I’ve asked many live stream marketers the same question, “What is the #1 factor they expect from their target audience?”
Many said ‘Engagement’ as the potential answer. Of course, I made that obvious from the following statistics.
“Around 49% of marketers believe engagement is the prime factor and 78% of businesses believe that engagement leads to a positive ROI.”
To master the art of engagement in a live stream, there is no other option than the live chat.
There are many considerations, such as polls, video quality, and live streaming solutions. However, live chat is a way to let viewers participate in your live streaming and, ultimately, the result – Engagement.
Here, I have discussed some of the best ways that you can implement live stream chat to make sure that your stream hits monetization to the core.
How Chat in Live Stream Helps in Engagement & Monetization?
So why chat in live video broadcasting? For any marketing activities or video streams, human connection opens up various opportunities.
Some of the basic live steam chat features it can help you:
- A Communicative Way Between Host and Viewers: It’s not only about what you speak; considering what your audience thinks is way more important. Let them communicate with you by asking questions, providing answers to queries others ask, and more.
- A Mind Game: With consistent interaction through live chat, your live stream’s retention rate will boost, and your medium will be the one that reminds your audience of the name video streaming.
- Authority and Credibility: Think about a live stream chat with your unique branding and clear topics that matter most to your audience. With the real-time Q&A session, the online chat establishes a potential authority and credibility among users and other streamers.
- Dedicated Live Chat Sessions: An engaging live stream chat with interest-based topic discussions can be a treasure for streamers, making the audience consider, look, listen, and chat.
I hope you’re clear about how adding in-app chat to live streaming can benefit your live broadcasting. Now, let’s find out how to make that actually engaging.
Integrate In-Built Chat to Your Live Stream App: Best Tips for Engagement
Here are the best live stream online chat tips and strategies for your next live broadcast chat from the real-time experience.
1. Show Off The Chat Box As You Show Yourself
Well, I’ve seen many comments after the live stream from many creators that the host didn’t chat and doesn’t talk too much.
From the host’s perspective, it’s difficult and challenging to handle both during the video broadcast. But give it a try for better results. Some professional streamers out there assign moderators to respond to the chat promptly.
In addition, you can split the responsibility with the co-host while the main host runs the video broadcast.
I’d suggest you handle both, even though it’s challenging since chatbots play a crucial role in the live stream industry.
Additional Requirements And Considerations
- Computer, laptop or mobile device with stable internet connection
- Live streaming software with in-app chat capabilities
- Chat overlay and moderation tools
2. Q&A Sessions For Two-Way Communication
To be honest, not every time does your audience want to interact with you. On the other hand, most live streams are interactive only in words. In reality, many live streams turn into one-way communication or a casual chat session with a guest.
In this case, many sessions end with the audience feeling excluded or ignored. So, for better engagement and customer interaction, it’s highly recommended that you organize a weekly Q&A session with your audience.
Begin by making a list of existing questions that relate to your content and audience. Many chat APIs are available in the industry that have more interactive features like Q&A and polls.
Additional Requirements and Considerations
- Dedicated Q & A segment
- Encourage audience participation
- Address unanswered questions
- Use humor and storytelling
3. Throw Some Surprises With Spontaneity
Who doesn’t like it? Live streaming with fun and interactive elements, switching from a silent mode to do and expose mode.
Doing a talk show, explaining things, and conducting Q&A for too long will bore your audience, leading to a low audience retention rate.
Turn the way you stream; another way is you can invite viewers from your audience to join with you live. This will positively influence other viewers to participate with you.
For this ensure your live streaming platform supports conferencing to add more persons without any lag or connection issue. Here’s the pro tip: consider WebRTC-based video broadcasting solutions.
Additional Requirements and Considerations
- Surprise guests
- Celebrity cameo
- Audience participation
4. Plan For Giveaways And Gifts During Live Streams
Either stream or chat shouldn’t be an overdose. Plan for challenges and giveaways for viewers to boost engagement in live stream chat. Along with engagement, giveaways will enhance views and shares of your content simultaneously.
But keep the following things in the mind when you host giveaways:
- Don’t give away general things like giveaways for iPads, iPhones, and Macbooks. If you do that, then you’ll have the potential to attract viewers that were not intended to be your audience.
- Giveaways require a mode of investment, such as time and money. Stay more organized and accountable.
- Plan and act accordingly. If you start giveaways in your initial stage, your viewers may join and leave only for your gifts and offerings.
5. Let Your Content, Audience & Authority Speaks
Another major challenge that lies in live streaming is keeping your audience on track with your content.
Sometimes, we’ll hit up to the corner of nothing to talk about.
To eliminate all these, add your own personality and authority to take new angles on the topic and present it to the viewers in a unique way.
The more relatable your content, the more the audience will feel connected and definitely take a step to chat.
I hope you understand how important integrating chat into live streaming is. Now, it’s time to explore the top chat API providers in the industry.
Top 5 Chat APIs & Messaging SDKs for Live Streaming
The 05 best live stream Chat APIs and SDKs are MirrorFly, Apphitect, Getstream, VideoSDK, and Agora.
1. MirrorFly – White-label Chat API for Live Streaming
MirrorFly is a leading white-label chat API provider with unlimited customization and flexibility. You can easily integrate with your existing live streaming app or platform to enable quick and feature(full) in-app communication capabilities.
Top Features
- 100% customizable API and SDK
- 1000+ in-app communication features
- Multi-tenant support
- Supports voice and video call
- White-label solutions.
2. ApphiTect – Self-hosted Chat APIs & SDKs for Live Streaming
Apphitect supports easy integration and end-to-end chat capabilities for live streaming. The best part of Apphitect is that this API is 100% customizable with advanced chat features. This platform supports real-time messaging, live comments, voice calls, video calls, and more.
Top Features
- 1:1 and group chat API
- 100% customizable
- Live audio broadcasting
- Real-time notifications
3. GetStream – Personalized Chat API Platform for Video Broadcasting
GetSteam is another chat option that provides more interactive communication features for your live stream users. You can personalize and customize the chat interface and add, remove or upgrade features based on your specific requirements.
Top Features
- One-on-one and group chat
- Live chatbot support
- Customize look and feel
4. VideoSDK– Live Stream Chat API with Moderation Tools
It is one of the popular chat integration solutions with 99.999% uptime SLA for a free messaging experience. VideoSDK will accommodate the chat along with your live stream with interactive features to make your audience well-engaged.
Top Features
- Chatbot integration
- Real-time notifications and alerts
- Content moderation and translation
- Live messaging
5. Agora – Ready-Made White Label Live Stream Chat Solutions
Agora is another excellent chat platform for real-time communication that supports your multistreaming. As a white-label chat API, you can customize the way you want. This platform is embedded with WebRTC-based text, voice and video communication for fast and efficient conversations.
Top Features
- Group chat
- Reactions and emoji support
- Easy integration
Conclusion
Have you decided to provide the best live streaming experience for your audience?
Don’t forget to add the chat to your next live stream and share your progressive results.
If you don’t find enough resources or time to handle the integration process, you can choose Messaging SDK providers like MirrorFly and Apphitect, as they offer dedicated developer support for the end-to-end integration process.
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