Article written by Katina Jaye Beveridge, ASBAS Advisor, Western Sydney Business Centre
Facebook Live caused massive changes, not only to regular users, but to businesses and brands as well, especially during the lockdown period where everyone is stuck at home. It has become a very useful tool for creating engagement through videos, broadcasting events, and marketing new products or services.
This is because Facebook Live videos generate 6 times as many interactions and 10 times more comments compared to traditional videos. In 2018 alone, Facebook Live broadcasts reached 3.5 billion, and the number is continually increasing year by year.
How to Do a Facebook Live
Facebook Live is effective for streaming events, announcements, sending messages, a conversation, Q&A, contests, raffle draws, giving tutorials, or tips. All you need is a device with a working camera and microphone for shooting the video.
To start your broadcast, follow the steps below:
- Navigate to the profile you want to live stream from (your profile, Page, group, or event).
- Tap the Live button under the post composer.
- Add a brief description for your broadcast, tag friends, check in, or add a feeling/activity.
- Tap on Start Live Video to start broadcasting.
- To end your live stream, tap on Finish.
You can even schedule your live stream up to a week in advance to make your audience know of your upcoming broadcasts. Facebook Live can also be used to raise money for charities and organizations by adding the Donate button on the live stream. However, this fundraising function is only limited to qualified Pages.
Facebook Live Updates
This year, Facebook introduced new features for its Live platform, which every video producer should be aware of, including:
- Rehearsal – Like what the name implies, this new feature allows you to test a broadcast so you can experiment with a new format, tools, or workflow. The test broadcast will only be accessible to Page admins and editors.
- Trimming – This new function lets you trim the beginning and ending of your Live broadcast, like a standby mode.
- Extended Duration – Instead of the previous 4-hour sessions, Facebook extended the Live broadcasts to 8 hours per session.
Summing Up
Facebook Live is a powerful tool for providing useful content to your audience and should be a critical part of your digital marketing strategy during this economic slowdown.