As mobile technology continues to improve, widespread video consumption is easily available. While video demand grows, more brands join the bandwagon by implementing video into their content strategy. In 2016, video marketing saw a surge of popularity. According to statistics from Hubspot:
- About 78% of people watch videos online every week
- Approximately 55% of people view videos online every day
- By 2017, online video will account for 74% of web traffic
In other words, video marketing is here to stay. Facebook introduced a new feature called Facebook Live in an effort to leverage the surge of video consumption. This feature allows you to connect with friends, followers, and fans by sharing real-time videos. Launched in early 2016, Facebook Live continues to increase in popularity allow businesses to create and foster authentic connections with their audiences.
How can your business master the art of live streaming? Here are six tips to help you use Facebook Live.
1. Tease What’s Coming
If you’re planning on live streaming, notify your followers ahead of time so they know when to tune into the live event. Using applications like Hootsuite, you can easily schedule posts on Facebook throughout the day to generate buzz and maximize traffic to your video. If you fail to excite your followers, you may not receive the attention you desire.
2. Always Plan Ahead
Just because your video streams live does not mean it must be impromptu. Would you ever go to a businesses meeting unprepared? Launching a live video without a game plan can be both disastrous and embarrassing. You should approach a live video with careful and concise planning to ensure everything runs smoothly:
- Test your equipment to avoid technological issues.
- Have a rough script outline so you know your key talking points.
- Know your intended audience, so you can set a tone.
If you don’t take the time to plan ahead, followers will notice the poor quality and tune out. Furthermore, they may not see you as authoritative, and dismiss your business altogether.
3. Keep Viewers Informed
Always introduce yourself, your company, and the topic at the beginning of each video. For example, if you plan to showcase a new product, be sure to mention this within the first 30 seconds of the video. While this may seem trivial, you must remember that viewers will tune in throughout the broadcast rather than only at the beginning. To catch new viewers up to speed, repeat your introduction several times throughout the video to increase brand awareness and avoid confusion.
4. Engage With Your Audience
If you want a lot of viewers to see your live stream, then make sure you create an engaging broadcast! Facebook monitors actions such as turning on the audio, switching to full-screen mode or commenting. Consequently, Facebook updated its algorithm so that engaging videos will appear higher on news feeds.
Facebook Live has an awesome feature, which allows you to see comments from viewers in real time. Use this to your advantage and engage with your audience by answering their questions or concerns. This leads to further engagement because it includes viewers in the live experience. The number of comments on your broadcast allows Facebook to give it a higher relevancy score, making it appear higher on people’s newsfeeds.
5. Edit Your Video Afterwards
After a live video ends, Facebook automatically saves the video on your page so people can view it later. Once the post appears on your page, click “edit post” in the top right corner. Next, add a catchy title, compelling description, and unique thumbnail image that will entice users to watch after the live broadcast. Including these elements makes your video appear more attractive and arrest people’s eyes as they scroll through their news feeds.
6. Follow Up With Fans
Depending on the size of your audience, you may not be able to address every comment live due to the 90-minute broadcast limit. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore these questions! After the live video ends, continue to engage with your audience! You can answer viewers’ questions through a Facebook reply, or you can even give them a shout out in a follow-up video.
Go Live!
Facebook Live won’t be disappearing from your news feed anytime soon. According to Social Media Examiner, 14% of marketers experimented with the feature in 2017. Meanwhile, Wyzowl reports that 43% plan to user interactive video in 2017. Every business needs to incorporate video into their marketing strategy. Follow these tips and you will be ready for lights, camera, and action on Facebook Live! For more information about Facebook Live, contact the social media experts at Premiere Creative or give us a call at (973) 346-8100!