By Judith Lee
I spent some time this summer learning how to use Facebook Live, making Live broadcasts, and sharing what I was learning along the way. It’s September now, and time to put this terrific tool to use.
Remember:
- Video posts get way more reach and engagement than text/photo posts.
- Live video gets three times more the views than any other kind of video.
No more excuses – get going with Facebook Live. Here are some tips right from Facebook itself about how to get the most from Facebook Live.
1. Tell people ahead of time when you’re going to broadcast. Build anticipation by letting people know when you’ll be broadcasting live. Look for my next Live broadcast on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 4 pm!
2. Go live when you have a strong connection Check to make sure that you have a strong signal before going live. WiFi tends to work best, but if you can’t find a nearby network, you’ll want a 4G connection. If you have weak signal, the ‘Go Live’ button will be grayed out.
3. Write a compelling description before going live. A great description will capture fans’ attention and help them understand what your broadcast is about.
4. Ask your viewers to follow you and receive notifications when you go live. Call out that your audience can tap on the Follow button on live videos and videos that were live and then opt-in to get notifications the next time you go live. (See screen at right, Live broadcast with Ricky Gervais, Follow button is circled)
5. Say hello to commenters by name and to respond to their comments. Your audience will be thrilled to hear you mention their name and answer their questions when you are live.
6. Broadcast for longer periods of time to reach more people. The longer you broadcast, the more likely people are to discover and invite their friends on Facebook to watch the video. We recommend that you go live for at least 10 minutes, and you can stay live for up to 90 minutes.
7. Be creative and go live often! Try different types of broadcasts – and go live frequently – to keep your audience engaged.
Visit live.fb.com for more tips and ideas.
Be sure to Like me on Facebook , and you should find the live-stream in your newsfeed at 4 pm tomorrow. Please watch my live-stream at 4 pm EST on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
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Top Photo Credit: HowToStartABlogOnline.net
