With over 1.5 billion users, and over two-thirds of those users logging in daily, Facebook has established itself as a modern day titan among social media services. The California-based network has never been one to shy away from adding new and engaging features, but as of late, there’s one feature that’s been drawing attention from social media and marketing specialists: Facebook Live.
Why is this platform so important for marketing, when there are already live streaming services available? The answer is a simple matter of user base. Facebook has over 1.5 billion users, and that number grows every day. With numbers like that, it’s safe to assume that most of your audience is already using the site, meaning they won’t have to sign up for new social media services to interact. Streaming on a site your audience already uses greatly increases the chance that they’ll interact with you!
How should you be using Facebook Live? We’ve assembled a few tips to help you get the most out of this valuable new feature.
Advertise Your Stream
Don’t just expect people to show up as soon as the session starts. Get the word out a few days ahead of time (but not more than a week), so people can get excited for what you’ll be showing. When you advertise, don’t just restrict your ads to Facebook. Consider posting to Twitter, Tumblr, Google Plus, and any other social media services you have. For applicable networks, try adding an eye-catching image as well.
Take It Seriously
Just because you’ll be shooting on a phone or tablet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the broadcast seriously. Consider the lighting and layout of the event you want to shoot, as well as sound. Additionally, have an idea of what you want to say before the feed starts, so you’ll be able to keep people entertained and engaged throughout.
You’ll also need to make sure to start on time! For your audience, a late start is annoying, but an early start means that people planning to see you at the stated time will completely miss the beginning. Sure, they can watch the recording, but what’s the point of a live show if you can’t see it all as it happens?
Interact With People
Speak directly to commenters and get them engaged. This is something you can’t do anywhere but a live performance, and it gives you an invaluable chance to interact with your audience in ways that you simply can’t do when things aren’t live. Normally, your audiences watch or read your content, with no way to interact. Now they have a way to speak directly to you. This makes a huge difference!
Show Your Face
If you’re doing an interview or giving an announcement, there’s a good chance you’ll be showing your face. However, even if you’re just recording an event for people to watch, showing your face should be a priority. Consider using your device’s rear camera to capture the event itself, but using the front camera when you’re responding to comments. This makes the responses feel more personal, as if the viewers are actually getting to chat with you. The perceived connection goes a long way towards making your audience feel engaged.
Facebook Live is an excellent tool for connecting to your audience, but it’s only one of the many you have at your disposal. To have an effective social media campaign, you’ll want to make the most of every tool at your disposal. Need help getting your campaign started? We can help! Contact Thrive Internet Marketing today, and we’ll work to create and run a campaign that’s perfect for your business.
