Time to go live!
If you follow any celebs on Facebook, chances are you’ve seen them go “live.” Facebook Live, if you are unfamiliar with it, is a bit like Meerkat or Periscope. It gives you the ability to broadcast yourself on Facebook in real time.
We gave a brief overview of Facebook Live in this article when it was rolled out to non-celebs in December. Now that more and more people are jumping on board the “live” wagon, here are a few things you need to know to get the most out of this new feature on Facebook.
- Plan in advance – send out an alert that you PLAN on broadcasting live. Take advantage of that feature so people can plan to be present. Post a full description of the “event” prior to going live.
- Before going live, just like with other video chatting, make sure you are all set up: Check that your lighting is really good and make sure you have a high quality internet connection. If the signal is weak, you won’t be able to push the “Go Live” button.
- During the broadcast, ask viewers to sign up for notifications, that way they never miss out on another of your live events (playback is available, but express that the experience is best live).
- Greet viewers by name when possible, and keep them involved.
- It’s still new and almost no one has it, so Facebook is the only one that knows the ideal time – they say to broadcast for at least 10 minutes, but it is capable of broadcasting for up to 90 minutes.
BONUS: 6. Obviously, experiment. Experiment with how you announce, the length of the broadcast, how you market afterwards, your lighting, your sound, and so forth. Don’t expect a huge following on your first broadcast unless your name is Dwayne Johnson.
No matter when and how you broadcast, Facebook Live is a great way to reach your followers. It gives you the ability to create an intimate, personalized connection with your brand and followers. When you go live, the video goes out in the notifications and news feed, which creates great organic reach. If you use it through your personal page, you can select your audience from your entire friends list to just a few family members. What do you think about Facebook Live?
