Black Friday is THE shopping event in the run up to Christmas.
With many people knee deep in their Christmas shopping, the event provides a crucial opportunity to grab some insane bargains from top high-street brands.
This year the highly anticipated date falls on Friday the 26th November. However, with COVID-19 still impacting many countries, brands could be doubting whether shoppers will want to make the effort to come into a potentially packed store in person.
As a result, businesses may be looking towards new digital methods to sell in anticipation of bricks and motor store shopping being the less popular option.
Live stream shopping and streaming commerce opportunities have proven a life saver for E-commerce during the global pandemic. There is no reason why brands shouldn't harness the revolutionary technology to broadcast deals to the masses this Black Friday and beyond.
The US live stream shopping market is expected to reach $25 billion by 2023. Up $14 billion in 3 years.
This proves that the future of E-commerce lies within real-time shopping experiences that take advantage of the social elements of conversational commerce to push impulse purchases.
After all, impulse purchases are the driving force behind Black Friday. Combine this with real-time live stream shopping experiences and shoppable video content and you could see conversion rates sky rocket.
Interactive video platforms can help you boost your engagement rates by 3-4X this Black Friday with streaming commerce and shoppable video.
Shoppable videos can help your brand clearly advertise the hottest deals on E-commerce landing pages and direct customers straight to their perfect purchase.
Interactive video platforms like Smartzer allow businesses to add a clickable overlay to pre-existing video content. Brands can tag direct links to products pages alongside pricing info, sizing drop downs and even an 'add to cart' button. Dynamic video content grips the viewer while the clickable hotspots engage and provide customers with an instant way to buy. This massively reduces the path to purchase and drives revenue through the roof.
Save your customers the panic of searching for products this Christmas and Black Friday with shoppable video.
By the end of 2021, live streaming is expected to account for 82% of all internet traffic
Streaming commerce can connect brands and customers live from their homes. Demonstrate how products work in exclusive, one-off sale events that engage customers. You can add product popups as your stream plays to give viewers a direct link to buy. Live stream shopping events provide a personalised experience via a chat bar that allows hosts and viewers to communicate.
You can incorporate countdowns, use live streams to boost your flash sales, and announce a referral program or coupon code. You could do these things with other forms of content, too, but there are very few forms of content that offer the interactivity and engagement of live streaming.
Check out Samsung's exclusive event that allowed viewers to shop one-off coupon deals via the magic of streaming commerce:
Streaming commerce can help your brand reach thousands of customers online and overcome barriers put in place by the global pandemic.
This Black Friday, use an interactive video platform to create a personalised, sociable shopping experience for customers at home to drive rapid, impulsive purchases.
Updated: Aug 24, 2021
See what it really takes to wow shoppers with Jacquemus' instantly shoppable video for their AW21 runway using Smartzer's interactive platform.
Fashion giant, Jacquemus, created the most elegant and eye catching fashion show of the summer featuring top models like Kendal Jenner, Bella Hadid, Adut Akech and more.
Execution:
The collection echoed natural forms and tones while adding in aspects of striking colour. Using seamlessly classic and straight lined silhouettes, the collection is bound to be replicated in many of our wardrobes this summer. The brand used Smartzer's interactive video platform to take their show to the next level by making it shoppable. Viewers could stream the show and click to add items to their basket to pre-order. This 'See Now, Buy Now' method of shopping proved to be extremely effective at charging impulse sales while creating a mesmerisingly entertaining experience for consumers.
Results:
The video resulted in the following features:
Interactive video overlay that allowed users to tap and scroll through the products that the models were wearing
Scrollable, explorable side bar featuring all the looks in the show
Add to cart functionality and sizing option dropdown to choose your perfect product
Group pop-up with vertical scrolling sidebar
End screen/replay screen with the option to restart the video
End screen carousel with all the featured products to scroll through
Watch the full video live on Jacquemus' website here!
Conclusion:
Using the magic of video interactivity, Jacquemus and Smartzer produced a ground breaking shoppable video experience for viewers. Customers could play a role in the content by clicking to choose their size and adding the item to their bag to buy. This engaging element has the potential to boost revenue through the roof.
If you want to learn more about how to create interactive video visit Smartzer here!
- Jun 15, 2021
The pandemic has changed our lives. So much so, that we can barely remember what life was like before. However, one of the key things the world has realised is how useful the internet can be at making everyday interactions accessible during a socially distanced time.
The events industry has taken a colossal hit during COVID 19. A year onwards, rubbing shoulders with strangers in a sweaty club feels like something from an alternate dimension. But, many events organisers have decided to overcome barriers put in place by pathogens to give people interactive, inclusive shows virtually through the miracle of live stream.
This format has proven to be so effective, that it is likely to persist even after the pandemic. Organisers are considering the possibility of 'Hybrid' events, events that have both in-person and at-home audiences. With many expected to feel wary about stepping into a crowd as a result of COVID anxiety, this hybridisation of audiences includes all, regardless of social confidence level. Not only this, but the retargeted focus of events towards at home audiences has made many shows far more accessible for people with disabilities. Live interactive video events have given many a new lens to access their favourite artists and brands.
There have been some incredible attempts to recreate the in-person experience of events in the comfort of peoples homes. Check out some of our favourites from 2021 so far...
Bloomingdales X Jimmy Choo: Virtual Shopping Events
Bloomingdales have reached to the internet to sell products to customers through virtual consultations. Their live video shopping events are an example that shows how retailers have combatted obstacles that have kept their bricks and mortar stores shut. They prove that through technology, the in-person shopping experience can be replicated online. Viewers who signed up to the show in advance received complimentary macarons and cocktails and the first 50 buyers received a free fashion sketch. Jimmy Choo's creative director, Sandra Choi then displayed her favourite trends for spring. Choi was able to demonstrate the glittery glamour of the shoes to audiences at home who were able to see the products in 360 degrees. Bloomingdales has also produced 50 more virtual shopping events to their customers during the pandemic.
Oscar Party with Elton John and David Furnish
The Oscars is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Perhaps the second most anticipated event would be Elton Johns famous after party! Harnessing the power of live interactive video, viewers at home could purchase tickets for the event to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation and get exclusive, behind the scenes access to a party for the stars. The event took place on the 26 April and was hosted by A-listers, Dua Lipa and Neil Patrick Harris. The show raised over 2 million dollars for the charity.
London Fashion Week 2021: Free Virtual Hybrid Event
With audiences gradually being reintroduced, there are still limits on capacity. So, London Fashion Week 2021 made their shows even more accessible by allowing some in-person viewers, then streaming online to all. The schedule ran from the 12th to the 14th June and streamed a variety of designers and collections. This ranged from the hottest forecasted styles to out of this world, entirely digital collections. The virtual live event gave everyone a front row seat to the most exclusive show in Fashion.
Covid is No Joke: Virtual Comedy Festival
Some of America's biggest comedians got together to encourage audiences to laugh during challenging times. Will Ferrell, Chelsea Handler, Elizabeth Banks and Jack Black were among the star studded line up reaching people at home. The live interactive video was hosted on YouTube with audiences communicating in the chat bar. The event provided much needed comedic relief for viewers.
Live interactive video can come in many forms. If you are interested in hosting virtual shopping events or live video shopping visit Smartzer's website here!