The digital video revolution is here. According to eMarketer, adults in the United States now spend an average of 1.25 hours watching digital video content each day (a 261% increase from 2011), and social media users spend 30% of daily media time on user-generated content like livestreaming videos (Tech.co). For brands looking to capitalize on the growing popularity of live video, Periscope and Facebook Live both offer a way to authentically connect with audiences through branded content or sponsored influencer marketing campaigns.
To help companies decide which livestreaming platform is best suited to their individual goals and marketing strategies, we offer a direct comparison between Facebook Live and Periscope.
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A trend best illustrated by the meteoric rise of Snapchat (which champions on-the-fly, in-the-moment content), today’s social media audiences desire authenticity, relevance, and immediacy above all else. Through livestreaming platforms like Periscope and Facebook Live (and a host of others, including Twitch, YouTube Connect, Live.ly, and YouNow), users can experience events immediately, as they happen, and do so knowing that each piece of video content is created without multiple takes or post-production edits.
For brands, livestreaming video content offers a way to reach audiences like never before. Both Facebook Live and Periscope allow companies to cultivate meaningful relationships with consumers by granting exclusive and/or intimate looks at company culture, production, management, and events. Also, because livestreaming videos facilitate a conversation with audiences (as opposed to traditional advertising, which does not allow for consumer interaction), brands are able to engage with users in real-time and receive immediate feedback regarding products, services, important decisions, and more.
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Periscope was bought by Twitter before it officially launched in March 2015, and the livestreaming app (which integrates seamlessly with a user’s Twitter account) amassed 10 million active users in its first four months. In December 2015, Apple named Periscope “App of the Year” (New York Times).
Periscope’s best features/benefits include:
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In response to the growing popularity of livestreaming platforms like Meerkat and Periscope, Facebook Live now offers livestreaming capabilities to the network’s 1.65 billion users. Though Facebook continues to pour resources into the new livestreaming service (through purchases of software companies like MSQRD, for instance), many users find the design and functionality lacking (Tech.co).
Facebook Live’s most noteworthy statistics/innovations include:
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While Periscope’s simplicity and superior functionality may have won over livestreaming audiences for now, Facebook’s massive user base and nearly unlimited resources make Facebook Live the better choice for brands looking to launch a live video campaign. Because it seamlessly integrates with Twitter, however, Periscope may remain the go-to platform for news outlets who will want to use Periscope’s livestreaming content to increase user engagement.
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