Customer Data Platform – Arena https://arena.im Bring your audience from social to your website with the power of AI Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:46:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://arena.im/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Customer Data Platform – Arena https://arena.im 32 32 The 4 Best Gaming Chat Apps for 2025 https://arena.im/group-chat/best-gaming-chat-apps/ Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/audience-engagement/best-gaming-chat-apps/ Gaming chat apps give players the ability to connect with their audiences effectively. Taking the time to find the right tool for your audience and goals makes all the difference. 

Livestream Gaming Is Worth Billions

Livestreaming video gameplay has become big business! Whether you prefer to play Dota 2, Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Fortnite, or other popular games, eSports and game streamers are building significant entertainment businesses and careers today. According to recent industry reports, game streaming and esports are generating billions in revenue, with the industry continually growing and expanding.

That explosive growth means more and more players and entertainers will jump into the live streaming market. Those new perspectives and styles mean more options for people to find streamers they like.

However, there is a dark side to the growth of streaming – audience engagement will become more difficult. As your audience gets even more choices to get their gaming fix, streamers will need to look for new ways to stand out. Inviting special guests, developing new content, and playing the latest games will all play a role.

You also need to give your audience an appealing way to get involved. That’s where using gaming chat apps is powerful. When your audience has access to a chat room to ask questions, applaud your play, and engage with friends, the stream becomes a social experience. That means your audience is likely to keep returning to your session repeatedly

Types of Gamer Chats

Navigating the types of gamer chats can be overwhelming. But understanding these can help you tailor the perfect environment for your community. Let’s break it down and find what suits your gamers best.

In-Game Chat

In-game chat is the most immediate form of communication for gamers. It allows players to send messages directly within the game environment, facilitating quick exchanges that can enhance the gaming experience.

  • Text Chat: This is the most common form, allowing players to type messages to teammates or opponents.

  • Voice Chat: Games like “Call of Duty” and “Fortnite” have integrated voice chat for real-time communication, crucial for coordinating strategies.

  • Emotes and Quick Commands: Games often include non-verbal communication tools like emotes or quick command buttons to convey messages without typing.

Community Platforms

Community platforms transcend the in-game environment, offering spaces where players can connect on a broader scale. These platforms are essential for fostering long-term relationships and community engagement.

  • Discord: Known for its robust server capabilities, Discord provides both text and voice channels, making it a favorite among engaged gaming communities.

  • Reddit: Subreddits dedicated to specific games or gaming genres serve as forums for discussion, news, and community events.

  • Arena’s Real-Time Chat Solutions: Offering seamless integration with gaming websites, Arena’s tools facilitate real-time communication and community building.

Social Media Interactions

Social media platforms extend the reach of gamer chats, allowing players to connect beyond dedicated gaming spaces.

  • Twitter: Gamers use hashtags and threads to discuss gaming news, share clips, and engage with developers.

  • Facebook Groups: These groups serve as hubs for fans of particular games, where they can share experiences, tips, and fan content.

Popular Gaming Chat Apps

Ready to dive into the heart of gaming communities and take your experience to the next level? Gaming chat apps are your gateway to real-time communication, strategy sharing, and building lasting connections with fellow gamers.

Some of the most popular gaming chat apps include:

  • Discord

  • Arena

  • Twitch

  • Steam Chat

  • Mumble

Each of these apps offers unique features that cater to different gaming needs, from in-game communication to community building.

The 4 Best Gaming Chat Apps

These significant platforms give you access to users, text chat features, voice chats, social features, and more to easily connect with channel viewers.

For many streamers, Twitch is a popular choice for streaming. Certainly, Twitch has advantages like a large user base. Yet Twitch is no longer the only or best option for all streamers today.

Arena

  • Chat Type: Text 
  • Key Features: social media integration, profanity filters, embed the app on your website
  • Pricing: the basic version is free! For game streamers with larger audiences, consider one of the paid plans. 
  • Free Trial Available: you can use the free basic plan or sign up for a free trial of one of the higher-end plans

You may not have used Arena yet, but it is one of the most powerful live chat tools on the market. This lightweight chat app is designed to keep large virtual audiences engaged. Arena Live Chat can be installed on your website in a few minutes, so there are no delays. This chat tool also has chat restrictions which means less work for chat administrators.

At this time, Arena does not support voice calls or video chats. However, keeping your audience in a text-only chat window is helpful. When attempting something difficult in League of Legends or other challenging online games, you may prefer to focus on gaming.  

Twitch 

  • Key Features: Twitch has millions of active users, including many hard-core gamers 
  • Pricing: $5 to $25 per month, depending on the plan
  • Free Trial Available: the partner program does not have a free trial app
Twitch: key features, Pricing, Free Trial

Twitch has the advantage of a significant gaming community of game enthusiasts – over 2 million active users, according to the Business of Apps. The large audience potential Twitch offers is very appealing to game streamers. However, there are some drawbacks to Twitch. To access the platform’s most powerful capabilities, streamers must fee the company’s Twitch Partner Program requirements, including mandatory training. 

Discord

  • Key Features: Discord offers text chat and voice chat capabilities
  • Pricing: there is a paid version of Discord called Discord Nitro ($99 per year) that offers large file transfer options, custom emojis, and more customization options
  • Free Trial Available: there is a free version of Discord, so you can test the platform

Launching a Discord server has become a popular choice for social gamers due to the platform’s focus on audio means it has excellent sound quality. It is also easy to create a different voice channel for different groups of Discord users. High audio quality communication is the perfect choice for many hard-core gamers who want to focus on their gameplay. The service includes direct messaging (i.e., the ability to send direct messages to other users) and file transfer.

Discord: Key Features, Pricing, Free Trial.

Join a few public servers before taking the time and effort to become a server owner. See how other streamers run their game nights, interact with fans and create a great gaming experience.

Epic Game Store

  • Key Features: among gaming platforms, Epic Game Store stands out because it offers free games and game communication. 
  • Pricing: None
  • Free Trial Available: you can play some games for free on the platform.

Like Twitch, the Epic Game Store has an application-based program for streamers called Support-A-Creator. Essentially, streamers earn a 5% affiliate commission on purchases. There are several requirements to qualify for the Support-A-Creator program, including having at least 1,000 followers on social media platforms and following the service’s terms of service. Beyond this core feature for monetization, the Epic Game Store website sets expectations: “please expect modest results.”

Epic Game Store: Key Features, Pricing, Free Trial.

The Epic Game Store approach to streaming is best suited to a few cases, including playing Fortnite and other epic games. Larger entertainment companies may prefer to use a multi-gaming platform not focused on Epic game titles. 

How Gaming Chat Apps Work

Gaming chat apps enhance the gaming experience by providing real-time communication channels for players. They enable seamless interaction, allowing gamers to coordinate strategies, share tips, and build communities within and around games.

Integration with Gaming Platforms

These chat apps integrate directly with gaming platforms, offering features like in-game overlays that let players communicate without interrupting gameplay. This integration ensures that chats, voice calls, and group communications happen smoothly, enhancing teamwork and social interaction during gaming sessions.

Customization and User Control

Users have control over their communication environments through extensive customization options. They can personalize settings such as themes, notification preferences, and chat filters, creating a more engaging and comfortable space for interaction.

5 Ways Gaming Chat Apps Will Grow Your Audience

Adding gaming chat apps to your game streaming brings several powerful benefits. Achieving all of these benefits may take some practice, so don’t worry if it takes you a while to realize all of these gains.

1. Verify Streaming Quality

Streaming technology has come a long way over the past few years, but it is still far from perfect. With a gaming chat app, you can run a quick soundcheck and instantly determine if your audience can hear and see you. Getting quick technical feedback means solving glitches fast and keeping your audience engaged. Neglecting this factor can drive your audience away.

2. Get More Content Ideas

As a streamer, you’re on stage! It is up to you to perform and share exciting stories and jokes with your audience. After a while, you might feel some level of creative burnout. Fortunately, your audience is full of ideas! By paying attention to the comments and questions in your chat app, you can get new ideas for future streaming sessions. Maybe your audience wants to see you play a different type of character or solve a problem? Add these audience suggestions to your ‘ideas file,’ and you’ll never struggle to come up with fresh ideas in your streaming sessions.

3. Test Product Ideas

What if you have a new idea for a product like a mod for a game or merchandise? Before investing significant time and energy into developing the product, use chat apps to get rapid feedback. For example, you could work with an artist to produce a mockup of a product idea and share it with your audience in a stream. If you see many people asking how to buy it, that is an excellent signal to move ahead!

Likewise, the reverse reaction – a lack of audience interest in a new product idea – is valuable. You’ve just saved yourself from pursuing an idea that may not find traction in the market.

4. Deepen Audience Loyalty

Building an engaged audience for your streaming career doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes regular engagement – answering questions, interacting with comments, and more. Using gaming chap apps in your live streams lets you interact with the audience as the stream unfolds. That’s a powerful way to make your audience feel valued and eager to keep coming back for more.

5. Increase Advertising Revenue

By adding chat apps to your streaming, you give your audience a social experience. Not only will they be entertained by your stream, but they will also have the chance to connect with other people. Now that your audience has an easy way to interact with other viewers, they are likely to stay engaged with you for longer periods. Ultimately, this translates into higher advertising revenues.

Types of Gamer Chats

Navigating the types of gamer chats can be overwhelming. But understanding these can help you tailor the perfect environment for your community. Let’s break it down and find what suits your gamers best.

In-Game Chat

In-game chat is the most immediate form of communication for gamers. It allows players to send messages directly within the game environment, facilitating quick exchanges that can enhance the gaming experience.

  • Text Chat: This is the most common form, allowing players to type messages to teammates or opponents.

  • Voice Chat: Games like “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II” and “Fortnite” have integrated voice chat for real-time communication, crucial for coordinating strategies.

  • Emotes and Quick Commands: Games often include non-verbal communication tools like emotes or quick command buttons to convey messages without typing.

Community Platforms

Community platforms transcend the in-game environment, offering spaces where players can connect on a broader scale. These platforms are essential for fostering long-term relationships and community engagement.

  • Discord: Known for its robust server capabilities, Discord provides both text and voice channels, making it a favorite among gaming communities.

  • Arena’s Real-Time Chat Solutions: Offering seamless integration with gaming websites, Arena’s tools facilitate real-time communication and community building.

  • Reddit: Subreddits dedicated to specific games or gaming genres serve as forums for discussion, news, and community events.

Social Media Interactions

Social media platforms extend the reach of gamer chats, allowing players to connect beyond dedicated gaming spaces.

  • Twitter/X: Gamers use hashtags and threads to discuss gaming news, share clips, and engage with developers.

  • Facebook Groups: These groups serve as hubs for fans of particular games, where they can share experiences, tips, and fan content.

Challenges in Chatting with Gamers

Let’s face it, creating a chat environment isn’t all fun and games. It comes with its own set of hurdles. But knowing these challenges means you’re better equipped to tackle them head-on.

Maintaining a safe environment is a top concern. Toxicity and harassment can quickly sour the experience for your community. Using tools like Arena’s AI-powered moderation helps keep the conversation respectful and inclusive, allowing gamers to engage positively without fear of abuse.

Encouraging meaningful interactions is another challenge. It’s easy for chats to devolve into spam or off-topic discussions. By setting clear guidelines and using features like interactive polls or topic-focused channels, you can steer conversations in a productive direction.

Balancing moderation and freedom is crucial. You want to allow free expression while ensuring the space remains respectful. Arena’s customizable moderation tools let you tailor the chat environment to your community’s needs, providing the right balance between oversight and freedom.

Which Gamer Chat App Is Right For You?

With all of the chat applications on the market, choosing the right app for your needs can take time and experimentation. To simplify the process, ask yourself which of the following categories best suits your needs.

Entry Level

An entry-level gamer chat app like Epic Games is a good choice for someone just getting started. You might have one or two thousand people in your audience and have modest revenue goals. In that case, a more straightforward app makes sense.

Intermediate Level

In the intermediate category, you have more choices for a voice chat service. A Gamer chat app like Discord makes sense. Setting up private servers for each gaming community you serve can help to lift engagement – League of Legends fans might not be interested in Fortnite or DOTA. The lack of a video chat feature may benefit since it can help you focus.

Professional Level

In chat clients, the professional level of chat clients comes down to two options: Arena vs. Twitch. With millions of potential channel viewers, Twitch is a popular choice. Yet, Twitch is not suitable for everyone. For example, your live streaming events might need chat restrictions t0 keep the event family-friendly. Arena’s moderation features like the profanity filter make organizing events for a large community easier. 

Since Arena is installed right on your website, your audience will not suffer through a significant learning curve. 

Arena vs. Twitch: Which Offers The Best Game Chat Experience?

Game chat, whether by voice or text, is an important way to engage your gaming audience. If you’re currently using Twitch, you may want to reconsider your options.

Twitch: Pros and Cons

In the gaming industry, Twitch has become one of the most popular apps with solid video quality and voice quality. Also, Twitch offers a variety of additional features that end users like the option to offer exclusive content. For end users, the platform offers many different channels so you can easily find streams featuring your favorite game.

There are disadvantages to relying exclusively on Twitch however. It is difficult to achieve complete control over the streaming experience. Other channels are just a click a way. That means you may lose users from your game chat.

Arena: The Way To Achieve Complete Control Of Your Gaming Chat App

When you want to make the most of your game time, complete control becomes valuation. You might want a way to sell products or ask users to enter their email address to join your list. With an off the shelf gaming chat app, full administrative control is tough if not impossible.

The solution is to build your our gaming chat app. Fortunately, there is no complicated coding involved. Instead, you simply need to install Arena Live Chat on your website. By using Live Chat on your website, your audience doesn’t have to download anything from an app store. They simply visit your website and start engaging with their friends. It’s a great way to engage community-minded gamers.

From a business standpoint, using Arena Live Chat instead of Twitch opens up new opportunities. For example, you can gather new data on your audience’s preferences with a customer data platform. With that data in hand, it far easier to understand what your audience wants and what they might be willing to buy. The best part? Your audience will get used to associating your website with leisure time rather than viewing you as one channel among many on a platform like Twitch.

How To Create A Custom Gaming Chat App

Adding a custom gaming chat app experience to your website is simple. For the best experience, download our new ebook: Declare Your Independence From Twitch. Arena Live Chat can be installed in minutes. It’s one of the best ways to engage your audience without the distractions of a voice chat application.

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CDP Integration Strategies for Targeted Content Campaigns https://arena.im/customer-data-platform/cdp-strategies-for-content-campaigns/ Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:59:56 +0000 https://arena.im/?p=11269 In this article, we’ll explore effective CDP integration strategies to help you deliver targeted and personalized content that resonates with your audience.

What is CDP Integration?

CDP integration connects a Customer Data Platform (CDP) with other systems like marketing automation tools, CRM, or content management systems. This process allows you to unify customer data from various sources, creating a single, comprehensive view of each customer.

By integrating a CDP with your marketing automation tools, you can streamline your marketing efforts. This connection enables you to use the rich customer data stored in the CDP to create more personalized and effective marketing campaigns.

Connecting a CDP with your CRM system ensures that all customer interactions and touchpoints are recorded and accessible. This unified data helps you understand your customers better and tailor your communications to their specific needs and preferences.

Integrating a CDP with content management systems allows for more targeted content delivery. You can use the insights gained from the CDP to recommend personalized content to your customers, enhancing their experience and increasing engagement.

In summary, CDP integration is about creating a seamless flow of data between your CDP and other systems. This integration helps you leverage customer data more effectively, leading to better-targeted content campaigns and improved marketing outcomes.

Customer Data Platform (CDP)

Benefits of CDP Integration for Targeted Content Campaigns

If you’re feeling the pressure to keep up with customer expectations and deliver more personalized experiences, CDP integration could be your game-changer. Let’s dive into why this matters.

Unified Customer View

CDP integration consolidates data from various sources to provide a comprehensive view of your customers. This unified customer view combines information from different touchpoints, such as website interactions, social media activity, and purchase history. By having all this data in one place, you can gain a deeper understanding of your customers’ behaviors, preferences, and needs. This holistic perspective allows you to make more informed decisions and tailor your marketing efforts to better meet customer expectations.

Personalized Content Delivery

Integration with a CDP enables the creation of highly targeted content based on customer preferences and behavior. By analyzing the unified customer profiles, you can identify specific interests and tailor content to match those interests. This means you can deliver personalized recommendations, offers, and messages that resonate with individual customers. Personalized content delivery enhances the customer experience, making interactions more relevant and engaging. This targeted approach not only captures attention but also fosters loyalty and encourages repeat interactions. Discover how CDPs are reinventing customer relations to enhance personalization and engagement.

Improved Campaign Performance

Targeted content campaigns driven by CDP insights lead to higher engagement and conversion rates. When you use data-driven insights to craft your campaigns, you can ensure that your messages reach the right audience at the right time. This precision reduces the likelihood of wasted efforts on uninterested audiences and increases the chances of converting prospects into customers. With a CDP, you can track the performance of your campaigns in real time, allowing for quick adjustments and optimizations. This continuous feedback loop helps you refine your strategies and achieve better results over time. Learn how to use CDP to improve conversion rates and streamline your marketing efforts.

In summary, integrating a CDP into your marketing ecosystem offers significant benefits for targeted content campaigns. A unified customer view, personalized content delivery, and improved campaign performance are just a few of the advantages that can help you create more effective and impactful marketing efforts.

How Does CDP Integration Enhance Content Personalization?

Integrating a Customer Data Platform (CDP) into your strategy can greatly improve content personalization. By unifying customer data, you gain valuable insights into individual preferences and behaviors.

Use CDP Data for Personalization

With a CDP, you can create content that truly resonates with each customer. Using the data collected, you can:

  • Customize website content based on a user’s browsing history.
  • Send targeted emails featuring products or services that match their interests.
  • Offer personalized recommendations aligned with past purchases.

This level of personalization makes customers feel seen and understood, increasing their engagement with your brand.

Impact on Customer Experience

Personalized content enhances the customer experience by making interactions more relevant. When you provide content that aligns with their needs, customers are more likely to:

  • Stay longer on your site.
  • Make repeat purchases.
  • Recommend your brand to others.

By integrating a CDP, you’re not just collecting data—you’re using it to build stronger relationships with your customers, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty.

How Does CDP Integration Work?

Now, you might be concerned about how this all comes together and whether it’s worth the effort. Let’s break down the process so it feels less daunting.

CDP integration starts with collecting and unifying customer data from various sources. This includes data from websites, mobile apps, social media, CRM systems, and more. The CDP aggregates this information into a single, comprehensive customer profile, ensuring all data points are connected and accessible.

Integrated systems then access these unified customer profiles to create targeted content. Marketing automation tools, CRM platforms, and content management systems can pull data from the CDP to tailor messages and content to individual customer preferences and behaviors. This targeted approach ensures that each customer receives relevant and personalized content, enhancing engagement and conversion rates. Find out how to connect marketing campaigns using CDP insights.

The CDP continuously updates customer profiles based on new interactions and data points. As customers interact with your brand, whether through purchases, website visits, or social media engagement, the CDP records these actions and updates the profiles in real-time. This dynamic updating process ensures that the customer data remains accurate and up-to-date, allowing for more effective and timely content targeting.

In summary, CDP integration involves a seamless flow of data collection, unification, and real-time updates, enabling integrated systems to deliver highly targeted and personalized content to your audience.

Types of CDP Integrations for Content Campaigns

Worried about how to actually implement these integrations? Let’s explore the different types and see which might work best for your needs.

Content Management System (CMS) Integration

Integrating a CDP with your Content Management System (CMS) allows you to offer personalized content recommendations on websites and apps. This integration leverages the unified customer profiles stored in the CDP to tailor content based on individual user preferences and behaviors. When a visitor lands on your site, the CMS can pull data from the CDP to display content that aligns with their interests, browsing history, and past interactions. This personalized approach enhances user engagement, keeps visitors on your site longer, and increases the likelihood of conversions.

For instance, if a user frequently visits pages related to a specific product category, the CMS can prioritize displaying related articles, product recommendations, or special offers. This not only improves the user experience but also drives higher engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, the integration ensures that content updates in real time, reflecting the latest customer interactions and preferences.

Email Marketing Platform Integration

Connecting a CDP with your email marketing platform allows for highly targeted email campaigns based on customer segments and behavior. The CDP collects and unifies data from various touchpoints, creating detailed customer profiles. These profiles can then be segmented into specific groups based on criteria such as purchase history, browsing behavior, and engagement levels.

With this integration, you can craft personalized email campaigns that resonate with each segment. For example, you can send tailored product recommendations to customers who have shown interest in similar items, or re-engagement emails to those who haven’t interacted with your brand recently. The email marketing platform accesses the CDP data to ensure that each email is relevant and timely, increasing open rates, click-through rates, and overall campaign effectiveness.

Moreover, the integration allows for automated email triggers based on real-time customer actions. If a customer abandons their shopping cart, the email platform can automatically send a reminder email with personalized product suggestions, encouraging them to complete the purchase. This level of personalization and automation enhances the customer experience and drives higher conversion rates.

Social Media & Advertising Integration

Integrating a CDP with social media advertising platforms facilitates the creation of personalized social media ads using CDP insights. The CDP aggregates data from various sources, creating comprehensive customer profiles that include demographic information, interests, and online behavior. These profiles can be used to create highly targeted ad campaigns on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

With this integration, you can deliver ads that are tailored to specific audience segments, ensuring that your message reaches the right people at the right time. For example, you can target ads to users who have recently visited your website but haven’t made a purchase, offering them a special discount to encourage conversion. Alternatively, you can create lookalike audiences based on your best customers, reaching new potential customers who share similar characteristics. Understand the differences between CDPs vs. DMPs to choose the right platform for your needs.

The integration also allows for dynamic ad content that updates in real time based on customer interactions. If a user engages with a particular product on your website, the social media ad can display related products or complementary items, increasing the chances of a sale. This personalized approach not only improves ad relevance but also maximizes your return on ad spend.

In summary, integrating a CDP with your CMS, email marketing platform, and social media advertising platforms enables you to deliver personalized content and campaigns that resonate with your audience. This targeted approach enhances engagement, improves campaign performance, and drives higher conversion rates.

CDP Integration Strategies for Targeted Content Campaigns

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Let’s simplify things by focusing on the strategies that will give you the most bang for your buck.

Define Clear Integration Goals

Start by identifying the specific objectives you aim to achieve with CDP integration. Are you looking to improve customer segmentation, enhance personalization, or streamline data management? Clear goals help you focus your efforts and measure success effectively. For instance, if your primary objective is to boost engagement, you might prioritize integrations that enable personalized content delivery. Defining these goals upfront ensures that your integration efforts align with your broader marketing strategy and deliver tangible benefits.

Prioritize High-Impact Integrations

Focus on integrations that will deliver the most value for your targeted content campaigns. Evaluate which systems, when connected to your CDP, will have the greatest impact on your marketing efforts. For example, integrating your CDP with a content management system (CMS) can enable personalized content recommendations, while connecting it with an email marketing platform can facilitate highly targeted email campaigns. Prioritizing high-impact integrations ensures that you maximize the return on your investment and achieve significant improvements in campaign performance.

Ensure Data Quality and Consistency

Maintaining high data quality and consistency across integrated systems is vital for effective CDP integration. Inaccurate or inconsistent data can lead to misguided marketing efforts and poor customer experiences. Implement data validation processes to ensure that the information collected from various sources is accurate and up-to-date. Regularly audit your data to identify and rectify any discrepancies. Consistent data quality allows you to create reliable customer profiles, which are the foundation of successful targeted content campaigns. Leverage audience data and sales strategy to enhance your CDP integration efforts.

Continuously Measure and Optimize

Track the performance of your targeted content campaigns and optimize your integration strategies accordingly. Use analytics tools to monitor key metrics such as engagement rates, conversion rates, and customer feedback. This data provides insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. Regularly review your integration goals and adjust your strategies based on the performance data. Continuous measurement and optimization help you stay agile and responsive, ensuring that your CDP integration efforts yield the best possible results.

Best Practices for CDP Integration in Content Campaigns

Worried about getting it right the first time? These best practices can guide you through a smoother integration process.

Start with a Pilot Project

Begin with a small-scale integration to test the feasibility and impact. Starting small allows you to identify potential issues and fine-tune the integration process before a full-scale rollout. Select a specific segment of your customer base or a particular marketing channel to implement the pilot. Monitor the performance closely, gathering data on how well the CDP integrates with your existing systems and the effectiveness of the targeted content campaigns. This approach minimizes risks and provides valuable insights that can guide the broader implementation.

Involve Key Stakeholders

Engage stakeholders from different departments to ensure alignment and support. Successful CDP integration requires collaboration across various teams, including marketing, IT, sales, and customer service. Each department brings unique insights and expertise that can enhance the integration process. Organize regular meetings to discuss goals, share progress, and address any concerns. Ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page helps in creating a cohesive strategy and fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to the project.

Provide Adequate Training

Train marketing and content teams on how to leverage CDP insights effectively. Proper training ensures that your teams can fully utilize the capabilities of the CDP to enhance targeted content campaigns. Develop comprehensive training programs that cover the functionalities of the CDP, data analysis techniques, and best practices for creating personalized content. Hands-on workshops and real-life case studies can make the training more engaging and practical. Continuous learning opportunities, such as webinars and refresher courses, keep your teams updated on new features and strategies.

In summary, starting with a pilot project, involving key stakeholders, and providing adequate training are best practices that can significantly enhance the success of CDP integration in your content campaigns. These steps ensure a smooth integration process, foster collaboration, and empower your teams to create highly effective targeted content.

Best Practices for CDP Integration in Content Campaigns

Worried about getting it right the first time? These best practices can guide you through a smoother integration process.

Start with a Pilot Project

Begin with a small-scale integration to test the feasibility and impact. Starting small allows you to identify potential issues and fine-tune the integration process before a full-scale rollout. This approach minimizes risks and provides valuable insights that can guide the broader implementation.

Involve Key Stakeholders

Engage stakeholders from different departments to ensure alignment and support. Successful CDP integration requires collaboration across various teams, including marketing, IT, sales, and customer service. Ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page helps in creating a cohesive strategy and fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to the project.

Provide Adequate Training

Train marketing and content teams on how to leverage CDP insights effectively. Proper training ensures that your teams can fully utilize the capabilities of the CDP to enhance targeted content campaigns. Continuous learning opportunities keep your teams updated on new features and strategies.

Is CDP Integration Worth It for Targeted Content Campaigns?

Still on the fence? Let’s talk about why CDP integration is a game-changer for your content strategy.

CDP integration offers significant benefits for creating personalized content experiences. By connecting your Customer Data Platform with other systems, you gain a unified view of your customers. This integration allows you to understand customer preferences and behaviors in-depth, enabling you to deliver content that resonates with them. Personalized content experiences lead to higher engagement, as customers feel understood and valued. This level of personalization is difficult to achieve without a CDP, making integration a valuable asset for your content strategy.

Targeted content campaigns driven by CDP insights have proven to deliver higher ROI. When you use data-driven insights to create your campaigns, you can ensure that your messages are relevant and timely. This relevance increases the likelihood of conversions, as customers are more likely to engage with content that speaks directly to their needs and interests. Higher engagement rates translate to better campaign performance and, ultimately, a higher return on investment. The ability to track and measure the success of your campaigns in real time also allows for continuous optimization, further enhancing ROI. Explore 20 ways to boost results with CDP to enhance your marketing efforts.

The long-term value of CDP integration outweighs the initial investment and effort. While integrating a CDP with your existing systems may require an upfront investment, the benefits you gain over time make it worthwhile. The ability to create personalized content experiences and drive higher ROI through targeted campaigns provides a competitive edge. Additionally, the continuous updating of customer profiles ensures that your data remains accurate and actionable, allowing you to adapt to changing customer behaviors and preferences. This adaptability is crucial in maintaining relevance and achieving long-term success in your marketing efforts.

Engage your audience like never before with Arena’s powerful live chat and real-time engagement tools. Sign up now to boost interaction, build community, and elevate your brand experience. Visit Arena’s pricing page to get started today.

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Discover how Arena Live Chat Directly Increases Website Revenue https://arena.im/group-chat/live-chat-monetization-strategies/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/audience-engagement/live-chat-monetization-strategies/

What if you could bring new revenue to your business by engaging your audience more deeply? With Arena Live Chat, there are advertising and non-advertising methods to get more revenue from your website with Live Chat. Depending on your business model, you can use both methods to add new revenue streams to your company.

The Two Ways To Unlock New Revenue Streams Today

There are two primary business models to earn revenue from an online property today: selling access to your audience to advertisers and using the audience to directly sell your products.

Advertising Revenue Generation

The direct method is to sell advertising – a popular strategy used by major media brands, bloggers, and many others. There are multiple ways to generate advertising revenues. You can earn a fee for displaying ads (i.e., display advertising). Alternatively, you may earn a fee for recommending products (i.e., affiliate marketing). Some businesses generate revenue by creating sponsored content like reviews. These revenue streams require a creative approach, relevant advertising, and an engaged audience. Live chat can help you develop and grow your audience.

A key advantage of advertising revenue is that you do not need to create, manage or offer products or services of your own. Instead, you simply use an advertising platform (or make direct deals with advertisers) and start generating revenue! However, advertising revenue generation has its limitations. Advertising revenue tends to fluctuate throughout the year – the fall is often more active than the summer. In addition, your content and audience need to meet the needs of advertisers. If advertisers don’t like your website, they can go elsewhere.

Non-Advertising Revenue Generation

The other way to unlock revenue streams with live chat is to sell your products and services. The specific model you use will depend on how your business works. For example, an enterprise software company will likely be focused on lead generation for the sales team. On the other hand, a website with an online store may leverage live chat to sell its products directly.

Generating revenue directly from your audience is different from advertising. Generally speaking, you can earn much more revenue by selling your products. The downside is that you must invest in a sales and marketing process. For example, your audience may not be interested in buying an expensive product when they first hear about it. Instead, your sales team will probably need to reach out and engage leads. If you sell lower-priced products, following up with email marketing may be all you need.

The Core Ingredient Every Online Business Requires

An engaged and growing audience is the fuel that powers every online business. Without an audience interested in your content and online experiences, your growth possibilities become constrained. Without an audience, you will unlikely be able to generate meaningful advertising revenue. After all, why should an advertiser pay you if they don’t get access to a large audience?

A non-advertising business model can still operate without an audience. Yet, growth becomes far more complex. In essence, you will need to rely on other methods like an outbound sales program, advertising, and events. While all these methods work, they are more challenging to scale. In contrast, global brands like IBM, Accenture, and Goldman Sachs invest in building an engaged online audience.

Whether your goal is to generate advertising revenue or sell your products, an engaged and growing audience is vital. Adding Arena Live Chat to your website is one of the best ways to nurture an engaged audience.

How Live Chat Chat Helps You To Grow Revenue

Using a live chat session to generate additional revenue (i.e., live chat monetization) is easy when you use the right tools. Arena Live Chat is a no-code tool you can install on most websites in a matter of minutes. You can use two approaches to live chat monetization: directly using Arena Live Chat monetization features or using live chat to grow an audience and monetize them differently.

Arena Live Chat helps you to grow audience engagement with a few key features:

  • Q&A: Hosting your CEO or a VIP at your live chat? Use the Q&A feature to gather questions and then ask your guest to answer the most significant questions.
  • Direct messages: Your audience may not want to share everything directly in a public chat room – that’s why we offer direct messages so individuals can send messages to each other.
  • Reactions: Inspired by social media, reactions are a way for other users to express themselves without having to type.
  • GIFs. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It might be worth even more when you have the right GIF. Arena Live Chat has access to a library of GIFs.
  • Channels. A chat experience can become disorganized if there are many unrelated discussions happening in the same place. By creating separate channels, your audience can easily find people who share the same interests.

Live Chat Monetization With Arena: 3 Features To Generate Immediate Revenue

Live Chat Monetization

Arena Live Chat. Today, Arena Live Chat offers three different monetization capabilities: Donation, Gifts, and Tip Jar. There are a few different ways to use these options, so let’s take a closer look at how to use these features.

Donation

With a donation, a user directly gives money to you. Before accepting donations, it’s essential to set clear expectations with your audience. Some people, they associate the word donation with a charitable organization. If you are running a fundraising event for a nonprofit, using the donation monetization option makes sense. For-profit companies should generally avoid using the donation feature because it may confuse their audience.

Gift and Tip Jar

Both of these live chat monetization features are useful in a few circumstances. For example, an ecommerce business might invite an influencer to a product launch event. The primary focus of the virtual event is to promote the product being launched. That said, you may want to give your audience the chance to send a gift or tip to the influencer participating in the event. Also, the gift and tip car monetization features are relevant if you are hosting a concert. As with the donation option, requesting tips may not be appropriate for companies to use.

How Does Arena Process The Revenue?

Let’s say you generate significant revenue from your live chat session. Your finance team will want to know if these funds will be tracked and managed. Arena makes this process easy through the payment integrations available through the Enterprise plan. Other Arena users can use PayPal to receive revenue.

Don’t use PayPal? Don’t worry – Arena is also working on developing an integration with Stripe. Stay tuned for more news on that front!

After you receive funds, take some time to analyze the results. For example, are there any users who sent unusually large amounts? If so, it’s wise to reach out to thank them. This extra effort goes a long way to keep the most passionate members of your audience engaged.

Live Chat Monetization: Optimizing For Conversions

The most powerful way for a company to leverage live chat monetization is to view it as a marketing platform. Start by using live chat as a way to build awareness and trust with your audience. By hosting a series of live chat events over time, your audience will become more familiar with your brand. As a result, they will be more likely to positively respond to marketing messages such as an invitation to join your email list, buy a product or meet with your sales team.

Many Arena users use live chat experiences as a way to generate conversions. For example, you can use Arena conversion cards to focus your audience on a conversion goal. Conversion cards can be used for several objectives like getting a prospect to sign up for your list, following you on social media, visiting a landing page or making a purchase.

Today, there are a few popular you can leverage Arena conversion cards in Live Chat and Live Blog to grow your business.

  • Lead Generation: Capture emails, Ebook download, Visit a webpage (e.g. a landing page)
  • Sales: Sell a product, sell a subscription to streaming services

Of course, you’re not limited to these options. Want to invite people to sign up for a paid, exclusive live chat experience? You can do that! Want to grow your following on TikTok instead? You can use conversion cards to advance that goal.

Get More Revenue From Your Website With Live Chat Today

You’ve discovered all of the ways that a live chat app can help you monetize your website audience. A more engaged audience means more pageviews and time on site which directly impacts potential advertising revenue. That’s not all. When your audience engages with you and others in a live chat, they are more likely to like and trust your brand. When you add live chat to your website, you’ll start to find that lead generation and sales become much easier. Learn more about Live Chat here.

5 Effective Tips for Maximizing Revenue with Live Chat

You’ve got the basics down, but how do you squeeze every last drop of potential from your live chat? Here are some tips to take your monetization strategies to the next level.

Craft Personalized Messages

Generic responses won’t cut it. Use customer data to tailor your messages. Personalization makes customers feel valued and understood, increasing their likelihood to purchase. It’s not just about knowing their name; it’s about understanding their needs.

Utilize Proactive Chat Invitations

Don’t wait for customers to reach out. Use proactive chat invitations to engage them first. If a customer lingers on a product page, initiate a chat to offer assistance or suggest related products. It’s about being there before they even know they need you.

Incorporate Feedback Loops

After a chat session, ask for feedback. What did the customer like? What could be improved? Use this information to refine your chat strategies. Feedback isn’t just about fixing problems; it’s about enhancing the overall customer experience.

Leverage Analytics for Insights

Dive into your chat data. Arena’s analytics can provide insights into what’s working and what’s not. Are certain products being recommended more successfully? Is there a common question that needs addressing? Use these insights to continuously improve your chat strategies.

Explore Subscription Models

Consider offering subscription models or premium services through live chat. This could be exclusive content, early access to products, or personalized consultations. It’s about creating value that customers are willing to pay for.

For the best results, it is smart to augment your conversion cards in the event itself. Let’s say you are running a virtual conference event with Arena Live Chat. Ask your presenters to verbally reinforce the call to action mentioned on the conversion card (e.g. “And now, please click the link in the live chat to get updates about our next virtual event!”). This approach is especially effective if your audience is new to use Arena Live Chat and conversion cards.

As you start to become more familiar with running live chat experiences, you’ll gradually collect more and more data on your customers. Use the Arena customer data platform to put your customer data to good use. Without a CDP in place, you’re missing out on a significant portion of your live chat monetization opportunity.

Get More Revenue From Your Website With Live Chat Today

You’ve discovered all of the ways that a live chat app can help you monetize your website audience. A more engaged audience means more pageviews and time on site which directly impacts potential advertising revenue. That’s not all. When your audience engages with you and others in a live chat, they are more likely to like and trust your brand. When you add live chat to your website, you’ll start to find that lead generation and sales become much easier. Learn more about Live Chat here.

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How Customer Data Platform is Reinventing Customer Relations https://arena.im/group-chat/heres-how-customer-data-platform-is-reinventing-customer-relations/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/customer-experience/heres-how-customer-data-platform-is-reinventing-customer-relations/ Using a Customer Data Platform is helping companies to focus obsessively on their customers and benefit from their engagement.

You need to know your customers—this isn’t any news. It doesn’t matter if you want to make them more engaged, optimize your budget for campaigns, or improve your ROI.

Customer accurate information is at the heart of every company and should be treated correctly to generate powerful outcomes from your marketing efforts.

If you don’t have a consistent understanding of your consumers, then all your strategies will likely go down the drain.

But how exactly do you get to act like you know your customers? The answer is simple: by managing their data.

To treat data thoroughly and reach your customer relationship goals, you might come across the need to use the right technologies. This is when the Customer Data Platform (CDP) walks in.

A customer data platform monitors and tracks multiple data sources to bring relevant information to a single hub that is easy to access and understand.

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Once implemented, CDPs collect, integrate, manage, and analyze customer data continuously. These automated processes help many teams to focus on solving complex problems that require a human brain. At the same time, a Customer Data Platform brings current, real-time data to be leveraged and turned into marketing master plans.

What is a Customer Data Platform (CDP)?

A Customer Data Platform is not just another tech tool; it’s a strategic asset. CDPs gather and organize data from multiple channels, providing a unified view of customer interactions, preferences, and behaviors. This comprehensive profile enables businesses to engage customers with personalized, relevant content.

Examples of CDPs

  • Salesforce CDP: Integrates data from sales, service, marketing, and commerce for a holistic customer view.
  • Adobe Experience Platform: Offers real-time profiles and insights for personalized experiences.
  • Segment: Focuses on data collection and management, facilitating deep analysis through various tools.

Why do companies use Customer Data Platforms?

Is there a reason why companies implement a Customer Data Platform in their business models? Yes, many.

According to Gartner, plenty of marketers look to customer data-driven strategies to deliver growth. For example, marketers invested two-thirds of their budget in supporting relationships with their customers in 2017 and 2018.

Still, they have found the technology they were using to be frustrating—until CDP’s unique upshots came out as a solution to their problems.

A Customer Data Platform reaches out for several channels and concentrates real-time data in a single place your team can access whenever it is convenient.

This stimulates a collaborative work environment and speeds the pace of operational routines. Customer Data Platforms are also known for making marketers’ lives less complicated since automating workflows would take too many working hours to be accomplished.

The other reason companies use Customer Data Platforms is that they are much more than a simple database. According to the CDP Institute, the ideal Customer Data Platform should contain five essential capabilities:

  • Absorb data from any source
  • Give full details of ingested data
  • Store data without end and frequently
  • Create unified profiles (such as personas)
  • Share data with any system that needs it

All of the five skills above drive brands into having a vigorous understanding of their customer base by collecting and analyzing reliable data across their marketing channels.

How CDPs Reinvent Customer Relations

CDPs transform customer relations by offering segmentation opportunities, personalizing interactions, and enriching relationships. They enable agile responses to market changes and customer preferences, providing a competitive edge.

1. Segmentation Opportunities

CDPs provide a 360-degree customer view, essential for effective segmentation. This approach allows businesses to create tailored touchpoints, enhancing customer loyalty and profitability.

2. Personalization

Access to reliable data enables personalized interactions, making customers feel valued and fostering long-term relationships.

3. Enriching Relationships

Understanding customer habits and preferences allows businesses to build touchpoints that elevate the customer journey, increasing loyalty and engagement.

4. A CDP is agile

Agility layers can be used to shape CDP frameworks that adjust to your company’s infrastructure, turning data sharing into a reality. CDPs also absorb data from other internal systems, like CRMs and Data Management Platforms (DMPs), you might already have. Apart from that, CDPs update in real-time. This allows you to assess micro-moments data and instantly operationalize it.

5. A CDP ingests data from any source

A Customer Data Platform reaches out to any source of information, from Live Chats to SEO, from blogging to Twitter, from customer loyalty to affiliate marketing programs to provide your company with everything you know about your potential and current consumers.

6. A CDP elevates digital transformation

Digital-native companies have already built their business model based on data collection and responding to customers’ needs with high-level experiences.

These companies combine traditional marketing strategies, such as loyalty programs, with groundbreaking digital initiatives that connect with customers in real-time and engross their engagement.

What types of data does a Customer Data Platform assess?

The types of customer data assessed by a CDP can be quantitative and qualitative.

In other words, by using a CDP, you will be able to figure out:

  • How to identify your customers, using personal data
  • How to interact with your customers, using interactional data
  • How customers expect to be impacted by experiences, using behavioral data
  • How your customers perceive your brand, using attitudinal data

The datasets above are being generated at all times in any digital environment and should be combined to create an unbeatable and absolute customer understanding.

But how do CDPs gather such different information?

They reach out to analytics reports, engagement measures, support occurrences, eCommerce metrics, and customer feedback (to quote a few), to maximize your knowledge and equip you with fast, accurate moves.

This is the main reason why CDPs are revolutionizing the way brands communicate with customers and vice-versa. They are an unlimited and underlying base for companies to create remarkable customer experiences and increase customer engagement in a way we have never seen before.

The effects of CDP in customer experience

A Customer Data Platform grants companies an invincible competitive advantage: passionate customers who keep being fed with reasons to remain brand loyal.

Historically, we can see customers have adopted technologies faster than the brands they interact with. This made companies try to embrace digital transformation technologies focused on customer experience to reach out to consumers where they are and how they want.

Expanding your brand’s online presence to talk to customers in multiple channels isn’t enough, in any case. Any company can create an Instagram account and interact with its audience then and there, right?

However, the ones that truly stand out are focused on delivering personalized, relevant, well-designed interactions that take place as soon as customers want.

Tailored customer interactions should happen anywhere, at any time. This is the main reason why organizations around the world are digitizing their business models. According to the Boston Consulting Group Research, personalization will drive an $800 billion revenue shift to the top 15% of companies that work best on it, in only three industries.

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I know what you’re thinking: that’s much profit for a small number of companies—and yes, it is. Even so, it sounds like a warning: companies that aren’t ready to turn personalization ordinary in their marketing campaigns, will be left stranded.

As you know, doing a great job on personalization is all about knowing everything there is to know about your customers and quickly activating your knowledge when needed.

Can you notice any coincidences between this goal and the usage of a CDP?

How to Successfully Implement a CDP

Successful CDP implementation requires a strategic approach:

  • Assess Business Needs: Identify goals and requirements to guide platform selection.
  • Select the Right CDP: Choose a scalable solution that integrates seamlessly with existing systems.
  • Plan Integration: Ensure smooth connections with CRM and marketing tools.
  • Train Your Team: Equip staff with the skills to leverage the CDP effectively.
  • Measure Success: Track KPIs to evaluate and refine strategies.

Align your digital initiatives with the power of a Customer Data Platform

While IT staff has been skeptical for a while, digital leaders worldwide have been engrossing CDP in their workflows and getting amazing results from data management automation.

Not only has perfect treating data been helping these leaders come up with customer-centric solutions, but it has optimized their budget and turned manual work more effective.

Forbes Insights highlighted that 44% of surveyed organizations stated a Customer Data Platform is helping drive customer loyalty and increase ROI.

Arena serves customers from 120 different countries and sees firsthand how the fast-paced digital environment influences global market changes day after day.

That is why we work to build awareness for digital leaders and marketers to embrace Customer Data Platforms in their full potential and boost customer engagement.

In case you need to further your research towards the CDP role for the upcoming years, download our Customer Data Platform 2020: the future of marketing and sales ebook and take a deeper dive.

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5 Online Events Ideas For Internal Meetings https://arena.im/group-chat/online-events-ideas-for-internal-meetings/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/group-chat/online-events-ideas-for-internal-meetings/

Most guides to online events focus on engaging customers or growing an audience. Those are worthwhile goals that are well worth pursuing. Focusing all of your online events on external groups carries a risk: your employees may become disengaged and withdraw their best contribution.

The High Cost of Low Engagement

There is plenty of research on the value of encouraging high employee engagement. In brief, high employee engagement means staff brings enthusiasm, new ideas, and creativity to their work. On the other hand, low engagement means employees are focused on doing the bare minimum to get by.

In the past, employee engagement discussions focused on motivation and productivity. There are new dimensions to employee engagement given our experience over the last few years – well-being. According to new Gallup research, only 24% of employees feel that their employees care about their overall wellbeing.

Feeling cared for has significant benefits for organizations. Employees who feel their employers care about their wellbeing are 69% less likely to be searching for a new job. Further, these employees are 71% less likely to experience significant burnout.

Driving high employee engagement and well-being requires multiple strategies, including events. If your organization has a hybrid or remote workforce, you need online events ideas for internal meetings.

Online Events Ideas for Internal Meetings For Growth

These online event concepts are powerful tools to inspire your employees to pursue challenging goals.

1. Virtual Annual Sales Meeting

Annual sales meetings are a proven way to engage your salesforce. These events typically involve a compelling keynote speaker, presentations from executives, and insights to help salespeople succeed, rather than flying in employees from multiple locations.

To make your event memorable, use these tips:

Feature An Exciting Guest Speaker.

The right guest speaker can fill your sales reps with inspiration and tactics. For example, you might invite Jeb Blount to speak to your team about prospecting, negotiation, or other sales skills.

Offer Customer Data Insights.

Your most successful sales reps probably understand your customers deeply. What

about the rest of your sales team, especially the new hires? They may not know your customer base as well. To give your sales team a leg up, equip them with insight from your customer data platform.

With the Arena customer data platform in place, you can identify critical patterns in customer behavior. For example, you might find that industrial customers typically read two ebooks before they join a sales call. In that case, you can suggest your salespeople adjust their efforts to reach out to the right prospects.

2. Giving Company Awards In An Online Event

Recognition is one of the most enduring human motivations. Paying your employees well is just the start of recognition. You can also make employees feel appreciated by giving them awards. A company awards event can work well online.

To maximize engagement in your awards events, you can use a few techniques.

Offer Prizes.

A plaque or trophy is significant, but offering a prize can make the award even more memorable. For example, you might offer a gift card to the best restaurant or hotel in town so your winner can have a memorable night out.

Be Specific When Giving Awards.

The public praise you receive upon receiving an award makes the experience much sweeter. Ask your event moderator to prepare a short speech of 30-60 seconds describing some of the award winner’s specific achievements (e.g., completing a complex IT project on time or exceeding sales quota)

3. New Leadership Online Event

The arrival of a new CEO means change. Employees will want to know about the new leader’s personality, goals, and background. Meet these expectations effectively by organizing an online event.

With this type of online event, strike a balance between the leader making a presentation and allowing plenty of time for employee questions. It is best to use Arena Live Chat to manage the question and answer session in a larger event. Arena includes content moderation capabilities so that you can avoid off-topic questions.

Online Events Ideas for Internal Meetings for Well Being

The above online events ideas are powerful to stimulate ambition and productivity. However, that type of event is not appropriate for every context. If your employees have been burning the midnight oil to meet a challenging deadline, your staff may have other needs. It’s more than possible that employee well-being has suffered.

4. Diversity and Inclusion Virtual Event

When employees feel mistreated or discriminated against, they are less likely to thrive. Planning an annual online event related to your diversity and inclusion goals can make a big difference.

There are different ways to structure this type of event. You might highlight specific inclusion efforts, such as efforts to promote women and people of color into management positions. Alternatively, you might share a progress update regarding your organization’s diversity goals.

Data and metrics are not enough to make this type of event successful. It’s also powerful to feature stories from your employees and leaders. For example, invite employees to share stories about facing discrimination and overcoming those challenges.

Advancing diversity and inclusion goals, especially when new to your organization, can provoke questions and controversy in some cases. Give your team members the chance to ask questions and seek clarification using Arena Live Chat.

5. Stress Management Online Event

An online event focused on healthy stress management techniques can go a long way to helping employees feel better. Assuming you plan for a 60-minute online event, there is a limit to how much you can cover.

Therefore, you might want to organize a quarterly event series covering different topics. This quarter, you might cover breathing exercises and meditation. Next quarter, you might focus on practical ways to set boundaries at work (e.g., start time, end time, and no weekend email).

Benefits of Creative Online Events

Creative online events offer numerous benefits:

  • Increase Employee Engagement: Capture attention and encourage participation.
  • Foster a Positive Company Culture: Strengthen team bonds and improve satisfaction.
  • Improve Communication: Open dialogue sessions encourage transparency.

How Arena Transforms Internal Meetings

Arena’s tools revolutionize online meetings. Real-time chat and messaging keep everyone engaged. Interactive polls and quizzes add fun and competition, while customizable spaces tailor the experience. Arena’s AI-powered features provide insights into participant engagement, helping you tailor your strategies.

Tips for Successful Virtual Events

Ensure virtual events hit the mark with these tips:

  • Encourage Participation with Incentives: Offer rewards for active involvement.
  • Use Breakout Rooms for Smaller Discussions: Facilitate focused interactions.
  • Keep Sessions Short and Focused: Maintain energy with concise meetings.
  • Incorporate Fun Elements: Use humor and games to boost engagement.

Bring Your Internal Meeting Event Idea To Life

There are all kinds of ways you can use online events ideas to inspire your workforce. You can introduce new leaders, give out awards and help employees improve their well-being.

An idea is not enough to create transformational results. You need specific techniques to plan your event’s content and technology so that everything runs smoothly. Download your copy of Arena’s live events ebook to learn how to plan and execute an engaging event in less than a week.

Free ebook download: boost engagement in your virtual events.

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14 Ways in Which Live Chat is a Customer Service Game-Changer https://arena.im/group-chat/live-chat-customer-service/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/e-commerce/live-chat-customer-service/ Live Chat is transforming customer care across many segments. Discover how this tool is leading a “micro revolution” to customer support and sales teams.

What are the main pillars that sustain the relationship between companies and customers? Let’s think for a second about brands that are known for excellent customer experience.

Digital apps, fintech, eCommerce, you name it. No matter the segment, it’s clear that successful brands offer more than great products, advertising, and content. They have a superior approach towards customer service and always try to make sure communication is dynamic and assertive.

Live Chat is the ultimate tool to offer that. After all, in the age of instant communication, people are not willing to wait much time to have their questions answered. Besides, they increasingly want to count on omnichannel support.

Well, Live Chat is changing Customer Service in many ways. In this post, we’ll explore how this tool is boosting productivity and efficiency in Customer Service and customer satisfaction.

The Context Behind Live Chat

For those who are not familiar with Live Chat, here goes a brief description of it.  Live Chat is a tool that allows customers to ask for support via instant messages directly on a company’s website or app while browsing products and viewing content.

Besides, some brands have integrated their Live Chat tools to other messaging platforms to provide a seamless support experience across different brand channels.

By why exactly is Live Chat disrupting the customer care business? According to Forrester’s study,; 33% of consumers now expect to see Live Chat services offered on every website.

The same report says the number of U.S. online shoppers who use live Chat has increased from 38% to 58% in the last five years.

Live Chat is mostly used in B2C businesses by support agents and Customer Care teams, but it can also be used by Customer Success and Sales teams in B2B companies.

Types of Live Chat Customer Service

Different types cater to different needs, making a significant impact on customer experience.

AI-Driven Chat Support

AI-driven chat support automates responses to common inquiries, freeing up human agents for complex issues. It acts as the first line of defense, handling FAQs and guiding customers through basic processes.

Human-Assisted Chat

Human-assisted chat connects customers with real agents who provide personalized support, ensuring a tailored experience that addresses unique concerns.

Hybrid Chat Solutions

Hybrid chat solutions combine AI efficiency with human empathy, offering a seamless transition from automated responses to live agents as needed.

Mobile Live Chat

Mobile live chat ensures customers can reach you anytime, anywhere, optimized for smartphones and tablets. This type of chat service is crucial for businesses targeting on-the-go consumers.

Why Live Chat can take Customer Experience to the next level

Live Chat makes communication between brands and their customers much quicker and organic as it emulates conversation platforms.

Why have the customers reaching for support through email or phone if you can help them in real-time through Live Chat? Here are a few reasons Live Chat is changing customer service in companies.

1) Enhancing brand experience

It’s no secret customers are more demanding when it comes to customer experience. They have become used to personalized messages and offers in every aspect of their lives, and thus they have high expectations regarding customer service.

According to Salesforce, 80% of customers believe brand experience is just as important as a brand’s products or services. Another study by Capgemini shows that the same percentage of customers are willing to spend more money to have better customer service.

Following this logic, customer service can be the central element to differentiate your brand from the competition.

2) Providing fast responses

A few years ago, it might have been OK to make customers wait a couple of days to get responses to their requests via phone or email. That is no longer the truth.

A study from Hubspot says 90% of customers rate “immediate response” as very important when they have a query.

Having Live Chat on your website or app gives you the ability to answer queries in real-time. In addition, Live Chat has proven to provide higher customer satisfaction rates than channels such as phone, email, and social media.

3) Decreasing resolution time

From a business perspective, Live Chat also has helped companies streamline their customer support processes and optimize customer care strategies.

With Live Chat, you can route customers to specific departments and agents according to the keywords they use in the chat, for instance, avoiding repeated communication across different support channels. Because it offers instant communication, Live Chat can potentially decrease the average answer and requests resolution time.

4) Boosting brands Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Agile and effective customer service is the key to drive customer satisfaction. If you want to improve your company’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), Live Chat is the way to go. Offering real-time, personalized support shows that your company is truly customer-centric;. That is why many companies notice better retention rates after using this type of software.

5) Non-intrusive communication

The best thing about Live Chat is that it happens in an inviting and non-intrusive way. Unlike emails that flood up your mailbox or phone calls from support agents that happen at the worst timing, Live Chat offers an easy way for customers to get done with your requests – in the best timing for them.

It is estimated that 46% of consumers prefer live chat over email and social media, for example.

Live Chat empowers customers in many ways, allowing multiple interactions on a single web interface. That is vital in today’s digital landscape. According to a study by E-Consultancy, 51% of customers prefer live chat to other channels precisely because it allows them to continue performing other tasks.

6) Using Live Chat Data to improve overall business

Apart from the; benefits Live Chat brings to daily tasks of customer service, it can serve as a strategic tool to enhance your brand’s marketing, sales, and product strategies.

Because Live Chat provides detailed insights about your website visitors’ journey, it can offer valuable data to help companies grow their bottom lines.

You can use Live Chat customer insights for:

  • Mapping the customer journey and identifying frequent complaints
  • Personalizing your conversations according to different buyer personas
  • Routing chats to the right department or team
  • Feeding CRM and other data management tools, like Customer Data Platform
  • Improving support agents training according to customers needs and response
  • Improving customer service important KPIs, like first response time and average queue time

7) Understanding where customers come from

One of the challenges for online players is to understand how their Customer Care efforts connect to online conversions.

Some Live Chat tools allow you to connect the dots between chat sessions and the marketing sources that led the customer to the chat, whether it was a campaign, a disclaimer on the website, or a web search.  Some tools allow you to integrate Live Chat to Google Analytics, for instance, and see a bigger picture of what led customers to chat sessions.

Such data is important to determine if your marketing channels are actually bringing people to your page and how they are connected to your Live Chat.

8)  Increasing conversion rates

The study by Forrester shows that consumers who use Live Chat are 2.8x more likely to convert to a sale than those who don’t.  By allowing users to get support without moving to other channels, Live Chat makes buying decisions much quicker and can boost conversion rates.

Placing Live Chat across different touchpoints on a website can also be a good idea. Some companies are using Live Chat in their checkout pages, which helps to solve doubts about payments and shipping, for instance, and thus reduces cart abandonment rates.

9) Avoiding repetitive tasks for customers and support agents

With a Live Chat customer service tool integrated into your CRM or Data Management Platform (DMP), your team can access customer data or notes from previous interactions to assist customers. That way, you save time that could otherwise be wasted in repetitive conversations.

Actually, 72% of customers expect customer support agents to know their details like buying history and detailed information — without asking for them.

10) Increasing customers Lifetime Value (LTV)

Having a sustainable repeat customer base is the dream of every brand, right? Research shows that 63% of consumers who used live chat on a website are likely to return to that site. That is why Live Chat is boosting Customer Life Time Value (LTV) among companies that use it, adding value not just to customer service, but to the whole business.

11) Cross-selling and upselling products

Around 33% of the money spent online comes from repeat customers and they generally spend 3 times as much as one time shoppers. Once you build a loyal community of shoppers around your brand, you have the chance to offer proactive communication through Live Chat whenever they access your website.

Your team can start the conversation, suggesting personalized offers and products through the chat according to the customers buying history and interests, leveraging upselling and cross-selling rates.

12) Increasing customer engagement

With Live Chat, you are likely to see a significant rise in customer engagement. Because Live Chat emulates messaging apps, it makes interactions with brands more fluid and organic.

Besides, you can add layers of engagement to Live Chat by adopting a few features in it, such as:

  • Co-browsing: Co-browsing, in the context of Live Chat, is when a customer and a support agent browse a page together during a chat session. It delivers a guided experience and it’s a great way to guide customers through form fill-ups and complex applications, for instance.
  • Vídeo and Voice Chat: Customers sometimes have requests that are complex or take too long to explain by text. With that in mind, some companies are adding Vídeo and Voice Chat to their Live Chat experience. Not only can it help solve queries quicker, but it also makes interactions more dynamic and personal.

13) Increasing productivity in Customer Care

At last, another triumph of Live Chat is to leverage Customer Care productivity. It reduces the queue time and enables faster resolution of issues, but beyond that, it allows agents to handle multiple chats at the same time.

As a result, Live Chat can boost important productivity KPIs such as first response time (FRT), average queue time, number of chats answered, and so on.

14) Human touch

In the era of hyper-automation and chatbots;, a human approach to customer experience might give you extra points in the relationship with customers. Even though automated emails and chatbots; can benefit customer support, users have shown that they want to interact with humans whenever possible.

The 2019 CGS Customer Service Chatbots & Channels Survey found out that 86% of American customers prefer to talk to humans over chatbots. With Live Chat, you can give customers personalized, warm assistance in an easy, user-friendly way. Besides, much like at physical stores, consumers are more likely to buy when they are treated well.

How Does Live Chat Customer Service Work?

Live chat integrates smoothly with websites, allowing customers to reach out without hassle. Platforms like Arena make this process seamless, ensuring the chat tool works in harmony with existing systems. The heart of live chat is its real-time communication feature, providing instant responses. AI and automation enhance chat efficiency and personalization, with tools like Arena’s AI-driven solutions.

How to Implement Live Chat Customer Service

Implementing live chat customer service involves choosing the right platform, training your team, monitoring and optimizing interactions, and leveraging AI tools. Arena’s comprehensive suite of engagement tools offers seamless integration and AI capabilities.

Conclusion

As we have seen, Live Chat has the potential to change Customer Care across many different industries, and your company shouldn’t be left behind.

Live Chat can optimize many aspects of a digital business, and executives are increasingly aware of its importance. A 2018 survey from Bold 360 found out that 71% of respondents believe Live Chat will surpass traditional customer service communication channels by 2021.

If your organization has not yet incorporated Live Chat into customer service, it’s time to change that.

Arena; has one of the most complete Live Chat solutions on the market, and the best thing is that you can try it for free. 
Click here to access the free trial of our Live Chat and start answering your customers quickly right now!

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How to Build an eCommerce Strategy With Live Chat https://arena.im/group-chat/live-chat-ecommerce-strategy/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/e-commerce/live-chat-ecommerce-strategy/

Live chat isn’t just a tool; it’s the secret weapon for eCommerce success. This article explores how to integrate it into your strategy effectively.

In eCommerce, conversion isn’t just about the checkout page. Many variables guide a customer to purchase. The complete conversion process involves much more than just finalizing a sale.

Build an eCommerce strategy with Live Chat

In a crowded eCommerce market, brands constantly vie for attention. Leading customers from research to purchase can be a challenge. An effective strategy to maximize sales and engagement involves using Live Chat. Successful online services, from Amazon to digital retailers, incorporate live chat windows on their websites and apps, offering customer support or sales agent interaction.

Live chat isn’t just a button; it serves as a critical touchpoint throughout the customer journey. It translates the classic retail question, “How can I help you?”, into the digital realm organically. In today’s fast-paced world, digital marketers need tools to quickly respond and solve problems. Live chat offers a professional solution for enhancing eCommerce operations.

This post covers:

  • The concept of Live Chat

  • Examples and use cases in eCommerce

  • Specific benefits for eCommerce

  • Using Live Chat beyond Customer Support

What is Live Chat?

Live Chat is a tool that allows customers to comment and interact via messages directly on a company’s website, usually while browsing products and viewing content. The Live Chat is generally presented as a window in the page’s corner or as a pop-up button. It can sometimes be hidden in the customer support section.

Live Chat makes communication between brands and their customers much quicker and organic as it emulates messaging platforms. That is crucial for brands that want to build more personal connections with clients. 

Also, Live Chat allows users to speak directly with companies, without having to reach them by email or phone, for instance.

One of the main benefits of Live Chat is that it allows multiple interactions in a single web interface, which is vital in the age of digital multitasking. According to a study from E-Consultancy, 51% of customers prefer Live Chat to other channels precisely because it allows them to multitask. 

Sales and customer success teams typically use live Chat to provide customers with support and personalized answers in real-time. It can be used by companies in different sectors, from marketplaces, online retailers, entertainment, and media companies. What varies is the person behind the live Chat.

If you run a media company, you might have editors commentating live events and sales reps behind the Chat offering subscription services. Now, if you run a fashion eCommerce, for example, you might have a customer support professional offering to help with product and shipping information, and so on.

Why Use Live Chat in eCommerce

When it comes to the experience in eCommerce websites or marketplaces, customers want more than great products and a neat catalog curation. Interactivity has become a key element of shopping, and customers want the chance to have their problems and doubts solved all at once if they can. 

That’s where Live Chat comes to play. It can boost your eCommerce strategy, improve customer experience (CX), and give your teams more instruments to convert customers and gather business insights.

Let’s explore a few benefits of Live Chat for eCommerce and how it can enrich Customer Experience.

Fast Customer Support

Online retailers know that the longer they take to answer a customer, the less likely they are to convert and stay loyal to the brand. The truth is nobody likes waiting for replies through email, SMS, and other support channels.  

Because Live Chat is instantaneous, it’s a lot more attractive as a customer support tool. A recent research suggests that it takes only 42 seconds for a live chat support staff to solve a customer query, which makes the customer experience (CX) much better. 

Human Touch

In the age of automation and chatbots, a human approach to customer experience might actually give you extra points in the relationship with customers. Even though automated emails and chatbots can be a blessing for optimizing customer support, studies show that users want to interact with humans whenever possible.

The 2019 CGS Customer Service Chatbots & Channels Survey found out that 86% of American customers prefer to talk to humans over chatbots. With Live Chat, you can give customers personalized, warm assistance in an easy, user-friendly way. Besides, much like at physical stores, consumers are more likely to buy when they are treated well.

Non-intrusive

Unlike other communication channels, Live Chat shows customers that the brand is available to help without disturbing customers’ attention. This non-intrusive approach is crucial for a customer-centric strategy and shows respect for customers’ time, which might help them reach a purchase decision.

Integrated Shopping Experience

If your company sells products online, you know how complex communication with customers might be. Let’s say a customer just checked out of your website and realized he registered an old shipping address. 

Traditionally, they would have to leave the website and reach out to the right customer support email address or phone to solve the problem, something that could take a couple of days to resolve.

Live Chat, however, can remove this type of friction by integrating the communication cycle in real-time, which is smarter and more effective than executing communication through different channels. 

Besides, E-consultancy shows that 29% of customers want to be in control of the conversation with brands, and Live Chat gives them that. 

Improve Conversion Rates

While offering customers rapid solutions to their queries, Live Chat can speed up the decision-making process and improve conversion rates. A study by Emarketer found that more than 60% of consumers would return to a website that offers Live Chat, and more than 79% of consumers feel that having quick answers impacts their buying decisions.

Make Personalized Offers

While Live Chat is great for solving transactional problems in eCommerce (related to payment and orders, for instance), it can also be a great channel for offering product recommendations and special discounts. A study by ATG Global Consumer Trend found, for instance, that more than 90% of customers think Live Chat was helpful for them while shopping online.

By offering customers personalized recommendations or coupons, brands can use Live Chat to get them out of “research-mode” and convert them into actual buyers. Ecommerce players can also use it to upsell frequent customers. 

Optimize Customer Support Costs

Live Chat represents a cheaper and effective way to communicate with customers from an operations standpoint if compared to call centers. With Live Chat, you don’t have to put your customers on hold, and a few representatives can talk to multiple customers at a time. 

Increase Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Every marketer’s goal is not just to convert customers, but to make them satisfied and loyal to your brand, so they always come back. Ultimately, customer satisfaction is related to customer convenience. 

An eDigital Research survey found that 73% of customers who used live chat support for online shopping were highly satisfied and willing to come back for future shopping. Another study by J. D. Power discovered that overall customer satisfaction was higher when customers used the Live Chat window than in other channels. 

Examples of Live Chat in eCommerce and digital platforms

If you look at the digital landscape, you will see that many highly regarded brands have used Live Chat to enhance their websites. 

Still having trouble visualizing how Live Chat can be incorporated into eCommerce? Let’s see how successful digital platforms and retailers are using it. 

Amazon

One of the global references when it comes to marketplace and eCommerce experience is Amazon. They offer Live Chat options that allow users to chat with customer support specialists about account details, orders, and shipping processes. 

The customer can choose the topic he wants to chat about (memberships and subscriptions, ordering and shopping preferences, Login & Security, etc.) before being redirected to a specialized support agent. 

PlayStation

Can you imagine how many customer queries PlayStation, from Sony, receives in its customer support channels everyday? Probably loads of them. In order to make communication with game players easier, the company has Live Chat rooms linked to its webpage, whereby customers can chat with support agents about things like account access, game purchases, and charge refunds. 

Apple

Among the companies that offer great user experience is also Apple, which has a real-time customer support team on Live Chat. Through the chat, customers can arrange a chat with an Apple expert who specializes in their exact question. Everything happens within Apple’s website, so the customer doesn’t have to worry about sending and waiting for emails and phone calls. 

Apple live chat support

Shoply.tv

Shoply.tv is a project which was developed collaboratively with Arena, unifying a great live video solution with a powerful live chat tool. Even though some features are currently being developed, the results are already used by more than 2,600 clients around the world, and we’re still counting. Shoply used Arena Live Chat to develop a live video shopping solution that enhances customer experience by enabling the best sales and engagement tools.

Shoply.tv leverages Live Chat features to enhance Customer Experience

How to Derive Even More Value From Live Chat in eCommerce

So you have learned that Live Chat has many benefits for your eCommerce operation. However, in order to effectively sustain its value, you have to manage it wisely. Here are a few tips to take advantage of Live Chat beyond customer support.

1) Share customer feedback with marketing teams

Insights from Live Chat can be useful for other departments, not just customer support and sales. Online stores can share customer feedback with marketing teams as well, just so they can make changes in their strategies according to what’s best for your audience. 

2) Integrate Live Chat leads to your CRM and Customer Data Platform (CDP)

Live Chat tools can also provide information to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and be integrated into Customer Data Platforms (CDPs).

You could choose to add CRM contact information to your Live Chat tool, integrating valuable customer information that can be used by support and sales professionals during sessions with customers. 

By having all customer information available, you can reduce friction and improve conversions. After all, your team should focus on answering your users’ needs, without spending too much time searching for customer information.

A CDP, on the other hand, can use Live Chat information to determine customer profiles, products bought by single customers, and the value generated by chat conversations. It can also integrate Chat information to data generated by other channels and customer platforms.  

That way, your teams can follow up with the created leads, having access to easy conversion reports and reducing the friction between different data platforms.

3) Understand where users come from

One of the challenges for eCommerce players is to understand how their marketing efforts connect to online conversions in a granular and accurate way.  Talking about Live Chat, how can they track what led to a conversion in the Chat?

Some Live Chat tools allow you to connect the dots between chat sessions and the marketing sources that led the customer to the chat – whether it was a campaign, a keyword, or landing page.  You could integrate your Live Chat to Google Analytics for instance, and see a bigger picture of chat conversions and Adword campaigns that led customers to chat sessions. 

Such data is important to determine if your marketing channels are actually bringing people to your page – and how they are connected to your Live Chat. That allows companies to optimize campaigns more accurately according to the insights.

Want to try Live Chat on your eCommerce?

If your company still hasn’t adopted Live Chat support, maybe it’s about time to change that!

Not sure where to start? Arena has one of the most robust Live Chat tools in the market, and the best part is that you can try it for free! Access our free trial and get the best out of the Arena Live Chat.

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Demand-Side Platform (DSP): What is It and How Does it Work? https://arena.im/customer-data-platform/what-is-demand-side-platform/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/live-blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-demand-side-platform-dsp/ Demand Side Platforms (DSPs) stand as game-changers, setting the stage for strategic ad buying and selling. As an influencer in this space, navigating the intricacies of DSPs becomes not just advisable, but essential.

What is a Demand-Side Platform (DSP)?

A demand-side platform is a way for marketers to find ad space that fits their needs. It is called “demand-side” because marketers need advertising space from hundreds or even thousands of publishers to reach their goals at a fair price. A supply-side tool, on the other hand, is focused on meeting the needs of publishers who sell ad space.

How Does a DSP Work?

How does a DSP work?

A Glimpse into DSP Varieties

While all DSPs aim to serve advertisers with suitable digital properties and high-quality inventories, the nuances that set them apart are crucial. Broadly, DSPs fall into two main categories:

Self-Serve DSPs

Ideal for those wishing to allocate a moderate budget, the self-serve DSP demands mastery over its intricacies. While it may proffer advanced advertising tech to streamline bidding strategies, its navigation necessitates dedicated time and understanding. Typically, revenue generation for this DSP model stems from marking up the advertising prices.

Full-Serve DSPs

Tailored for marketers yearning for premier inventory and insightful reporting tools, full-serve DSPs provide a holistic experience. With the guidance of advertising connoisseurs, they identify the precise audience and offer connections with esteemed publishers. The pricing, while more intricate, incorporates both service fees and costs per ad placement.

Spotlight on Prominent DSPs

A few renowned DSPs currently favored by brands and advertising agencies encompass:

Diversifying DSP subscriptions can be astute, given the differing advertising prospects and pricing models they offer. Leveraging multiple DSPs can not only economize digital marketing campaigns but potentially trim down the cost per click (CPC) by integrating less renowned publishers.

Benefits of Using a DSP

Visualize an intent to captivate affluent working women, aged 30-50, within the U.S. The vast digital landscape can be overwhelming. Yet, a DSP acts as a consolidated marketplace of advertising avenues, enabling effortless placements across varied platforms.

Choosing DSPs can amplify advertising reach, significantly diminishing over-reliance on mammoth entities like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. For perspective, as of 2021, these three giants absorbed 64% of U.S. digital advertising revenue. Yet, the remaining 36% still represents an enormous slice of the advertising pie, challenging to access without DSPs.

Choosing the Right DSP for Your Business

A quintessential DSP facilitates uncomplicated inventory procurement for myriad ads – from videos to search ads and even mobile apps. But what sets an outstanding DSP apart?

  • Ad Creative Diversity: Recognizing the platform’s specialization, whether it’s video-centric or display ad-focused, is pivotal.
  • Analytical Integration: Seamless synergy with preferred analytical tools can obviate manual data transfers, simplifying performance evaluations.
  • Publisher Blacklisting: Maintaining brand sanctity by sidestepping contentious publishers is essential. This feature can preclude any inadvertent placements on controversial sites.
  • Real-time Reports: Instantaneous, precise analytics accessed directly via the DSP interface is indispensable for informed decision-making.
  • Expansive Publisher Network: Continuous publisher engagement and retention reflect a DSP’s expertise.

The Synergy of CDP and DSP

To truly understand why modern marketers increasingly lean on Customer Data Platforms (CDP), place yourself in an advertiser’s shoes. An advertiser’s quintessential challenge is to optimize results within a defined budget. In this quest, granular data becomes their North Star.

A sophisticated CDP, like Arena Personas, augments your advertising strategy. By collecting rich audience data, publishers can cater to diverse advertiser needs, be it age-centric or interest-driven. With improved data quality, direct deals or DSP placements become more profitable and efficient.

How to Choose the Right DSP for Your Business

You want the best, right? But “best” depends on your specific needs and goals. Here’s what to consider when choosing a DSP.

  • Ad Creative Diversity: Recognizing the platform’s specialization, whether it’s video-centric or display ad-focused, is pivotal.
  • Analytical Integration: Seamless synergy with preferred analytical tools can obviate manual data transfers, simplifying performance evaluations.
  • Publisher Blacklisting: Maintaining brand sanctity by sidestepping contentious publishers is essential. This feature can preclude any inadvertent placements on controversial sites.
  • Real-time Reports: Instantaneous, precise analytics accessed directly via the DSP interface is indispensable for informed decision-making.
  • Expansive Publisher Network: Continuous publisher engagement and retention reflect a DSP’s expertise.

Integration is key. Your DSP should work seamlessly with your existing tools. Platforms like Arena offer features that can enhance your DSP’s capabilities, such as advanced audience segmentation and real-time user engagement.

The Synergy of CDP and DSP

To truly understand why modern marketers increasingly lean on Customer Data Platforms (CDP), place yourself in an advertiser’s shoes. An advertiser’s quintessential challenge is to optimize results within a defined budget. In this quest, granular data becomes their North Star.

A sophisticated CDP, like Arena Personas, augments your advertising strategy. By collecting rich audience data, publishers can cater to diverse advertiser needs, be it age-centric or interest-driven. With improved data quality, direct deals or DSP placements become more profitable and efficient.

Why Arena Stands Out

Embarking on the digital advertising journey without the right tools can be akin to navigating the vast seas without a compass. As you decipher the realm of DSPs, integrating tools like Arena’s live blogs can be the catalyst propelling you towards your marketing aspirations.

To grow your digital advertising revenue, you need to have a CDP. Find out how Arena Personas levels up your CDP and help you gain an edge in today’s marketing landscape.

Engage, experience, and elevate your strategies with Arena. Witness first-hand how seamless integrations and live blogging can redefine your marketing outcomes and help reach those pivotal goals.

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Employee Engagement with Live Streaming https://arena.im/group-chat/employee-engagement-with-live-streaming/ Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/group-chat/employee-engagement-with-live-streaming/

A corporate live stream is an excellent way to engage your employees, minimize expenses, and create a more unified organization. With the technology available to companies, almost any in-person experience can be transitioned to virtual. This guide is for companies looking for creative ways to engage their employees using a corporate live stream. 

This guide is for companies looking for creative ways to engage their employees using a corporate live stream.

How to Engage Employees with Live Streaming

Consider the following ways to engage employees using a corporate live stream. 

Conferences

Conferences are a great way to learn valuable information about your industry, it’s consumers, and your competitors. However, you can’t send everyone in your organization to attend them. Therefore, most companies send a small handful of employees to attend. 

If the conference permits it, have the attendees from your company live stream important speakers and topics. This allows all of your employees to benefit from the conference without having to be there physically. If your company runs its own conference, make sure to set up a live stream so employees can watch and rewatch it online.

Check out these virtual conference platforms you and your team can use to stream awesome events.

Announcements

Create a corporate live stream for big company announcements. For example, a startup has scheduled an IPO and needs to announce it to its employees. Instead of sending a wordy email, the CEO can set up a corporate live stream that connects with employees in an exciting and personable way. Allow employees to view the live stream, ask questions, and engage with each other. 

Nubank went further: the bank hired award-winning singer Anita for its IPO live streaming event.

Training

A corporate live stream is one of the best ways to train employees. It eliminates the need to gather employees at one physical location, and it can save your company on training costs. Use live streaming for sales training, onboarding, compliance training, and more. 

During live stream training, let employees engage by asking and answering questions. Live stream training is especially useful for roleplays that require employees and trainers to interact with each other. If you have employees spread throughout the country, a live stream training allows them all to hop on from the convenience of their desktop or mobile device. 

By recording your training, you give employees the ability to rewatch training on-demand at their own pace. Once a training is recorded, there’s no need to spend time recreating it. If a clip needs to be updated, you can always go back and make the necessary changes.

Adding Live Chat is also a great way to enhance the e-learning experience.

Q&A Sessions

Question and answer (Q&A) sessions are also known as “ask me anything” sessions.

Question and answer (Q&A) sessions, also known as “ask me anything” sessions, give employees the chance to speak with someone higher up in the company. For example, you could host a virtual Q&A session with the company’s CEO. This gives employees the opportunity to ask important questions regarding where the company is headed, why he or she started the company, and more. 

To prepare for Q&A sessions in advance, you can create employee polls to collect votes on most important questions. Questions that get the most votes can be prioritized and answered first. Let employees watch the stream live, submit anonymous questions, give feedback, and watch Q&A recordings. 

Product Demos

If your company is constantly releasing innovative products, it can be hard for employees to keep up. By hosting a virtual product demo, you can engage your employees and share all the details of your new product. Allow them to ask questions, rewatch the demo, and see visual representations of the product in action. 

Town Halls

Virtual town halls are organization-wide meetings in which all employees attend and receive important updates, share ideas, and ask pressing questions. By hosting a town hall virtually, you can connect employees in several different branches, and you allow them to connect with colleagues that they don’t see on a regular basis. 

Town halls are typically conducted on a quarterly basis, and virtual ones cut expensive accommodation, travel, and venue costs. They also make employees feel more united and appreciated, and they can have tremendous benefits on company culture. 

Employee Parties

A great way to improve employee engagement and retention is by creating a culture that makes them feel appreciated. One way to do this is by hosting a virtual party. This can take the form of a virtual happy hour, employee recognition meeting, or team party. 

While most would prefer these to be in person, this isn’t always possible. Team members can be scattered around the country and have busy schedules. By hosting an employee party online, you can allow them to connect without needing to travel or take time off work. 

For example, your HR team could host a virtual happy hour in which employees in North America have the chance to meet employees in Europe. You can promote casual conversations, recognize employee achievements, and boost the overall morale of your employees. 

Interviews

The first way to engage employees is by live streaming interviews.

The first way to engage employees is by live streaming interviews. You can interview customers, employees, suppliers, industry leaders, and partners. Ask them important questions on how they interact with your company and its products and services. This engages employees by allowing them to learn more about your company and its challenges from someone else’s point of view. 

When you live stream your interview, make sure to record it so people can rewatch it if they missed out. It also helps to generate a transcript so employees can highlight important points. By sharing video interviews, you’ll be able to help onboarding employees gain a better understanding of your company’s mission and strategies. 

What is Live Streaming for Employee Engagement?

Live streaming for employee engagement is a dynamic tool that allows real-time interaction, turning dull presentations into vibrant discussions. Imagine a town hall meeting where employees can instantly react, comment, and even participate in polls. It’s like having a digital conversation where everyone has a voice. Companies like Shopify and Google have successfully used live streaming to boost engagement, hosting virtual events that feel personal and inclusive.

Examples of Successful Employee Live Streams

  • Shopify’s Virtual Town Halls: Engaging employees globally with Q&A sessions.

  • Google’s Live Workshops: Interactive training sessions with real-time feedback.

  • Microsoft’s Hackathons: Streaming team collaborations to foster innovation.

Different Types of Employee Engagement Live Streams

The idea of live streaming might sound daunting, but it’s all about finding the right type for your organization. Different streams serve different purposes, whether you’re looking to boost morale or train your team.

Conferences

Conferences are a great way to learn valuable information about your industry, its consumers, and your competitors. However, you can’t send everyone in your organization to attend them. Therefore, most companies send a small handful of employees to attend. If the conference permits it, have the attendees from your company live stream important speakers and topics. This allows all of your employees to benefit from the conference without having to be there physically. If your company runs its own conference, make sure to set up a live stream so employees can watch and rewatch it online. Check out these virtual conference platforms you and your team can use to stream awesome events.

Team Building Streams

Turn team building into a virtual adventure. Host interactive games or challenges where employees can compete or collaborate. Think virtual escape rooms or trivia nights where teams work together to solve puzzles.

Training and Development Streams

A corporate live stream is one of the best ways to train employees. It eliminates the need to gather employees at one physical location, and it can save your company on training costs. Forget the boring PowerPoints. Use live streaming for engaging training sessions. Invite experts to host workshops, allowing employees to ask questions in real-time. It’s like having a personal tutor for everyone. During live stream training, let employees engage by asking and answering questions. Live stream training is especially useful for roleplays that require employees and trainers to interact with each other. By recording your training, you give employees the ability to rewatch training on-demand at their own pace. Once a training is recorded, there’s no need to spend time recreating it. If a clip needs to be updated, you can always go back and make the necessary changes. Adding Live Chat is also a great way to enhance the e-learning experience.

Company-Wide Announcements

Create a corporate live stream for big company announcements. For example, a startup has scheduled an IPO and needs to announce it to its employees. Instead of sending a wordy email, the CEO can set up a corporate live stream that connects with employees in an exciting and personable way. Allow employees to view the live stream, ask questions, and engage with each other. Make announcements feel special. Stream CEO updates or company news live, letting employees react and comment. It creates a sense of immediacy and inclusion, making everyone feel part of the company’s journey. Nubank went further: the bank hired award-winning singer Anita for its IPO live streaming event.

Virtual Social Events

Bring the fun back to work. Host virtual happy hours or holiday parties. Stream live music or comedy shows, and let employees join in from wherever they are. It’s about creating a sense of community, even when you’re apart. A great way to improve employee engagement and retention is by creating a culture that makes them feel appreciated. One way to do this is by hosting a virtual party. This can take the form of a virtual happy hour, employee recognition meeting, or team party. While most would prefer these to be in person, this isn’t always possible. Team members can be scattered around the country and have busy schedules. By hosting an employee party online, you can allow them to connect without needing to travel or take time off work. For example, your HR team could host a virtual happy hour in which employees in North America have the chance to meet employees in Europe. You can promote casual conversations, recognize employee achievements, and boost the overall morale of your employees.

Conclusion

Many people think of live streams as a way for companies to connect with their customers. However, this guide reveals that live streams are a great way to connect and engage with employees too. A corporate live stream can be used for interviews, conferences, announcements, training, Q&A sessions, product demos, town halls, and casual employee parties. 

How Arena Can Help

If you need a tool that lets you create group live chats, send instant messages, ask questions, and create polls, consider downloading Arena Live Chat. You can also share important written updates during your announcement with Arena Live Blog. If you enjoy using these tools, check out Arena Customer Data Platform (CDP) to help you understand your customers’ preferences and interests. 

Arena has been used by thousands of companies in over one hundred countries to improve their live events. Arena customer TV1;, a company focused on live experiences, began creating virtual business conferences as a way to keep attendees and employees engaged online. Arena has also been trusted by companies like Facebook and VTEX; to run live events. 

Arena Live Chat for Employee Engagement at Facebook Meta.

For help planning a virtual event, download our free eBook for creating highly engaging live event scripts. For more information on enhancing your live stream, click the link below to download our free eBook. 

Free ebook download: boost engagement in your virtual events.

 

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The Top 10 OTT Vimeo Streaming Services https://arena.im/customer-data-platform/ott-vimeo-streaming-services/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://arena.im/customer-data-platform/ott-vimeo-streaming-services/ The power of digital interaction cannot be overstated in today’s market landscape. Dive deep into the potential of Arena’s comprehensive Customer Data Platform (CDP) for eCommerce through an examination of the top OTT Vimeo streaming services.

Top Vimeo OTT Streaming Services: An Insightful Overview

1) Mary Fulton Fit

Mary Fulton Fit
  • Content: Health and fitness content
  • Supported Devices: Not listed
  • Pricing: $26.25/month or $262.63/year with a 14-day free trial.
  • Overview: With both pre-recorded videos and scheduled workout events, Mary Fulton Fit cleverly balances timely content such as morning sessions and on-demand videos, exemplifying adaptability.

2) MasterLectures

MasterLectures

  • Content: Video lectures on Christian theology
  • Supported Devices: iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and fireTV
  • Pricing: $19.99/month or $14.99/month with an annual subscription
  • Overview: Zondervan, a renowned Christian book publisher, has transitioned into the video streaming market. MasterLectures serves as an educational repository for those interested in in-depth Christian subjects.

3) ISC Sports Network

  • Content: Indiana sports events such as basketball, sports podcasts, and football
  • Supported Devices: iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, and Xbox
  • Pricing: $4.99/month or $49.99/year with pay-per-view options
  • Overview: ISC’s niche focus on Indiana sports highlights the potential of catering to specific demographic interests.

4) Speed 51

Speed 51

  • Content: Car racing events across the US
  • Supported Devices: iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, and Samsung Smart TV
  • Pricing: $9.99/month or $79.99/year
  • Overview: A treasure trove for racing enthusiasts, offering both subscription and pay-per-view models, demonstrating versatility in monetization strategies.

5) GazeboTV

GazeboTV

  • Content: Classic TV series from Sullivan Entertainment
  • Supported Devices: iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, and Roku
  • Pricing: No monthly fees with select content available for rent or purchase
  • Overview: Celebrating Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s works, GazeboTV showcases monetization outside standard subscription models.

6) PRO EDU

PRO EDU

  • Content: Photography education
  • Supported Devices: Apple TV, Roku, FireTV, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, Android, and web browser
  • Pricing: $499/year or individual video purchases
  • Overview: Catering to photographers, PRO EDU offers a blend of technical and business-focused content, signifying the breadth of professional development offerings.

7) Grammy Museum

Grammy Museum

  • Content: Music and associated material
  • Supported Devices: iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Roku, and FireTV
  • Pricing: $3.90/month
  • Overview: Beyond the annual awards, the Grammy Museum taps into its brand’s legacy, offering intimate performances and interviews.

8) Y7 Online

Y7 Online

  • Content: Yoga classes and associated playlists
  • Supported Devices: Roku, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, and website
  • Pricing: $16/month or $192/year with a seven-day free trial
  • Overview: Offering structured yoga sessions, Y7 provides variety and flexibility to its subscribers.

9) Park Avenue Synagogue

Park Avenue Synagogue

  • Content: Jewish content and associated materials
  • Supported Devices: Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, FireTV, Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, and website
  • Pricing: Free to sign up
  • Overview: Serving as a digital conduit for religious content, it exemplifies the potential of religious institutions in the digital realm.

10) Full Moon Features

Full Moon Features

  • Content: Thriller and horror movies and related media
  • Supported Devices: Not listed
  • Pricing: $6.50/month or $65/year
  • Overview: A haven for horror enthusiasts, demonstrating that understanding and catering to niche interests can be profitable.

How to Integrate Arena with Vimeo OTT

You’ve set up Vimeo OTT, but you’re looking for ways to elevate viewer engagement and get more out of your platform. Integrating Arena can be the solution you need.

Enhancing Viewer Interaction

Arena’s live chat can be integrated with Vimeo OTT to foster live discussions during video streams. Imagine hosting a live Q&A session during a lecture or a fitness class. Your audience can ask questions in real-time, making the experience more interactive and engaging.

  • Live Chat: Engage viewers during live streams.
  • Q&A Sessions: Answer questions in real-time.
  • Interactive Polls: Keep the audience engaged with live polls.

AI-Powered Content Suggestions

Arena’s AI features can suggest relevant content, quizzes, or polls during or after video sessions. This keeps viewers engaged and enhances their learning journey. For instance, if a student finishes a video on algebra, Arena can suggest related content on geometry.

  • Content Recommendations: Personalize the viewing experience.
  • Quizzes and Polls: Keep viewers engaged with interactive elements.

Community Building

Creating a community space around your video content can enhance user engagement and loyalty. Arena allows you to create community spaces where viewers can interact and share content. This is perfect for educational platforms looking to foster a sense of community among students.

  • Community Spaces: Foster interaction and content sharing.
  • Social Media Integration: Drive traffic and engagement through social media.

Advanced Analytics

Combining Vimeo OTT’s analytics with Arena’s insights gives you a comprehensive view of your audience. Use this data to refine your content and marketing strategies. Understanding your audience better means you can tailor your content to meet their needs more effectively.

  • Detailed Analytics: Gain deeper insights into viewer behavior.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Refine content and marketing strategies based on data.

By integrating Arena with Vimeo OTT, you can create a more engaging and interactive experience for your viewers, ultimately driving higher engagement and revenue.

What is Vimeo OTT?

You’re here because you’ve heard about Vimeo OTT and you’re wondering if it’s the right fit for your online education platform. Maybe you’re tired of dealing with technical issues, or you’re looking for a way to better engage your students. Vimeo OTT might just be the solution you need.

Vimeo OTT is a platform that enables creators to distribute and monetize video content. It delivers video content directly to viewers without traditional cable or satellite services. This means you can reach your audience on their terms, whether they’re using a smart TV, mobile device, or computer. Vimeo OTT offers features like subscription models, live streaming, and detailed analytics to help you understand and grow your audience.

Key Features of Vimeo OTT

  • Subscription and Pay-Per-View Options: Monetize your content through flexible subscription plans or one-time payments.
  • Customizable Branding and Interface: Make the platform your own with custom logos, colors, and domains.
  • Detailed Analytics and Viewer Insights: Gain insights into viewer behavior to optimize your content and marketing strategies.
  • Content Protection and Security: Keep your intellectual property safe with advanced DRM and encryption.

Example Use Cases

  • Online Education Platforms: Deliver courses and lectures seamlessly.
  • Fitness Instructors: Offer workout videos on a subscription basis.
  • Independent Filmmakers: Distribute films directly to fans.
  • Religious Organizations: Stream services and events to a wider audience.

Vimeo OTT is versatile enough to cater to various industries, making it a powerful tool for anyone looking to distribute video content effectively.

Types of Vimeo OTT Content

Choosing the right type of content delivery is crucial for maximizing engagement and revenue. Vimeo OTT offers several content delivery models to suit different needs.

Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD)

SVOD allows viewers to subscribe for unlimited access to your content. This model is perfect for ongoing series, educational courses, and fitness programs. By offering a subscription, you can create a steady stream of revenue while keeping your audience engaged with regular updates.

Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD)

TVOD lets viewers pay per video or series. This model is ideal for special events, concerts, or one-time releases. It’s a great way to monetize high-value content without requiring a long-term commitment from your viewers.

Advertising-Based Video on Demand (AVOD)

AVOD makes content free for viewers, supported by ads. This model is excellent for reaching a broader audience while generating ad revenue. It’s particularly useful for content that appeals to a wide audience but might not justify a subscription fee.

Live Streaming

Live streaming allows you to broadcast events, classes, or webinars in real-time. This feature engages viewers with live interactions and Q&A sessions, making it perfect for educational content, live performances, and interactive sessions.

By understanding these content types, you can choose the best model for your platform and audience, ensuring maximum engagement and revenue.

Benefits of Using Vimeo OTT

You’re probably wondering what sets Vimeo OTT apart from other video platforms. Here’s why Vimeo OTT might be the solution you’re looking for.

Enhanced Monetization Options

Vimeo OTT offers diverse revenue streams through subscriptions, pay-per-view, and ads. Detailed analytics help you optimize pricing and content strategy, ensuring you get the most out of your video content.

Customization and Branding

With Vimeo OTT, you have full control over the look and feel of your platform. Custom domains and branded apps ensure that your platform reflects your brand identity, creating a cohesive experience for your audience.

Audience Engagement

Interactive features like live chat and Q&A foster a sense of community among your viewers. This engagement is crucial for retaining students in an educational setting or building a loyal fanbase for your content.

Content Security

Advanced DRM and encryption protect your intellectual property, giving you peace of mind that your content is safe from piracy and unauthorized access.

Comprehensive Analytics

In-depth viewer insights allow you to tailor your content and marketing strategies. Understanding who your viewers are and how they interact with your content helps you make data-driven decisions to grow your platform.

These benefits make Vimeo OTT a robust solution for anyone looking to distribute and monetize video content effectively.

Maximizing Streaming Potential with Arena

Establishing a streaming service is just the beginning. Ensuring long-term engagement and retention requires foresight and strategic planning. Arena‘s integration with Vimeo OTT and its potent CDP for eCommerce can be your guiding light, ensuring you harness the full potential of your content, engage effectively with your audience, and ultimately, achieve your marketing objectives.

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