Have you heard of Meerkat or Periscope? Did you know you can now add live streaming to your Twitter marketing strategy?

Meerkat and Periscope are rival apps that allow you to live stream video from your smartphone to your Twitter followers. It’s predicted to be a great way to generate engagement with followers and further build your Twitter presence.

To learn more about the live streaming battle take a look at this infographic from See Fit.

 

Live streaming has become an integral part of social media marketing, allowing brands and individuals to connect with their audiences in real-time. When it comes to live streaming on Twitter, two platforms have dominated the scene: Meerkat and Periscope. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between these two live streaming services and discuss how you can leverage them to enhance your Twitter strategy.

The Rise of Live Streaming

Before diving into the comparison between Meerkat and Periscope, let’s take a moment to understand why live streaming has become such a powerful tool in the world of social media marketing.

1. Authenticity: Live streaming provides an unfiltered, real-time connection between the broadcaster and the audience. It allows brands and individuals to showcase their authenticity and personality, making it easier to build trust and rapport with viewers.

2. Engagement: Live streams encourage real-time engagement through comments, likes, and shares. This interaction can lead to higher viewer retention and increased reach as engaged viewers are more likely to invite their friends to join the live stream.

3. Immediate Feedback: Live streaming enables immediate feedback from the audience. This feedback can be invaluable for businesses looking to test new products, gather opinions, or address customer concerns.

4. Increased Visibility: Live streams are often prioritized by social media algorithms, making them more likely to appear in users’ feeds. This can help boost your content’s visibility and reach a broader audience.

Now that we understand the importance of live streaming, let’s delve into the comparison between Meerkat and Periscope.

Meerkat: The Pioneer

Meerkat was one of the first live streaming apps to gain widespread attention when it was launched in 2015. It allowed users to stream live video directly to their Twitter followers. Here are some key features and benefits of Meerkat:

1. Twitter Integration: Meerkat was designed as a Twitter-centric live streaming platform. It seamlessly integrated with Twitter, allowing users to broadcast live streams to their Twitter followers with a single click.

2. Ease of Use: Meerkat was known for its simplicity. It was easy to set up and start live streaming, making it accessible to both individuals and businesses.

3. Viewer Engagement: Meerkat encouraged viewer engagement through comments and likes. Users could see real-time comments from their audience, fostering a sense of community.

4. Discoverability: Meerkat had a “Leaderboard” feature that showcased popular live streams, making it easier for users to discover and join interesting broadcasts.

However, despite its initial popularity, Meerkat faced challenges in the competitive live streaming landscape. Twitter introduced its own live streaming platform, Periscope, shortly after Meerkat’s rise to fame.

Periscope: Twitter’s Own Live Streaming App

Periscope was launched in March 2015 and was later acquired by Twitter. This move signaled Twitter’s commitment to live streaming as a key feature of the platform. Here’s a closer look at Periscope and what it brings to the table:

1. Deep Integration with Twitter: Periscope is tightly integrated with Twitter, allowing users to start live streams directly from their Twitter accounts. Viewers can watch live streams within the Twitter app or on the Periscope platform.

2. Save and Replay: Periscope introduced the ability to save live streams for up to 24 hours, allowing viewers who missed the live broadcast to catch up later. This feature is valuable for extending the lifespan of your content.

3. Audience Growth: Periscope introduced features like Super Hearts, which allowed viewers to purchase virtual gifts for broadcasters. This incentivized content creators and helped them grow their audiences.

4. Private Broadcasts: Periscope offers the option to make live streams private, limiting access to specific viewers. This feature is useful for businesses conducting exclusive webinars or Q&A sessions.

Meerkat vs. Periscope: A Comparative Analysis

Now that we have a better understanding of both Meerkat and Periscope, let’s compare them in various aspects to help you decide which platform aligns better with your Twitter strategy.

1. Twitter Integration

Meerkat: Meerkat was initially built around Twitter integration. However, when Twitter introduced Periscope, it restricted Meerkat’s access to certain features, making it less seamless to use with Twitter. This led to a decline in Meerkat’s popularity.

Periscope: Periscope is Twitter’s native live streaming platform, offering deep integration with the social media giant. You can start a live stream directly from the Twitter app, making it incredibly convenient for your Twitter audience to access your live content.

Winner: Periscope takes the lead in Twitter integration due to its official status as Twitter’s live streaming platform.

2. Viewer Engagement

Meerkat: Meerkat was praised for its engagement features, such as real-time comments and likes. These features fostered a sense of community and encouraged viewers to actively participate in live streams.

Periscope: Periscope also offers live chat functionality, allowing viewers to interact with broadcasters and each other in real time. It promotes engagement through features like Super Hearts, which incentivize viewers to support broadcasters financially.

Winner: It’s a tie in terms of viewer engagement, as both Meerkat and Periscope offer robust tools for interacting with your audience.

3. Content Lifespan

Meerkat: Meerkat’s live streams were ephemeral, meaning they disappeared once the broadcast ended. While this created a sense of urgency, it also meant that the content had a limited lifespan.

Periscope: Periscope introduced the option to save live streams for 24 hours after the broadcast ends. This feature allows you to reach a broader audience by giving viewers the opportunity to watch your content at their convenience.

Winner: Periscope wins in terms of content lifespan, as it provides the option to extend the life of your live streams.

4. Discoverability

Meerkat: Meerkat had a Leaderboard feature that showcased popular live streams. This feature helped users discover interesting broadcasts, but it was eventually removed.

Periscope: Periscope has a dedicated Explore section where users can discover live streams based on categories, trends, and location. This makes it easier for viewers to find content that interests them.

Winner: Periscope wins in terms of discoverability, thanks to its Explore section and advanced discovery options.

5. Private Broadcasts

Meerkat: Meerkat did not offer the option for private broadcasts, which meant that all streams were accessible to anyone who followed the user.

Periscope: Periscope allows users to set their live streams to private, limiting access to specific viewers. This feature is valuable for businesses conducting closed-door meetings or exclusive content.

Winner: Periscope takes the lead in providing flexibility with private broadcasts.

Integrating Live Streaming into Your Twitter Strategy

Now that we’ve compared Meerkat and Periscope, you might be wondering how to integrate live streaming into your Twitter strategy. Regardless of which platform you choose, here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Define Your Goals: Before you start live streaming, clarify your objectives. Are you looking to engage with your audience, showcase a product, or provide educational content? Knowing your goals will shape your live streaming strategy.

2. Promote Your Streams: Use your existing Twitter presence to promote upcoming live streams. Create eye-catching graphics, write compelling captions, and use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience.

3. Engage with Viewers: During your live streams, actively engage with your viewers. Respond to comments, acknowledge viewers by name, and ask for their input and questions. Building a sense of community is key to success.

4. Consistency is Key: Establish a consistent live streaming schedule so that your audience knows when to expect your broadcasts. This helps build anticipation and ensures that your streams reach a dedicated audience.

5. Repurpose Content: Don’t let your live streams go to waste. Repurpose them into shorter clips or highlight reels that you can share on Twitter and other social media platforms.

6. Analyze and Adapt: Use the analytics provided by Meerkat or Periscope to track the performance of your live streams. Pay attention to viewer engagement, viewer retention, and other key metrics. Adjust your strategy based on the data you gather.

Conclusion

Live streaming on Twitter is a powerful way to connect with your audience, showcase your brand’s personality, and foster engagement. While Meerkat was an early player in the live streaming game, Periscope, with its deep integration with Twitter and additional features, has become the go-to platform for many users.

When deciding between Meerkat and Periscope, consider your specific goals and requirements. Periscope’s official status as Twitter’s live streaming platform gives it an edge in terms of integration, content lifespan, and discoverability. However, both platforms offer robust engagement features.

Ultimately, the choice between Meerkat and Periscope will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Whichever platform you choose, remember to define your goals, promote your streams, engage with your audience, and consistently deliver valuable content to build a successful live streaming strategy on Twitter.