Five Tips for Going Live on Facebook
According to recent statistics, Facebook has over 2.38 billion active monthly users and an increasingly popular way to reach those users is by going live using the Facebook Live feature. Studies also show that audiences spend three times more time watching live videos, so if you haven’t gone live on Facebook, now’s the time to try. Here are five tips to help you get ready for your Facebook Live close up.
Prepare Your Audience Before You Go Live
While you can always go live spontaneously such as in the case of breaking news, if you tell your audience in advance that you’re going to be going live (and when), you’ll have a bigger audience at the onset. Tips for your teaser post are to:
Let your audience know that you’re going to do a Facebook Live post a day in advance, so they know when to tune in. Photo credit: Priscilla du Preez
Tell your audience what to expect. Are you covering a concert, a street fair, a big event? Let them know, so they can enjoy it vicariously.
If you don’t want to tell your audience what you’re doing, hint at it. It’s okay to be mysterious so long as your live video delivers.
Post your teaser one day in advance. Too much notice and people forget. Not enough notice, and people may not get the memo.
Post a Captivating, Informative Description Before Going Live
While you will engage with your audience during the live video, you can and should also use your introduction text to draw people into your feed. Imagine people scrolling up on or clicking to tune in. They need some context for what they are about to view. Write a vivid one-to-two sentence description that gives the who, what, why, and all of that good jazz, so people who tune in are immediately interested and in the know.
Plan for a Long Live Feed
The longer you go live, the broader an audience you’ll reach. The recommendation is a minimum of 10 minutes, but you should aim for longer. The max time you can broadcast live is four hours. The longer you stay live, the more likely your feed is to be liked, commented on, and shared.
A long, live feed where you engage with your audience by name will get more response and will help ensure you have an audience for future live feeds. Photo credit: Alex Suprun
Engage with Your Audience by Name During the Feed
On the topic of commenting, a pro tip for making the most of your live video is to respond to commenters in real time. Use their names when you greet them, answer their questions, and respond to their comments. This helps to make your live video an interactive experience for those who are watching.
Close Your Facebook Live Video with a Call to Action
When it’s time to wrap up, make sure to signal your plans to sign off to your audience. Don’t just shut it down. Before you do sign off, do make sure to include a call to action. Ask viewers to subscribe to live videos, so they can be in the know every time you go live. You can also let them know the next time you’ll be posting live if you’ve already worked that into your content calendar. Your call to action can be whatever you need it to be…just don’t forget to include it before thanking your viewers for checking and signing off.
Facebook Live is one of many ways to reach your audiences. If you’re feeling camera shy but want to use Facebook Live (and other cool content marketing techniques), contact us, The Storyteller Agency, by clicking this link, and tell us what you’re needs are. We’ll help you “liven up” your connection with your audience.
