhilipVanDusen FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/philipvandu… LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Verhaal-Bran… GET TUBEBUDDY – THE BEST TOOL FOR YOUTUBERS: https://www.tubebuddy.com/philipvandusen RECOMMENDED BOOKS TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR BRAND AND CREATIVE PRACTICE: “Imagine: How Creativity Works”, Jonah Lehrer http://amzn.to/2mJpQe9 “Free Agent Nation” by Daniel Pink http://amzn.to/2mWlbpR “Orbiting the Giant Hairball” by Gordon MacKenzie http://amzn.to/2noTnIL “Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work” by Kevin Carroll http://amzn.to/2moisCu “Change By Design”, by Tim Brown http://amzn.to/2uaXYjX “Good Design Is A Tough Job” by Kirsten Dietz, Jochen Rädeker http://amzn.to/2CAIH0r “The Art of Innovation” by Tom Kelley http://amzn.to/2wtAevL “The Edge: 50 Tips from Brands That Lead” by Allen Adamson http://amzn.to/2Ef6fse “Art + Design” by Rex Ray http://amzn.to/2yLMRRT “Crush It” by Gary Vayerchuk http://amzn.to/2eYdfPO “Expert Secrets” by Russel Brunson http://amzn.to/2zEDOBT “See You at the Top” by Zig Ziglar http://amzn.to/2hBcdhw “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi http://amzn.to/2BhBEK MY EQUIPMENT + TOOLS: Canon EOS 80D DLSR Camera: http://amzn.to/2nn4y4q Canon EOS 80D 18-55mm kit lens: http://amzn.to/2mnAAws Canon EOS 80D Yongnuo 35mm lens: http://amzn.to/2nniETh RODE NT2000 Condenser Mic: http://amzn.to/2mFoNvG ART Tube MP: Tube Mic PreAmp: http://amzn.to/2mFoVeE Mackie HR824 Studio Monitors: http://amzn.to/2nxQNz3 Sony MDR 7506 Headphones: http://amzn.to/2mFpsxa Screenflow: video editing software: http://amzn.to/2nxFLK3 Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-color 480 LED Video Light http://amzn.to/2Cz8INK Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920: http://amzn.to/2nmX4hZ Rode smartLav+ Lavalier Microphone: http://amzn.to/2n2xL7B OWC ThunderBay 4 0GB 4-Bay HD Enclosure: http://amzn.to/2npj7Va Toshiba 3.5-Inch 2TB 7200 RPM HD (x4): http://amzn.to/2mnWZtm HP 27er 27-in IPS LED Backlit Monitor http://amzn.to/2w29u1S Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse http://amzn.to/2iZHKts TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/philipvandusen Adobe Creative Suite (2017 CC) Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6: USB Audio Interface *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.