How to Keep the Entertainment Industry Engaging on Social Media
Social media has become an outlet for news, business branding, and above all, entertainment. Social media itself has the ability to entertain us for hours. Whether it be scrolling through Tik Tok videos or looking at pictures of friends on Instagram. Due to work schedules, cost of travel, or unforeseen circumstances, many companies have turned to the internet to keep their business alive. Social media for entertainment can include live streaming, interactive entertainment, and virtual events.
Live Streaming
The most common and practical way to keep audience engagement high is through live streaming on social media. For example, a yoga studio can livestream a class to Instagram, Youtube, and even Twitter. Social media for entertainment has given us a new way to keep up with events that may be compromised in certain situations. Entertainment industries that relied on in person experiences, such as concerts, festivals, and events, didn’t have to just cancel their events for the year. These businesses were able to take advantage of social media and use it to stream their events. Even after the pandemic is over, live streaming may become a cost effective way to get content out to consumers in the comfort of their own home. Using social media to market and stream these events can be used to grow a following on a different platform. For example, a notification of an event on Facebook that is being streamed on Youtube can draw in more subscribers to that account. Concert live streams are one of the most popular adaptations of the entertainment industry to social media. Using social media for entertainment, the concert is able to be advertised as well as performed on different platforms. This virtual interaction keeps your audience entertained and engaged while at home. Being online also makes the experience customized to the viewer. Some examples of this would be an interactive poll of the views cast to choose the last song the performer sings or the ability to send messages to the performer which are cast behind them as they are performing.
Social media can be used for more than just concerts. Live events such as Comic-con or even a graduation ceremony were able to be put online. The use of social media for entertainment does not only make the viewer feel like they are there, but also makes them feel like they are a part of it. It keeps them connected to annual events or occasional happenings that they would be attending if they were able to. We are so lucky to be in a time where technology can keep us connected even when we are miles apart.
Other Programs
Programs that are not considered social media are creating more ways to engage audiences through a device. Zoom, a communication program that is used for school, office meetings, family gatherings and even weddings, has special additions like a virtual background to keep people interested. Television shows are still operating but with less or no audience. This includes talk shows, such as Jimmy Kimmel and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, are continuing to do a live broadcast with an audience watching from home. Sports have limited seating or fill the stands with cardboard cutouts to fill the stadium. Simple engagements such as adding a virtual background or filling a stadium with cardboard cutouts, are ways to keep audiences engaged when they are not able to be there.
Rather than just streaming a specific event, OTT (over-the-top media service) Television subscriptions can connect you to all kinds of shows that you may be interested in. This platform service bypasses the need for cable or satellite connection and gives its subscribers a number of shows to watch via the internet. This will connect the younger generation, who is always on the internet, to shows that are normally strictly broadcasted through a cable or satellite broadcast. OTT can be accessed on smart tvs, phones, or laptops. By using OTT, you have a connection to shows that may not be able to be livestreamed such as news channels, reality tv, and many more.
Social media for entertainment is a great tool to use to keep the industry fresh in the minds of the people. Engaging an audience through live streams and online interactions can keep them excited and entertained even if they are not there. If you are having trouble boosting your entertainment engagement through social media, contact Bright Age for social media consulting.
