How to livestream a virtual event and reach thousands of people on Lark

Virtual events and meetings play a big role in the new digital landscape of work, as a means for individuals to connect and communicate with one another despite being physically apart.

 

Hosting small virtual discussions and gatherings is simple, with the right platform that accommodates the video call duration and participant count that you require. Sometimes, though, you need to make meetings or online events accessible to larger audiences for activities like webinars, company-wide virtual conferences, and even recognition ceremonies.

 

Online collaboration tool, Lark, offers a Video Call function within the app that can accommodate up to 100 participants with no time limit. From Lark Video Call, it is possible to livestream a meeting to reach hundreds more, both on and off the app.

 

Just recently, the Lark team itself was able to use this livestream feature for a series of webinars aimed at helping businesses in the Philippines overcome challenges presented by the new ways of working. Each session featured industry leaders as speakers, and was well-attended by top local media and members of respected business organizations in the country via Lark livestream, synced on YouTube. 

Screenshot with Cat Avelino and RJ Ledesma, speaker and host of the Lark Your Way to Success Webinar

 

 

Livestreaming a meeting to reach more people on Lark

 

To begin, ensure that your Lark desktop or mobile apps are updated to the latest versions. The host must be logged in to Lark to launch the meeting, and also to enable livestreaming from within the video call control bar.

 

When livestreaming is enabled, all meeting participants will be required to give their consent, as a layer of protection, before the actual streaming can begin. Participants will also be notified when the livestream ends. While a meeting is successfully being streamed, participants with see a green LIVE icon on the upper left corner of their screens, along with a viewer count.

 

Viewing a livestreamed Lark event

 

To view a livestreamed event, you simply need to sign in to Lark on your browser, and open the livestream URL. For optimal viewing, the recommended browser to use for accessing Lark livestreams on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices is Google Chrome. 

 

A livestream link is generated once the host selects Start Livestreaming from within an active meeting's control bar. Meeting hosts can also generate a livestream link in advance through a calendar event. This is helpful when you want to send an invitation ahead of schedule. Anyone with this URL can watch the livestream from their browsers, once the event starts.

 

The meeting host can also opt to sync a livestream from Lark to other platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube. This allows a virtual event to reach wider audiences, including social media fans and followers, and even personal networks. Anyone with access to the YouTube and Facebook links may view the livestream on their corresponding mobile apps or through a browser.  

 

Livestream viewers can watch the video meeting, along with any shared screens during the session. The meeting host may select from a variety of screen layouts for the livestream, for optimal viewing on both desktop and mobile. 

 

Sidebar, the default layout, is ideal for remote training and online events. Gallery View shows up to 9 participant videos at the same time, and is great for webinars and discussion groups. Full Screen is best used for classes and presentations, with the speaker's video taking up the entire screen. 

 

Using the Live Chat feature

 

Activating the Live Chat feature during a livestream allows viewers to send their messages, comments, and questions in real time. This way, messages are seen by meeting participants right away, and may be addressed and answered immediately as well. In order to send messages in the Live Chat, livestream viewers need to be logged in to Lark on their browsers. 

 

To regulate the contents of the Live Chat, viewers may report inappropriate or spam messages. The meeting host will be notified that a message has been reported, along with the username of the person who reported the message, and the username of the person being reported. The host can then take appropriate action - Delete the message, ban the user from posting anymore messages in the Live Chat, or ignore the report. 

 

Through Lark's livestream feature, you will be able to reach thousands, even millions of people, online. This is a great way to connect and communicate with employees and team members on a large scale, and also reach out to potential clients, customers and partners to help grow your business. 

 

To learn more about the other features of Lark, visit www.larksuite.com.

 

Lark is available on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android. Click here to start using Lark today.

 

Save money when you work remotely using Lark

Now that a larger number of employees are working remotely, one common topic of discussion is how money-saving this work arrangement can actually be for individuals. But what about businesses? Do organizations stand to save money from hiring remote workers and switching to virtual offices as well? The short answer is yes. Here are three reasons why.

 

1. Save on manpower fees

In a virtual office setting, there is greater flexibility when hiring remote employees on a full-time, part-time, or per-project basis. Because of this, employers have the freedom to hire remote workers that are a better fit for the tasks at hand, helping to ensure higher quality results with minimal supervision needed. 

 

With agile, flexible working hours, overtime costs are also reduced. Along with this, employee performance is boosted, too, as remote workers are able to work in an optimal environment, during their peak productivity hours. This way, teams spend less time getting more work done. 

 

 

2. Reduced overhead expenses

A smaller office means lower rental fees. An office that is entirely virtual eliminates real estate costs significantly. Expenses for utilities, such as electricity, water, and communications are minimized as well. Remote work also entails little expense on equipment and maintenance on the part of a business owner. In this aspect alone, it's easy to see how much a company can save by going digital.

 

3. Lower IT costs

Setting up a dependable IT infrastructure at work takes a huge chunk out of a company's budget. When working remotely, costly hardware and software are replaced with internet-based office solutions and cloud-based storage. The right software for virtual team collaboration can help business owners significantly slash expenses. This is where Lark comes in. 

 

 

Your complete software solution

  

Lark is a all-in-one collaborative app that is absolutely free for remote teams. With Lark, your office is wherever you are, and all the tools you need are ready to use anytime you need them. 

 

Communication is quick and easy with Lark Chat. For virtual face-to-face conversations with a single employee or the entire team, there's Lark Video Conferencing, which allows unlimited video call minutes for up to 100 participants. Whether your team is local or spread out across different continents, scheduling meetings, events, and tasks is a breeze through Lark Calendar with its smart, multi-time zone feature.  

Collaborate seamlessly and in real-time, as if your team is physically together, over Lark Docs and Sheets. When something needs immediate attention, team members can tag one another within a document, and the tagged person will receive a notification through chat. Everything you need for work is stored in the cloud on Lark, ensuring 24/7 access from anywhere, using any device. 

 

Work without worrying about the privacy and safety of your team and data, thanks to Lark's enhanced security. The app uses an AWS certification that complies with the strictest rules regarding cloud computing, so your focus can remain on completing tasks and achieving your goals. 

 

Keep your overhead low, and your team's productivity high when you choose Lark for your business. To learn more, visit www.larksuite.com. 

 

Lark is available on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android. Click here to start using Lark today.

 

Magic Share is an effective tool for remote collaboration

One of the greatest challenges faced by remote working teams is how to collaborate seamlessly without physical interaction. Successful remote collaboration is largely dependent on effective communication, which is not always easy to achieve when working online.

 

Virtual communication is subject to misinterpretation, especially in emails or chat, where facial expressions and body language of message senders are not seen. Delays in providing feedback and updates can also slow down the work process and affect a team’s productivity. On the other hand, receiving an overwhelming amount of information through shared documents, and messages passed back and forth, is likely to create confusion among individual team members. 

 

An effective tool for remote collaboration

 

An optimal work tool, such as Lark, can help remote teams communicate effectively and flexibly, while remaining organized and efficient. With Lark, all the essential functions needed to create and collaborate are found in one complete platform.

 

 

For video embed: https://youtu.be/1I_A105kv1E

 

 

With work tasks done virtually within Lark, no time or effort is wasted switching between apps. Because Lark Docs, Calendar, Email, and Messenger are all integrated, team members only need to look in one place for instructions and updates. With Lark’s tagging feature, it becomes easier to receive real-time feedback on urgent matters. And, when messaging is no longer enough, a video call can easily be launched by any team member, at any time. 

 

Searching for files, people, and events is conveniently done through a single search bar on Lark. Time zones and schedules of team members are easy to take into consideration when planning meetings through Lark’s smart calendar. The safety and privacy of all users and work materials stored in the cloud are also guaranteed by Lark through an AWS certification that is compliant with the strictest rules in cloud computing.

 

Online meetings are elevated with Magic Share

 

 

For video embed: https://youtu.be/37PoBEEc_Lg

 

 

For truly collaborative video meetings, Lark introduces Magic Share. Whether on desktop or mobile, Magic Share allows meeting participants to simultaneously edit files right within the video call window. Instead of simply discussing what needs to be done, this new feature transforms virtual calls into hardworking meetings that deliver actual results. Anyone can start sharing a file, without having to switch tabs or share your entire screen. Simply click the share button on the control bar, and select a Lark Doc or Sheet to share. 

 

Magic Share also supports multiple file formats, making it especially helpful when there is a need to collaborate on presentations or give feedback on designs and layouts. Just click the import tab to upload locally-saved Word, Excel, Powerpoint or PDF files into the call window. It is also possible to create an entirely new shared file, right within the call, to start collaborating from scratch. 

 

When it’s time to present, whoever is in control of the file sets the pace for scrolling through the document. Meeting participants can also view the file at their own pace, to catch up or read ahead as needed. The next presenter can take over controlling the file with a click of the Pass on Sharing button, eliminating unnecessary pauses for switching files or changing shared screens. Finally, to stop sharing a file at any time, just click on the Stop Sharing button. 

 

 

For video embed: https://youtu.be/WTeve4hvwH0

 

 

Try Magic Share on Lark, and discover how well your team can maximize its online collaboration potential today. To learn more, visit www.larksuite.com. Lark is available for free on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android. Click here to start using Lark.

This is why Lark is the best tool to use to win at working from home

If there's one thing we can be sure of with everything that's happened the past couple of months, is that remote work is here to stay. The abrupt shift to working from home has required employers and employees alike to learn how to work efficiently while remaining flexible. Time management skills, discipline and focus are essential now, more than ever, in order to stay productive. 

 

For leaders, there has been a need to revisit strategies, and come up with ways to keep employees motivated and connected while physically apart. Businesses have also needed to find tools that can make remote work easier for everyone, such as Lark.

Lark offers fully-integrated features for seamless collaboration. Designed to bring teams together, Lark has combined multiple collaboration tools — Chat, Calendar, and Docs — in one robust platform. 

Work anywhere with Lark

Set up your virtual office and stay connected with Lark. Easily check up on the members of your team using Lark Messenger any time during the work day. From here, anyone can launch an audio or video call for discussions with a single colleague or a group, by simply clicking on the camera icon right in the chat window. This helps save time, since there is no need to switch to a different app or create a whole new group for the meeting.

Keep team members connected virtually. Lark's video call feature is ideal for town halls and company-wide presentations. Lark offers unlimited video call minutes, and can accommodate up to 100 participants in a single call. 

During video calls, sharing a screen or a document helps ensure that the entire team is, virtually, on the same page, and able to follow along with the presenter’s discussion. Within the video call window, team members can simultaneously edit a shared document while the call is in progress, to make notes and necessary revisions, insert action points, or enumerate next steps. 

Using Lark Docs, remote workers can open, read, and add comments to documents and sheets. When real-time feedback is needed, colleagues can tag one another using the @ sign. With this virtual nudge, a message is sent to each tagged team member through chat, notifying them that their attention is needed, and identifying the exact section of the document they need to work on, eliminating any guesswork. 

An all-in-one software solution for getting work done

Also integrated within Lark Chat and Lark Docs is Lark Calendar. Here, events are created by simply clicking the plus sign. Within each event, a chat group may be launched even before the meeting takes place, in case there is a need for introductions or pre-meeting huddles. This way, once the meeting begins, everyone can get right to the topic at hand, helping to boost productivity and efficiency.

Through its special smart search feature, Lark enables team members to quickly and easily find contacts, chats, calendar events, docs, and email messages using a single search toolbar. Plus, for clear and efficient cross-cultural communication, Lark offers a real-time translator feature, with over 300 languages available. This is necessary in today’s interconnected world, to allow collaboration to continue beyond borders.

All work materials are easy to access anytime, anywhere, and on any device when using Lark. Everything is conveniently stored in the cloud. Lark protects the privacy of its users through an AWS certification, which complies with the strictest rules regarding cloud computing. The security of files, information, and communications are assured, so that everyone’s focus can remain on getting work done. 

All of these tools and special features are always completely free on Lark, enabling teams to easily stay connected and productive as they work remotely. More than just a tool, Lark is a business’ ally for growth and progress.

To learn more, visit www.larksuite.com. Lark is available for Mac, PC, iOS, and Android. Click here to start using Lark today.

Lark and Erwan Heussaff Help Pam's Catering Serve the Community

The ongoing pandemic has taken a toll on businesses worldwide, and the Philippines is no exception. Operational challenges, supply issues, and manpower limitations are just some of the problems that businesses face due to quarantine restrictions. Consumer behavior has changed as well, affecting both big and small companies.

Through their recent collaboration, the all-in-one productivity app, Lark, and entrepreneur, Erwan Heussaff, were able to provide some much-needed support for struggling business owners in Metro Manila through the Lark x The Fat Kid Inside campaign. Two community food businesses were chosen from a list of crowdsourced companies, as winners for this campaign. One of them is Pam’s Catering. 

A Business Built on Serving the Community

Pam’s Catering started as a home based food business that delivered lunch meals to a nearby hospital with doctors, nurses and pharmaceutical representatives as their first customers. As their home cooked meals grew in popularity, the business expanded as well. From solo food orders, they began offering food trays, and eventually catering services to their clients. 

The woman behind the business, and the delicious food, is 69-year old Malou Muncal, who started Pam’s Catering after she was widowed at a young age. Her passion for feeding people made getting into the food industry an easy decision for Malou. Pam Abueg, her daughter, says that every dish Malou makes is prepared with love, and that’s what sets them apart from others.

As a business-owner, Malou is hands-on, handling the menu planning, shopping, and cooking herself. She also believes in using her business to help others, which is why many of her staff members are residents of nearby communities in need of work.

Ms. Malou Muncal, the sole proprietor of Pam’s Catering, being hands on in preparing for one of her regular clients with over 250 guests. She is one of the chosen businesses of the Lark x The Fat Kid Inside campaign. 

Bayanihan Between Businesses

Before the pandemic hit, Pam’s Catering was doing well. However, because of COVID-19, they faced cancelled bookings and a loss of income. Business operations needed to be downsized, and Malou sold two of her delivery vehicles to stay afloat. Seeing her mom struggle, Pam nominated Malou’s business for the Lark x The Fat Kid Inside campaign, which she heard about from a relative. This was her way of helping her mom, who is always the one helping others. 

After she was chosen as a winner, Malou, who has been feeding hard working members of the community for over three decades, welcomed the opportunity to continue doing so with open arms. All in all, Pam’s Catering prepared 1,500 food packs, which were shared with Citihub residents. Citihub is a local social enterprise that provides safe, clean, and affordable housing for low-income Filipino workers in key areas within Metro Manila.

Malou found joy in the experience, since cooking for so many people was reminiscent of a normal day in her business. She was glad for the chance to give back to others through her food, and pay it forward, after Pam’s Catering was helped by Erwan and Lark.

Adapting to the New Normal

Continuing operations is not easy for Malou right now, as she adheres to quarantine restrictions for senior citizens. Luckily, she and Pam learned how productivity apps like Lark can help them quickly adapt to this new normal. Going digital couldn’t be easier or more convenient than with Lark.

While she can’t be in the kitchen herself, Malou instructs her staff through video calls. This enables her to monitor the cooking and packing process, and ensure that they deliver the same quality they always have. A clear picture during conference calls is important for this, and Pam shares that the video quality of Lark, matched with a stable internet connection, adequately meets their needs.

Lark’s screen sharing feature has also been helpful whenever Pam needed to teach Malou how to use digital apps and tools, which their business now relies on. Online file sharing is done for their reports, and Lark makes sending and receiving important documents very convenient. Coordination with their staff is all virtual, and the team also interacts with clients online for orders and inquiries. Pam says that it is easy to see how they can continue to use Lark for their business, especially since the app is simple to use, even for Malou.

Malou believes that, in everything, it is important to keep moving forward, and there is a solution for every problem. Through the Lark x The Fat Kid Inside campaign, she and the staff of Pam’s Catering have been given a remedy for some troubles they recently faced as a business. Now, they are able to continue serving the community with food made from the heart - through a new digital normal not just for today but also for all their tomorrows.

LARK MAIL: The next-gen digital collaboration platform flips email on its head and redefines business communications

Lark, a next-generation digital collaboration suite, has launched its latest product offering, Lark Mail, which redefines the email experience for enterprises in the Philippines. Breaking down the barrier of information silos by providing more transparent and collaborative communications, Lark Mail will now be seamlessly integrated with Lark’s suite of collaboration tools including Messenger, Video Calling, Docs and Sheets, Cloud Storage, and Calendar.

As one of the most important business tools, email continues to be a siloed form of communication that keeps information away from teams who primarily communicate using digital collaboration platforms. Lark Mail has finally connected email to the other essential tools used in today’s workplace, allowing users to:

●      Email a Chat Group:

In the recipients field, users can input the names of not just individual colleagues, but also chat groups to send team emails to.

●      Keep Email Organized with Smart Inbox:

Lark Mail automatically surfaces "Priority" emails first so users can see what's important at a glance.

●      Provide Quick Permissions:

When sending a Lark Doc in an email, users can see clearly whether the recipients have access to it or not and give them the permission to read or edit the Lark Doc with one click.

●      Out of Office Reply:

Create a personalized out of office reply to automatically respond to emails you receive when on a business trip or leave.

●      Gmail Integration:

Instead of logging into Gmail each day, users can link their Gmail accounts to Lark to enjoy seamless integration between email, messenger, and drive.

“Email remains a core component to the workflow of many organizations, but its separation from other collaborative tools such as messenger creates bottlenecks in productivity and makes it hard to stay on the same page," said Joey Lim, Lark VP of Commercial, Asia. "We strongly believe Lark Mail's integration of email with Messenger, Video Calling, Docs, Cloud Storage and Calendar will break down these barriers and transform the way email is used within our customers' organizations.”

In addition to Lark Mail, the company also recently introduced a new feature called Magic Share, which allows participants to edit content within the video call window, and view content being presented at their own pace. Magic Share eliminates the need to have multiple tabs open when working with colleagues on a collaborative document during a video call, and means users no longer have to worry about keeping up with a presenter that goes too fast or too slow. Once a document is shared, teammates can view it at their own pace and co-edit directly from within the video call window, effectively breaking down the wall between visual and written communication. Latecomers to a meeting can now scroll up to see material previously presented without interrupting the flow of the presenter, while presenters no longer have to worry about issues common to traditional screen sharing such as clients or internal stakeholders seeing inappropriate tabs on their computer or irritating notifications.

Lark Mail, along with the rest of Lark’s suite of collaboration tools consisting of 200GB cloud storage, 500GB email storage and unlimited video call minutes, are available free for businesses in the Philippines. Simply visit www.larksuite.com to switch over to Lark Mail from any email services.