One of the most important – and yet most underutilized – metrics for any show is live viewers.
The higher the ratings, the more advertisers will pay for ad space on the show. The more advertisers that see a high rating, the more they’ll pay to show their ads during that show. It’s a circular relationship.
But how can you get those elusive higher ratings? How can you prove to advertisers that their investment in paid ads will bring more viewers to your show?
Here are ten ways to increase live viewers without totally upsetting the apple cart.
1. Focus on building a dedicated following.
It’s important to remember that, for many people, watching television is a solitary activity. We live in a world where everyone’s always on the go and on their phones, taking glances at their Instagram stories or browsing YouTube for funny memes. Sitting in front of the TV is a way of life that’s slowly been replaced by digital nomads.
This is the type of person you want to attract to your show. Someone browsing Twitter while waiting for their favorite show to start would love your show and would probably tell their friends about it. You’ll gain a dedicated following if you can create a space where people can come together and have fun while learning.
2. Choose topical and engaging content.
To gain more viewers, provide more than just regular entertainment value. There are a lot of shallow, addictive content creators out there who will try and trick you into watching their shows. But, if you want to connect with an audience and make them feel like you’re talking directly to them, provide news and information that’s currently relevant and exciting.
You want to create content that will spark thoughts and discussion, ideas and debate. Be provocative but don’t push the envelope too far – you want your show to be entertaining, not edgy.
3. Experiment with new ways of engaging with your audience.
The news media landscape is changing, and so is how people interact with television. Millennials spend more time on social media than any other group, with 40% using YouTube to get news and information. They’re your largest audience demographic, meaning you have plenty of room to experiment with new ways of engaging with your audience.
It might be time for a change if you’ve been watching the same tired formats for years. Why not try a podcast or a new format like a talent show? You might stumble upon a gem that will end up dominating your niche.
4. Craft content that’s relevant to multiple platforms.
Suppose you want to maximize your reach and increase your live viewers, craft content that can be accessed and engaged by a wide audience. Think of the platforms you use – YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – and consider what makes your content special. For example, YouTube creators can post videos that can be accessed and engaged with on mobile phones but can also be played on big screens through YouTube TV. This content might be relevant to people on the go and those who can sit and watch TV on their laptops.
If you’re posting on social media, consider tagging the platforms you use in your posts so your content can be found by those who want to see your content on their platforms.
5. Use keywords in your headlines, descriptions, and tags.
If you’re posting on social media, consider using keywords in your headlines, descriptions, and tags so your posts can be found by those who want to see your content. For example, if you have a blog post about fashion, you might want to include words like fashion, style, or clothing in your post’s headline so it’ll be found more easily by people using those keywords to search the web. This is called SEO or Search Engine Optimisation, and it’s free, so do it!
You can also try including ‘keywords’ or ‘hashtags’ (think of them like the words surrounding a hashtag on Twitter) in your posts’ descriptions so your posts will have a better chance of being found by potential social media followers.
6. Customise your blog post’s URLs.
If you’re a WordPress blogger, you can easily create custom blog post URLs that’ll direct you to specific posts. For example, consider my blog post about fashion – the URL www.fashionablegearblog.com/fashion-style-blog-post will bring you directly to that blog post without the need to click through to the home page first. You can create a similar, custom blog post URL for any future posts you create on this subject, so you don’t have to remember what the original post was called when you’re surfing the web looking for content.
7. Build a community.
In case you want to create an audience that’ll stick around and help you grow your channel, consider using tools like Patreon or GoFundMe to connect with creators who share your same interest in photography and fashion. These platforms allow creators to connect with people who love what they do and will pay to see more of it. WeLiveInABox draws inspiration from existing YouTube and Instagram communities, and lets creators build a space for their fans to engage with them.
This is an increasingly popular way of creating content, whether you’re a professional athlete, an influencer, a fashion designer, or anything in between. A space for creators to come together and build a community is a great place to start if you still need to create something similar on your own.
8. Use social media to promote your show.
If you want to attract more people to your show, use the social media platforms you already know and love to spread the word about your new endeavor. Start by sharing images and videos from the set of your show, followed by clips from the most exciting moments – remember that your audience’s attention spans are shorter than ever, so keep your content concise and to the point.
When you share images and videos on social media, you can tag the accounts you follow so your followers can see what you’re sharing. You can also like and comment on other people’s posts, whether relevant to your content or not, and tell them how you enjoyed their content. While this tactic might not directly result in new followers for your channel, it’ll help you establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
9. Use traditional media to promote your show.
If you want to attract more people to your show, use the traditional media you already know and love to spread the word about your new endeavor. Start by sharing images and videos from the set of your show, followed by clips from the most exciting moments – remember that your audience’s attention spans are shorter than ever, so keep your content concise and to the point.
The media landscape is changing, and so is how people interact with television. While most people still turn to traditional, analog media to learn about the world around them, social media and digital marketing are changing the game. Be sure to keep up with the trends and changes in the media world, whether traditional or digital.
10. Experiment with new platforms.
You can expand beyond just one network or platform if you want to reach the most people. The world is becoming more digital and mobile, meaning people use various apps and websites to consume content. Ensure that your content is accessible across all these platforms and that as many people can share it as possible.
Now, you might be wondering how to get viewers to watch your show. There are plenty of ways to achieve this, but you’ll have to experiment to figure out what’s working best for your channel. What methods of increasing live viewers have worked for you? What methods have yet to work as well?
