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Top tech tips: How to create the best interactive virtual experiences

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Brandpoint

Top tech tips: How to create the best interactive virtual experiences

(BPT) – From small get-togethers and company-wide meetings to large-scale events and even global conferences, virtual live-streaming experiences have become vital for audiences around the world to engage with content and connect with one another. While the pandemic accelerated the need for and evolution of virtual events, technology continues to transform these gatherings into creative and compelling experiences by drawing from the worlds of social media, gaming, live music performances and more.

For anyone hosting a live streaming event, the good news is that today’s technology is accessible and easy to use. Individuals or organizations from social influencers and entrepreneurs to marketing professionals, corporations and institutions can use available tools to reach their audiences in new and exciting ways. So what makes for a successful, engaging event?

Here are tips to help anyone execute an outstanding live streaming event.

Keep it real. What makes live streaming so compelling is that it’s, well, live. The authenticity of live events creates a magic all its own that viewers often find more emotionally engaging than over-produced videos. Whether they’re watching an influencer give a how-to skin care tutorial or enjoying a live concert from a favorite artist, there’s nothing quite like watching something happening in real time.

Mix it up. Any event benefits from variety, combining exciting live moments with thoughtfully pre-produced content to enhance your digital storytelling. Draw on all the resources at your disposal, from visual artistry and music to influencers, personalities and thought leaders who can speak directly to your audience. Many of today’s best events are hybrid, combining live, in-person components with virtual elements for far-flung audiences, weaving together a variety of experiences for a unique result with a much wider reach.

Make it conversational. Live streaming is at its best when it’s not just a spectator sport. Interactive features like live Q and A, polling and chat will draw your audience members in and invite them to become part of your event as it’s happening.

Use the best tools. Even without tech experience, you can get stunning, professional-grade live streams with just a few clicks using BlueJeans Studio by Verizon. The new all-in-one event production and live streaming platform is designed to put control into the hands of the creator.

BlueJeans Studio allows anyone to produce, star and engage in live videos with ease, maximizing broadcast reach with live streams to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, RTMP destinations and other platforms simultaneously. With easy video feed mixing, custom branding and endless streaming capabilities, you can produce TV-quality content that helps drive audience engagement and elevates any virtual event experience.

Key features of BlueJeans Studio:

  • No technology integration: The studio is web-based and built into the BlueJeans Events platform to enable anyone to host, manage and create stunning events — without technical or AV support.
  • Ease of use: No production expertise required; a few simple clicks create beautiful, engaging video streams.
  • Cost effective: You can save thousands compared to hiring production and AV support to improve the visual appeal of any event. Event plans start at $42 per month.
  • All-in-one event platform: Send invites, secure the event, get post-event analytics and save unlimited recording hours.
  • Highest video quality: 1080p picture quality elevates the event and brand.
  • Highlight more presenters: Capacity is up to 150 presenters — more than any other event platform.
  • Change onscreen layouts: You can even change onscreen layouts, using templates to create a more polished event look.
  • Host unlimited events: Monthly and annual plans allow users to host as many events as needed, rather than paying per event.

You’ll be able to have presenters engage your audience with chat, Q and A and polls in real-time — and highlight audience comments and reactions on screen. And you can integrate uploaded videos, images and screen shares during the broadcast.

To further elevate your brand, you can incorporate personalized logos, background and colors, ticker banners, name cards, lower third overlays and more to create engaging and buzzworthy content that can be recorded, edited and shared again and again. Launching as an included feature of BlueJeans Events, BlueJeans Studio will be available at no extra cost to Events subscribers.

Learn how you can make your live streaming, virtual and hybrid events sizzle at BlueJeans.com/products/events/studio.

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Is your home smart?

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Brandpoint

Is your home smart?

(BPT) – Controlling the operations of a home with a finger tap seemed out of reach only a few years ago. Today, homeowners are unlocking doors, setting alarms, adjusting the temperature and even turning on lights with a tap on a smartphone. Are we now living in George Jetson’s world?

“Smart homeowners are inquisitive about what is going on with their property,” said Mercury Insurance product manager for homeowners Adam Bakonis. “Smart devices not only notify homeowners of issues earlier, they make you more aware of what is happening with different systems and can help prevent a costly disaster.”

When investing in any smart home system, you should speak to an insurance agent to see if the device may qualify you for an insurance discount.

Water leak detection systems

Excluding weather events, water leaks are the most common cause of property damage and can easily go undetected. By the time a leak has made itself known, it may have done some extensive damage. Water leak detection devices can discover all types of leaks, including hidden ones — though functionality and capabilities will vary by device.

“Sensors that monitor water flow, for example, can send a notification to a homeowner’s device periodically and let them know of a potential issue,” said Bakonis. “Many of these systems will notify homeowners through their smartphones, allowing them to view and monitor water use both indoors and outdoors and be alerted to a potential problem before it gets worse.”

Homeowners may be able to lower the cost of their water bills by preventing water waste while also avoiding catastrophic damage due to a leak. Some water districts and insurers provide rebates or other incentives for a water leak detection device. Homeowners should check with both their insurance agent and local water district to see if they qualify for any discounts.

Smart fire detection system

Smart smoke detectors take fire prevention a step further than standard smoke detectors. Smart smoke detectors can be wired into home security systems and be monitored to notify both the homeowner and the local fire department or a monitoring service of an alarm. Some alarms can detect unsafe carbon monoxide levels in the air and prevent the spread of smoke by shutting down air ventilation systems. They may also provide notification to a homeowner’s smartphone if the battery is getting low.

Cyber protection and security

While smart home technology provides homeowners with a sense of security and convenience, there can still be risks, especially from cyberattacks. Homeowners should stay vigilant and protect their systems with strong passwords, encryption and connecting devices only to their own network. Homeowners should also make sure they don’t share any sensitive login information since these devices may rely on a password or specific device access.

Cyber protection is an additional type of coverage that homeowners who incorporate smart technology into their home should seriously consider as the coverage may be designed to protect any electronic device connected to the internet.

“It’s important for homeowners to remember that home cyber is not just computers, it’s all electronic devices,” said Bakonis. “A cyber-attack on a connected home device would be covered by cyber protection coverage that is available to be bundled with many homeowners policies. This protection would pay to recover data and restore systems that have been lost or damaged due to a hack, including connected home devices.” Homeowners should check with their insurance agent to see what options are available and what is covered.

Investing in a smart home doesn’t have to be expensive. Many systems work together so homeowners can start with smaller devices and expand their systems as their needs increase.

“If you are investing in smart home devices know that there are often insurance benefits that come in the forms of discounts for devices that monitor some of the most common claims which are fire, water and theft,” said Bakonis. “Over time, the amount you save on your premium may be even greater with devices that help with monitoring safety and prevention.”

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Small business: Why using digital tools is key to post-pandemic success

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Brandpoint

HeadingSmall business: Why using digital tools is key to post-pandemic success

(BPT) – The vaccine rollout has accelerated across the U.S. and people are beginning to return to their routines, but how they communicate, buy and do things has dramatically shifted. People spend more time — and buy more — online than ever before. During the pandemic, the country has witnessed 10 years of e-commerce growth within a few months.

Many small businesses have had to change and adapt the ways they find and communicate with customers, showing grit and digital entrepreneurship amid disruptions and challenges. Businesses using digital tools have experienced significantly less revenue loss than those that are not online. During the pandemic, revenue performance was 50% better for digitally savvy small businesses.

Google is dedicated to supporting and celebrating small business worldwide. Mary Ellen Coe, president of customer solutions for Google, outlines a few stories showing how small business owners have focused on strategies to ensure long-term success for their businesses.

One example of a business doing just that is Studley’s Flower Gardens, a nearly 100-year-old family-owned florist, garden center and landscaping company. After launching their first website in 2003, online advertising helped them expand their reach and compete more effectively with national brands. Fast forward to 2020: Studley’s has created a strong online presence that proved fruitful when the pandemic forced their physical storefront to temporarily shut down. Understanding digital trends gave them the confidence to plan their next moves. Their online store allowed them to quickly transition to contactless pickup and delivery, and their digital sales tripled over the previous year.

Another digitally savvy business is Morgan Miller Plumbing in Grandview, Missouri. When Stella Crewse became CEO, she updated their digital capabilities including advertising and online presence. When the pandemic hit, digital tools enabled Morgan Miller Plumbing to not just survive but to thrive, growing from 15 to 19 employees. Online advertising makes it easy for new customers to find them, and digital scheduling tools help them organize their appointments.

And take CurlMix, a clean beauty brand for natural hair founded in 2015 by Kim and Tim Lewis. In that time, the business has grown from the Lewis’ garage to a warehouse with more than 40 employees. Video has been key to their mission of empowering Black women and their beauty through transparency and honesty. Kim’s videos are a blend of educational — teaching viewers how to best use and style CurlMix hair products — and personal conversations. Lewis’ authentic approach grew their following to more than 30,000 subscribers, and puts relevant content and products in front of more people searching for natural hair care tutorials and reviews.

These are just a sampling of small businesses that leaned into digital to find and reach customers and grow their business. Whether they’re demonstrating products and services on video platforms, updating their online presence to ensure they’re found when consumers are searching or boosting their e-commerce presence, effective digital solutions are available for every type of small business owner.

 

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Launching a tech startup: How to build a foundation to scale and succeed

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Brandpoint

Launching a tech startup: How to build a foundation to scale and succeed

(BPT) – Despite disruptions over the last year, the number of entrepreneurs launching startups hit record highs in 2020. In the U.S., vision, passion, grit and a startup-friendly environment have resulted in the world’s highest number of startups.

If you’re one of the millions feeling the pull to start your own company, your timing couldn’t be better. The proliferation of connected devices, the worldwide shift to remote and hybrid work models and the rapid pace of technological innovation are just a few of the factors bringing exciting opportunities for new products and services.

“The shift to global entrepreneurship has underscored something I’ve believed for a long time, that you can start up a company anywhere,” said Brad Feld, managing director at tech investment firm, Foundry Group. “People are finally realizing that tech hubs, while great, are by no means a critical element to startup success. Today’s visionaries can launch tomorrow’s unicorn from their kitchen table. The tech, tools and people are already out there — it’s just a process of leveraging those resources to make it work for you, wherever you are.”

Below are tips to keep in mind if you’re one of the many innovators ready to make the startup jump.

1) Surround yourself with the right people

Having the right people in place can be the difference between success and failure. It’s hard enough for founders, who’ve lost countless hours of sleep and invested their life savings, to entrust their vision to others, but there’s no other way to grow. Personal recommendations and connections are useful, but not always available. Job sites like Indeed allow employers to screen potential hires with supplementary assessment tests to help determine a candidate’s strengths in critical areas like writing, customer service and technical ability. Once you’ve selected a handful of candidates, be sure to ask questions that can help you gauge their excitement about your vision and how they would make that vision a reality.

Will Herman, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, corporate director and startup mentor said, “The commitment you must make is to embody specific roles and responsibilities, including operational and cultural leadership, vision and direction, and especially, building a great extended team.”

2) Use the experience of others

The five-year success rate of startups looms around 50%, but there are many people you’ve never met who are ready to help you succeed. The internet is full of information, advice and tips from seasoned founders, instantly available and often free. Consider a mentorship organization for support, research what accelerator programs like Y Combinator and Techstars offer, read interviews or listen to podcasts with industry leaders, and make use of the resources available through the U.S. Small Business Administration, designed to support startups with information, access to capital and connections.

The Startup Playbook offers insight and expertise from those who successfully launched multiple companies and walks you through lessons they learned the hard way. Do More Faster explores key issues that first-time entrepreneurs encounter and offers proven advice from successful entrepreneurs who have worked with the Techstars accelerator.

3) Put the right tools in place

Today’s entrepreneurs face virtually no technological barriers to entry. Software programs can be accessed through the cloud no matter where you are, eliminating the need to download applications onto computers bound to one physical office. Zoom and collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams make communication simple. JumpCloud’s directory platform offers a single login to securely connect employees to any file, application, network or IT resource they might need — and it lets non-technical people manage their IT with ease without breaking the bank. Myriad applications can capture and analyze valuable information like market data, how potential competitors are positioning themselves, and vital insights about how effective your social media, lead generation or marketing programs are — all of which can help recalibrate your business model.

If you’ve identified a clear market need or created a product or service you know will have a big impact, it might be the perfect time for you to pursue that dream. As David Cohen of Techstars said, “Having worked with over 2,000 companies, hard work, brilliance and innovation has been a constant for startups. What’s new is the instant availability of elements that can significantly impact a company’s trajectory — expert advice, easy-to-use and inexpensive software, and a truly global network of talent to pick from. While launching a startup is for the hearty, the amount of support for those who push on despite the odds has never been more robust.”

With access to the right people and advice, and the tech tools to make your journey easy, you can be set up to succeed and scale.

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Are virtual festivals the future?

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Brandpoint

Are virtual festivals the future?

(BPT) – After a year of being locked away at home, the world is eager to reopen and experience the things we love again, like going to restaurants, on playdates and even sharing the social dynamics of the office. One unexpected revelation during this time is that many of the activities that took us away from our homes are now seen as inconvenient, with some labeling them as unnecessary.

Would you be surprised to hear that throngs of people have not only embraced but also discovered they prefer virtual entertainment to the real thing? It’s true. Live music and performances, as well as conferences and festivals, have found a new lease on life by going virtual.

Producing a virtual event is standard fare for many large, medium and small corporate marketing teams, but big, consumer events had yet to realize virtual success until well into the pandemic era. Moment House produced a virtual Justin Bieber show from a hotel in Beverly Hills on New Year’s Eve, and stand-up comedians like Kevin Fredericks are hosting larger audiences than ever virtually. But a virtual festival? Is that even possible? Popular film festival SXSW went virtual this year and mega media company OZY just wrapped their annual OZY Fest with performances from H.E.R., Marc Rebillet, Sevyn Streeter, Tig Notaro and Big Freedia, and conversations with Malcolm Gladwell, Katty Kay, Stephen A. Smith, Mark Cuban, Condoleezza Rice, Rep. Maxine Waters, Jim Cramer, Matt James, Sophia Chang, Marcus Scribner and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

“We were stunned when the festival began as the millennial and Gen Z audience poured in,” said OZY COO and co-founder Samir Rao. “This year’s festival broke every expectation we had. OZY Fest is now the fastest-growing festival in history. Malcolm Gladwell even called it ‘the best festival of the year.’” A nice feather in the cap for the young and successful media company. With over 25 million newsletter subscribers, OZY beats all of its competition — combined.

Virtual event attendees relayed some of their favorite aspects of virtual partying, including the ability to drink without worrying about transportation, dancing like nobody’s watching (because they aren’t) and feeling free to experience emotional moments as they occur. They also note that A-list talent is getting comfortable with virtual performances and conversations because they are beginning to break news. At OZY Fest, Dr. Fauci revealed that we are just a few years away from an HIV vaccine, Mark Cuban set the record straight that he will not be running for office, Condoleezza Rice surprised the crowd when she disclosed that Trump got more things right than many people realize, and H.E.R. divulged that she, Zendaya and Kehlani almost formed a supergroup years ago.

“We at OZY have always been passionate about up-and-comers, we call them New + Next,” stated OZY CEO and co-founder, and host of The Carlos Watson Show, Carlos Watson. “That said, we are hosting the biggest celebrities on the planet. Matthew McConaughey, Saweetie, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Priyanka Chopra, Reggie Watts, Andrew Yang, Ava DuVernay, Finneas and so many more have graciously agreed to join me for great, virtual conversation.”

Are virtual festivals here to stay? Many say yes, but only time will tell. Perhaps a hybrid solution is ahead of us when the world reopens and we can attend live events in person again. With virtual audiences showing up en masse, it is hard to imagine live events abandoning all virtual plans.

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Virtual is here to stay: 5 creative ways people are connecting in a digital world

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Brandpoint

Virtual is here to stay: 5 creative ways people are connecting in a digital world

(BPT) – A year into the pandemic and a virtual lifestyle is the reality for many people. Remote work and online education are just the start — many people have taken a virtual approach to the way they shop, socialize, stay connected with friends and family, and much more. The interesting thing is that research shows this shift is here to stay.

“Working remotely has accelerated the use of video meeting platforms that keep us connected, whether that’s through a computer, mobile device or — as we ease back to offices — conference room system,” says John Knightly, chief marketing officer for BlueJeans by Verizon. “What’s interesting is our research shows that these platforms are being used for personal reasons more frequently than ever before. People are handling personal to-do’s and connecting with friends and family virtually, which signals that video communications platforms have become commonplace in everyday life.”

Knightly says the findings from a recent survey from BlueJeans by Verizon demonstrates that people are connecting via videoconferencing for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional.* BlueJeans is a meetings and events platform that empowers organizations with secure video collaboration for a work-from-anywhere world.

How are people using video connections in their personal lives to stay connected in meaningful ways? Here are the top findings:

Sharing festive meals virtually

Nearly half of all respondents (45.11%) said they would celebrate family meals virtually for everyday events like sporting events, as well as holidays, like Passover and Easter. Whether it’s cooking a formal meal and enjoying it together via video chat or making favorite stadium snacks and watching the game together digitally, this trend is growing.

Attending religious services virtually

The survey found nearly one-third (31.69%) of people would consider attending religious services together. This helps keep people safe because large groups are not gathering together indoors. Many will continue to participate in religious services together using video conferencing platforms, like BlueJeans and others online, for upcoming holidays.

Virtual shopping with friends and family

People who enjoy shopping together are finding new ways to shop from the safety and comfort of their homes. When it comes to shopping habits, nearly one-third (31.29%) of people would consider gathering with friends and family for virtual shopping gatherings, while more than half were seeking to purchase household goods (52.62%) and the others clothing (50.25%).

Family gatherings and gaming virtually

Nearly one-third (31.29%) would consider gathering with friends and family for virtual get-togethers and many others (35.74%) would participate in trivia games virtually with friends and family. Pick a date for an upcoming weekend, send invites to your friends and family, and get ready to make memories with an awesome virtual game night gathering.

Looking ahead to the future of virtual life

According to the study, half of people (50.25%) would consider attending virtual concerts and entertainment via videoconferencing, like BlueJeans, while more than one-third (37.31%) would take up virtual cooking, wine tastings or craft classes in 2021. Another 20% expressed interest in adding an interactive virtual component to their “watch parties” for live broadcasts like sporting events. Whether it’s enjoying a favorite hobby, a get-together with friends or a date night in, virtual possibilities are plentiful in the future.

No matter what you plan to do to stay connected, you need a video meeting platform that is flexible and reliable. Thousands of companies from growing businesses to Fortune 500 leaders use BlueJeans every day for video meetings and interactive virtual events, so people can work productively where and how they want. For more information, visit www.bluejeans.com.

* The survey was conducted the week of Nov. 20, 2020, by BizRate Insights with a total of 1,013 recipients ranging in age from 18-65+ (350/663 Male/Female).