Updated: Aug 25, 2021
Check out how you could use Smartzer's interactive video platform to create entirely immersive, clickable and shoppable live stream experiences.
In the first half of 2020, there were more than 10 million Ecommerce live-streaming sessions online and by March there were 560 million people watching live-streams in China.
Smartzer's shoppable video platform enables brands to create exciting, real-time buying events for customers to get involved in.
The super simple and seamless app takes the stress and cost out of content creation by streaming organic content directly into the player to broadcast to viewers.
But how does it work?
Here's a quick breakdown of how our live shopping feature works for brands...
1. Make sure you have set yourself up an account with Smartzer!
After getting in touch with Smartzer, we can provide you with an end to end demo of how our platform works. Feel free to visit our website and discover. Or, use our Intercom to the bottom right hand side of the page to chat to our representatives.
If you decide Smartzer is for you, you can download our live shopping Shopify app, or have us set you up an account for any other alternative Ecommerce site such as Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, SAP, WordPress and more.
2. You will need a couple of things to start off with
There are some things you will need to ensure you have a successful live shop broadcast.
Download a third party broadcasting APP such as OBS and Larix. We recommend OBS for desktop recording and Larix for mobile streaming. You will be able to record your stream through these apps and connect it to the Smartzer shoppable live stream editor. You will need to adjust the settings and we recommend streaming in portrait mode!
Secure a good quality camera. But don't worry, you don't need studio quality equipment to stream, most mobile cameras have good enough quality in 2021.
Set up your streaming location. Make sure you have a aesthetic area to broadcast from with a nice backdrop, suitable lighting and good WiFi. There is nothing worse than a patchy stream that cuts in and out.
Plan your content. Who will be hosting the stream? What will they say and what products will they feature? Having an order of featured products will help whoever is using the editor to apply the shoppable products.
3. Using the editor
Our shoppable live stream editor has been created with simplicity in mind.
Firstly, you click to generate your stream to create a Stream Key and Server URL (RTMP link). You can input this into your third party broadcasting APP (OBS or Larix or alternative). You can then choose a suitable holding screen (splash screen) image and end screen image with text and a product carousel. The product carousel in the end screen will show once the broadcast has ended and summarise all of the featured products.
You can then import products manually by filling out a product form, adding prices, images and names. Or, you can import products using your API. With API integration we can connect to your product catalogue to pull in up to date product information by searching SKU numbers or Product ID's. Feel free to speak to our Account Manager regarding timelines for integration and requirements!
Once all of your products are imported and your broadcasting app is connected you are ready to click 'Go Live!'. You can enable comments so that your customers can chat during the stream, you can also disable them and swear words are blocked.
To feature products alongside the stream, click the plus icon on the product or drag and drop products from the import area into the feature area. Ideally, you will have one person hosting and one person managing the editor, so the editor controller can add the products as the stream plays. The viewer can then click popups to shop products.
Once the stream has finished in the editor click 'End Live' to display the end screen carousel to viewers. This will then save the stream recording to be re-watched or reused as on-demand content.
For more information on how to create interactive video and live shopping experiences visit Smartzer or reach out on Intercom!
Live shop technology is becoming more and more relevant for brands everywhere. The format is smashing digital boundaries to produce a revolutionary buying experience that not only converts, but entertains the masses.
It is undeniable that over the past years, there has been a colossal increase in the amount of people buying online, both young and old. This number is only growing as the pandemic has pushed millions of people towards the internet hoping to buy, communicate and be entertained.
Live shopping targets these three desires to draw in a new experience focussed customer profile.
Interactive video platforms are helping brands to achieve their live shop goals 📹
New live stream shopping technology means that brands can host streams with direct links to the products featured. A clickable overlay lives on top of the video stream with clickable pop-ups that provide information, a link to product display pages and a direct add to cart CTA. This quickly introduces the customer to everything they need to know in a matter of seconds, convincing them to purchase.
Streaming commerce opens a channel to link brands and customers in the comfort of their homes 👫
A chat bar helps customers to type questions or responses to hosts, breaking down the wall between virtual and real life. This conversational commerce format provides customers with a more personalised, bespoke, connected way of shopping. Being able to see the face behind the brand boosts customer trust and solidifies the merchants legitimacy.
Dynamic, charismatic and enthusiastic hosts demonstrate the products they know and love to a fresh new audience 🔥
Content could be anything, from brand representatives demonstrating how products are made, to live product demos, to catwalk models wearing complete looks to be bought directly from the stream. You could even host a Q and A, do a live in-store tour or feature an influencer. As long as the host remains up-beat and full of personality, live stream shopping experiences can entertain large audiences and simultaneously encourage impulse purchases in the heat of the moment.
Drawing together shopping, communication and entertainment targets most of the key areas that todays customer craves in an increasingly digitalised world. It is no longer enough to simply have an Ecommerce store, with live stream shopping you can attract an experience focussed consumer and boost engagement and conversion rates through the roof.
To learn more about interactive video platforms and live shopping visit Smartzer here!
- Jul 29, 2021
Online audience's are constantly evolving and developing and as a result, shoppable content has been given the crucial space to grow.
Recently, marketers have seen big changes in online audience demographic. It is no longer true to say that online consumers are explicitly Gen-Z. Now, close to a third of Instagram's users are aged 35 or older. Even TikTok is reaching a greater variety of age groups with 40% of its users older than 25 in 2019. 2020 pushed these demographic changes even further with many reaching towards their mobile phones for entertainment and shopping solutions when businesses were closed.
With this transfer, shoppable content has found new footing amongst a wide range of audiences. This has been largely down to how easy the interactive format makes shopping. Directly linking viewers to buy the products that they see on screen and offering them a wide range of sizing and colour options as well as product information.
Shoppable content makes life easier for online shoppers. They can seamlessly move from the content to purchasing the product – so no secondary websites, redirects or endless searching. Just instant, direct sales. This cuts out any “thinking time” and targets impulse purchase shopping.
At the touch of a button, consumers can purchase the exact product from a video. This has opened the door to a more instant, personalised, engaging way of shopping. With this brands can produce a customer focussed experience.
Here are some key examples of inspirational shoppable content shared online...
Shoppable text and articles...
In Net-A-Porter’s editorials, “Shop the Look” anchor links have been included under each image, giving the reader the opportunity to buy the featured product from a pop-up on screen. Read insightful interactive content and buy straight from the story in an engaging entertainment fuelled reading and shopping experience.
Shoppable images and lookbooks...
Jack Wills seamlessly used the magic of shoppable content to create an interactive campaign look book. Customers could browse new collections, learn about the product and then click a CTA to be directed to the product page to buy.
Interactive Video...
Luxury fashion brand, Oroton, took shoppable content one step further with a completely immersive and interactive runway show. Viewers could buy entire looks fresh from the runway in a 'see now, buy now' experience. This interactive campaign was seamlessly created using Smartzer's interactive video platform.
Livestream Shopping...
Clarks embraced a more social way of selling through livestream shopping. This form of shoppable content enabled the brand to sell in real-time, featuring products and interacting with viewer comments in the chat bar. Smartzer's interactive video platform allowed Clarks to reach incredible levels of engagement.