Live video streaming is an engaging way to connect with your followers and grow your audience in real time — and Facebook Live makes it all easy. But before you dive in, here are a few tips to make your session soar.
When you first start the video, take a minute to introduce yourself and what the video's about. But keep in mind that when you first start live streaming, you may have zero people watching. Be patient! As people find your video on their News Feeds, they'll join in – but that means you'll want to reintroduce yourself a second, third, and even a fourth time to catch people up.
Acknowledge the live audience on Facebook. This makes the viewers feel included, while you’re expanding your audience with people all over the world.
Where can you see your audience’s comments and questions? While you're broadcasting, you'll see the time elapsed on the top left along with the number of viewers, and comments will show up live on the bottom of your feed. They'll appear in reverse chronological order, like on Twitter, so keep in mind that the earlier ones may be farther down.
In case there are any inappropriate comments during the session, you can block viewers during a live broadcast by tapping the profile picture next to a viewer's comment and then tapping "Block." You can unblock someone you've previously blocked, too. No matter how prepared you are, there’s always something you might miss.
Don’t get flustered – Facebook Live is LIVE, and your audience expects spontaneity and a casual vibe. Monitor the comments during the live streaming. It’s all about engaging with the audience, it doesn’t have to be a one-sided streaming.
Remember to include calls to action. Several times throughout your Facebook Live, let customers know they can go to your website for more info.
Broadcasting for longer periods of time means you’ll reach more people – the longer you broadcast, the more likely people are to discover and invite their friends on Facebook to watch the video.