I’m always interested in stories that might have an effect in the world of product marketing. I’m especially interested when the stories involve new technologies that introduce exciting and  innovative solutions. Back in March 2015 YouTube launched support for 360-degree videos. Now YouTube has just announced that they will be making their YouTube 360 live video feature available for live streaming.

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YouTube 360 Live Video: How big of a deal is this?

It’s a big deal. YouTube already informed us that for music lovers and concert goers who couldn’t make it to Coachella, they will be able to take part in the experience from the comfort of their beds. Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer said what excites him most about 360-degree storytelling is “that it lets us open up the world’s experiences to everyone.” This announcement from YouTube follows just a week after Facebook’s announcement at F8 to expand live streaming, and introducing their own 360-degree camera. Hopefully in their ongoing rivalry we will continue to see more cutting edge virtual reality technology from both of them.  

The Untapped Potential

In YouTube’s announcement they mention the possibilities for students to experience news events in the classroom. “Travelers and explorers will be able to experience faraway sites and explorers can deep-sea dive, all without the physical constraints of the real world,” as they put it. With the release of this technology available to the public on a platform such as YouTube, I envision the potential for businesses to market their products in the realest sense. When companies launch their products at an event, potential consumers will be able to share the experience as if they were there. I’m curious how businesses will be able to take advantage of this technology, specifically for product marketing, and I have sent YouTube a question asking them just that. I will update you when they fill me in on their vision.   In the meantime, how do you think businesses will better be able to market their product with 360-degree live streaming?