Well, there you have it folks.
Just when it’s your time to shine – lights, camera, action! – with Meerkat, Twitter releases its live-streaming video app, Periscope.
We knew this was coming.
Meerkat was launched with much fervor, and the fanaticism grew quickly. According to Simply Measured, during its launch at SXSW 2015, 91,776 Meerkat videos were streamed – and the numbers continued to explode. In the midst of all the fanfare, reports surfaced that Periscope, the live-streaming video app that Twitter acquired a few months ago, would put the social phenom back in its place. Twitter then took action by turning off access to some of its native features, including the ability to automatically add Twitter users during setup and removal of push notifications. Despite these inconveniences, Meerkat’s impressive initial critical mass continued, the company growing its user base by about 30 percent per day…which earned it another round of funding, only a month after launch.
Either Meerkat or Periscope will breathe new life into your Twitter strategy by providing live-streaming video abilities, and creating a great opportunity for marketing, PR, and social communications professionals to turn any client or brand into a star. With conference and tradeshow season in full swing and opportunities for summer branding events on the horizon, here are few ways to incorporate Periscope or Meerkat into your social media toolkit:
- Conferences or Events: Show off product demos, say hello to key partners, give prospects a sneak peek at your panel session, and showcase the company’s personality at your next industry function.
- Focus Groups and Man-on-the-Street Interviews: Enjoy the weather and try your hand as your favorite nightly news reporter by conducting interviews, taste tests, or even informal focus groups right on the street. Stream live and answer questions from followers in real-time.
- Create Your Own Channel: Periscope and Meerkat can be the catalyst to creating a network for your brand, executive or company. Schedule weekly broadcasts and share the latest news, give insight into the industry topic of the day, or just set aside time for a reddit Ask Me Anything-style Q&A session with followers.
If you have an Apple device, you can do your own comparison and make your choice in the Meerkat and Periscope streaming wars. Whichever app you choose, Meerkat or Periscope may shape up to be the best tool available to build your brand online. What will you live-stream on Twitter?
