What is a stream? Definition, features, goals. Secrets of a successful stream

Stream came to us from YouTube and apps like Periscope. Now it can be conducted on Instagram, VKontakte, and Odnoklassniki. And what is a stream in general? This material will help you figure it out.

What is a stream?

Stream is a live broadcast, online broadcast. Sometimes a webcam captures real events at that time, of a person, and sometimes the viewer is shown what is happening on a computer screen or game console. Thus, this is a real-time broadcast.

What is a stream like?

This kind of live broadcast is of a different nature:

• What is a stream in games? This is an online broadcast of the passage of a task, the level of the player, accompanied by his comments. Sometimes an overview of games is shown in this way, a direct dialogue is conducted between the gamer and his fans.
• Conducting video lessons, workshops live. The protagonist can not only "here and now" show subscribers the real application of their skills, but also communicate with them, answer questions along the way.
• What is a YouTube stream? Most often, this is a direct communication of celebrity with their fans. It can be spontaneous, it can be devoted to a specific topic, answers to questions.
• What is a stream in "VK", "Instagram"? This is a recently appeared convenient feature that allows each of us to go live. And if on YouTube you need to “earn” the opportunity to conduct online broadcasts - gain some popularity, as measured in views and subscribers, then everything is simple. For “VKontakte” you need to download the VK Live application, and in “Insta” just click on “Live”. And then you can not only share with your friends what is happening to you "here and now", but also answer their questions online.

Stream Features

Analyzing what a stream is, we will focus on its key features that distinguish this phenomenon from online communication, live broadcasts on television, and radio:

1. There is the possibility of dialogue between the presenter and his viewers.
2. It has a length of time of several hours (some streamers remain on the air for about a day!).
3. Brings the lead income. Some voluntary donations, money transfers are collected, a paid subscription is made, certain goods are purchased, both real and virtual - it all depends on what the streamer calls for.

As for statistics, such airs are interesting today to a large extent to a young audience from 14 to 25 years old. Moreover, game streams are most popular among the male half of the population, and direct celebrity reports are among the female.

Stream Goals

Note that for the most part, such broadcasts have a definite purpose. Communication with friends, subscribers, a way of spending free time is far from always it. Considering what a stream is, we denote the following tasks:

• Increasing the popularity of the channel, blogger, celebrity, etc.
• Expansion of the circle of subscribers.
• Attracting interest in your work, hobby or other activity is an invitation to watch it in real time, without productions and other embellishments.
• Communicate directly with followers, subscribers: tell about yourself, mention what they are particularly interested in, share plans, get an opinion on your projects, etc.
• Get closer to your target audience.
• Increase your income.

Secrets of a successful stream

So we figured out what a stream is on YouTube, on Instagram and VKontakte. Of course, for the success of the broadcast, you must already have some army of subscribers, which is guaranteed to become your audience. Therefore, you need to notify them about the stream in advance, to learn about some features that you will need to reflect on your broadcast.

Experienced streamers share the following secrets of their success:

• High-speed Internet, no glitches during broadcasting and other surprises.
• Excellent quality of both video and sound. You may even have to purchase special equipment, since the webcams of a laptop or smartphone here will be clearly not enough.
• Availability of free time for broadcasts. This is especially true of gaming streams. You may have to go through several levels in a row, to specifically repeat something. Make sure that home, friends, passers-by do not distract you, do not interfere with the broadcast.
• Do not forget to stream close communication with the audience during the stream. Answer affably and extensively to all questions, do not succumb to the provocation of "haters". Do not ignore inconvenient messages - better explain why they are unpleasant to you. Try to be positive, open and friendly.
• Practice diction in advance, the ability to stay in front of the camera. Video capture a conversation with a friend, an imaginary interlocutor. Look at your bad habits during the conversation, and work on their elimination.
• Plan a plan for your broadcast: what you need to tell, what topics to touch on.
• Come up with a piece of your broadcast: an original greeting or goodbye, communication style. And you can simply share each broadcast with some unique data, then subscribers will look forward to your new stream.

Live television has received a new form today. This is a stream that can be carried out not only by a celebrity on YouTube, but also by each of us on social networks.