Do you Blab? Does your brand blab? Are your brand’s Blabs bland? Do you need a bland brand Blab breakthrough? (Say that three times fast)
There’s a new player in the live video streaming arena, and marketers are starting to get excited about the possibilities. Blab has a few nifty features that set it apart from apps like Meerkat and Periscope. Since it’s currently free to use (and in Beta, as its developers work on developing a business model), now is the perfect time to check it out. If you want to add live streaming to your video marketing strategy, Blab can be a great way to build your community. Here are a few reasons marketers are flocking to Blab:
It lasts beyond the moment.
Other livestreaming apps are all about watching in the moment. For example, Periscope only saves your stream for 24 hours. But you can record your entire Blab, up to six hours of video, even pausing and resuming recording. After the session ends, you will get a link to raw audio and video files. Turn the recording into a podcast, upload it to YouTube, embed it in a blog post—Blab sessions are meant to stick around.
It’s collaborative.
Meerkat and Periscope are meant for single-player. People can comment on the stream, but mostly they watch, you do. In Blab, you have four slots for people to join in video/voice chat. Listeners (Blabbers? Blabbees?) can ask to join if there’s an open slot, and you can add them in with a single click. That makes for a much more interactive experience.
It’s simple and versatile.
Blab has a browser-based client (no downloads required) and apps for iTunes and Android. Broadcast from your desk or on the go. The user interface is streamlined and simple, so it’s easy to get started.
It’s small, but about to take off.
There’s a lot of buzz around Blab right now, but it’s still relatively small. That means a great chance to stand out and build a community before it gets flooded with content. As Social Media Examiner’s Joel Comm puts it, “The great thing about Blab, as it is still in beta, is that we aren’t early adopters, we’re pioneers.”
Ready to start blabbing away? Here are eight tips to keep in mind as you establish your presence.
#1 – Don’t hate, participate.
Contributing to other Blabs is one of the best ways to build a following. Search for topics you can contribute to, watch the session, and participate in the chat. If you can add some value, don’t hesitate to ask for a spot on screen.
#2 – Go in with a goal.
Treat Blab like any other marketing effort—have a goal for what you want to accomplish, what the next step is for your followers, and how it integrates into your strategy.
#3 – Don’t forget to record.
Blab sets recording to “off” by default; you need to activate it every session. Don’t miss the chance to repurpose this free video content. At the very least, you’ll want to use it on your site to coax more viewers to your next Blab. Plus, recorded Blabs continue to be hosted on the site, which can help people find and follow you when you aren’t broadcasting.
#4 – Add tags to get found.
The search function on Blab isn’t the most robust instrument. Like Twitter, it depends on tags for indexing. So make sure you add descriptive tags to help listeners find you.
#5 – Establish a rhythm.
Remember how you used to rush to the TV set every Friday at 9 p.m. to watch the X-Files? No? Man, I’m old. Never mind. The point is, you want your audience to make attending your Blabs a habit (Blabbit). Make sure to broadcast at the same time of day each time.
#6 – Invite guests your audience wants to hear from.
While a few Blabbers are successful as a one-person show, make it more engaging for your audience by adding intriguing guests. And keep that fourth slot open, so Blabbees can join in.
#7 – Keep an eye on the chat.
There are two chats to watch on Blab—the right panel is an in-Blab chat, and the left panel is a Twitter feed. It can be a lot to manage—it’s a good idea to have one person presenting and another watching the chat.
#8 – Loosen up.
Blab isn’t the place to run a suit-and-tie webinar or a stiff, salesy product demo. Viewers enjoy off-the-cuff, natural, in the moment conversation. That doesn’t mean you have to go in unprepared—but take care not to come across as scripted or overly promotional.
Marketers are excited about Blab because it represents some of the best aspects of content marketing: it’s designed to foster community, it’s easy to repurpose the content, and it allows for a true dialog between the host and the audience. If live streaming fits your brand, Blab is definitely worth checking out. In conclusion:
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