The Google Hangouts platform is great for social interaction between multiple participants, as demonstrated in the Google Hangouts demo video. However, users are utilising this platform for more than merely informal chatting. It is being used for interviews, virtual business meetings, topical debates, and more. In terms of content marketing, let us explore how the Google Hangouts can form part of your marketing strategy.
What Do We Have to Work With?
- Users are invited to join the hangout
- Instant messaging between multiple users
- Photos & video sharing
- Screen sharing, where another desktop may be accessed
- Video chat between as many as 10 users at a time
- Chat histories are saved online, allowing them to be synced between devices.
With all these functions you are equipped with a great toolbox for reaching your target audience, leads, prospective clients and current clients.
Business Contact Strategies
Users can be invited to attend your session. A live real-time presentation can be held by yourself. It can be a general overview of your company services or a specific pitch for a specific group of people. The perk is that the platform allows for interaction, i.e. topics can be discussed and questions can be asked and answered throughout the duration of the presentation, or afterwards.
The same method can be used for a product or service demonstration, an interview on group level, a workshop or brainstorming session, or a normal meeting in which decisions need to be made.
Location? Not specified
Virtual contact strategies or virtual meetings are convenient as location is not a matter to take into consideration. All that is needed is a device (PC, Laptop, Tablet and/or Smartphone) with a web connection, a camera, speakers and a microphone for video chat. What this means is that the presentation, demonstration, interview or workshop mentioned above could include participants from a global audience.
From Contact to Content
The entire virtual meeting can then be recorded on Hangouts. The recording can be used as an addition to your content pool, and makes for valuable sharable content for your content marketing strategy.
Demonstrations can be embedded into your company website should browsers want more information on your products or services. The Hangout is as appealing as it is interactive. Questions posed from the audience possibly (or probably) arose in the same browser’s mind. And answers are viewable on the spot.
Recorded hangouts of interviews with experts or current clients in your industry can be repurposed as blog articles and eNewsletter content.
In Closing
Hangouts are yet another dynamic form of content that could push your content strategy to the next level. Have you considered using Google hangouts as a tool and actual unit in your content marketing strategy? Please share – I would like to hear from you.
Sound Idea Digital is a full service digital marketing agency. For more information contact 012 664 4227 or email to info@soundidea.co.za
Carla van Straten is a writer for Sound Idea Digital | Carla@soundidea.co.za | @SoundIdeaLMS | www.soundidea.co.za
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