Five Steps to Getting Started with Facebook Live
Going live on Facebook is similar to hosting a party, except it is virtual. You wouldn't throw a party without planning out the theme, menu, drinks and of course inviting people to your party! Same is true for hosting a Facebook Livestream! It's all about the planning and the details.
The first step in planning a party is to pick and theme. When you are planning your Facebook Livestream, you want to select a topic. What will you talk about? What are people interested in? Below are some common Facebook Live topics to consider:
· Q&A sessions
· Interview series
· Industry news
· Behind-the-scenes looks
· Topics requested by your audience
Once you’ve decided on a topic, you can begin to plan out all the details like the livestream date and time and what equipment you’ll need.
Follow these instructions to go live immediately or schedule a livestream for a future date.
1. Get Started. If you are using a mobile device, open the Facebook App and select the camera icon on the left side of your search bar. From here, switch to “Live” located at the bottom of your camera screen. If you are using a desktop, head to your Business Page or personal page, click to write a post, and select the “Start a Live Video” option. You’ll be asked to give Facebook access to your camera and microphone on both devices.
2. Write a Description. In your written description, you need to give people a reason to click on your live video. Explain what you’ll be discussing, and encourage users to join in. You can also use keywords and hashtags here to gain more visibility.
3. Add Video Details. Take advantage of as many Facebook Live features as possible. Tag friends you think would be interested and use the location option to capture the attention of people nearby.
4. Set Up Last-Minute Details. Just before you go live, take a moment to ensure that all the details are in place. Make sure your camera orientation is right (landscape is the best option!), get distracting posters or images out of the background, and adjust any light that may be drowning you out of the video. A huge mistake many people make is putting their back to a window, this makes your camera have to fight sunlight, and you end up looking like a shadow. What most pros do is flip that around 180 degrees and let the sun light you through the window. Natural light is often the best light!
5. Start Your Live Video. When everything is ready to go, take a deep breath and push that blue “Start Live Video” button. You’ve got this!
If you’re not planning to go live immediately, you can schedule a Facebook Livestream for the future. To do so, go to Facebook’s Live Producer and select “Schedule a Live Video.” Enter the time and date, and set up the rest of the live video as you would normally. You can also publish an announcement post. Once everything is scheduled, your stream will go live at the scheduled time.
So that you’re not talking to crickets, schedule your livestream during a day and time when the majority of your audience is engaged with Facebook. Use the data from your page’s analytics dashboard to determine the best timing.
In my next article, I will be sharing How to Promote Your Event and Grow an Excited Audience.
Get Started with Your First Facebook Livestream
Now that you know how to go live on Facebook, what are you waiting for? Hit that big blue live button and start growing a loyal live stream audience!
Need help honing your message or organizing your Facebook Live strategy or production? Reach out to me today! My team and I can help with any aspect of your Facebook production from creating a show outline to having a producer on with you live to moderate your show. But if you never go live, none of this will help you. So, get out there and start streaming, and let me know how it goes!
Ginger Bell
CEO & Founder, Edumarketing