*Updated Nov 2019 to include Instagram Live Streaming*
The How, Why, When and Where Guide To Live Streaming On Facebook – aka The Facebook Live Guide
WHY LIVE STREAM?
In Facebook’s algorithm – where it decides what to show to who based on things like relevance, freshness of content, virality – live streaming > video > images > status posts
Facebook is competing with YouTube to be the world’s leading video hosting platform so of course it favours its own videos. Live streaming ticks many boxes – it’s fresh, it’s real, it’s spontaneous, and most importantly people LOVE it!
Try posting different media and check your Facebook Insights – you’ll see a marked increase in reach and engagement with your videos and live streaming. With live streaming you can reach hundreds, if not thousands, of people within hours – whereas an image or status post might only be seen by a handful. Here’s an example taken from Facebook Insights [the analytics you get on the back end of your Facebook business page]:
Impact of live video
HOW TO GO LIVE ON FACEBOOK
The good news is that you can live stream to your personal profile, Facebook business page, or into a group……so anywhere goes. Our Facebook Live Guide continues…….
To access live streaming you need to use your mobile and go into your Facebook page manager app
HOW TO GO LIVE ON INSTAGRAM
WHAT TO LIVE STREAM
In terms of what to say, and when – the idea is to provide value and content. What I’ve found works well is to share a learning point, or 3 tips, or just provide an update on something that is relevant to where you are or what you’re doing. For example, if you’re at your son’s rugby match and you see someone helping one of the lesser able kids – you might live stream a quick story about helping others in business.
A good format to use is:
- Headline – have a catchy headline that tells people why you’re live streaming and what they can learn from listening in
- Content – provide some useful content, a story, learning point or a few tips
- Call To Action – what do you want people to do next? Go to your website, visit your Facebook page, download your free guide, come and meet you at an event etc.
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU BROADCAST FOR?
Now, the idea of live streaming is engagement (not just broadcasting) so live stream for 10-20 minutes, for a planned live stream, to give people a chance to see you and start to interact.
As you live stream you’ll see how many people are watching the broadcast – and you should encourage comments and likes. As with anything on Facebook, the more people who engage with you, the more of their fans and friends will see what you’re sharing, and the more Facebook will show that content.
HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR LIVE STREAM
You want to spread the word to get as many people as possible to join you live (that’s the whole point!). Here’s a few ideas for promoting your Live Stream:
- Create a Facebook Event
- Promote through your Facebook Page and Facebook Groups
- Mail to your list
- Promote in #promo share days in other people’s Facebook Groups
- Promote through your other Social Media Channels – Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+
- Blog about your event
- Tell everyone you know
All that remains now is to JFDI – yes, just do it – like anything, it gets easier the more you do it.
We run regular FB Live Challenges in the Social Media Success Group so join me there if you’d like to “pop your Facebook Live cherry”