In the age where content is king, video reigns supreme. In fact, U.S. adults spend nearly six hours a day watching videos, and it’s predicted that people will spend more time online than they do watching TV. Live streaming has grown in popularity throughout the years and is now a major component of companies’ social media strategy.

One of the leaders in this area is Facebook Live, which gives companies, celebrities, and everyday people the opportunity to showcase their lives in real-time. Facebook Live should be part of your company’s overall social media strategy because of viewership. In fact, people spend 3x as much time watching a live video than a pre-recorded one. In addition, Facebook Live’s broadcast watch times quadrupled in one year.

How to Launch a Facebook Live Video

Facebook Live is an extremely user-friendly platform and going “live” is actually quite simple. To post, simply log into Facebook and tap the camera icon to the left of the search bar. It’s also important to note that Facebook must be given access to your camera and microphone. When the video launches, click “live,” and write a video description. Next, click “start live video” to begin broadcasting. After your video goes live make sure to interact with viewers.

From Mobile:

From Desktop:

What Content to Upload

Sincerity is key when posting to social media, and we recommend that you post something that you are passionate about. This will easily translate over to the viewer, and they will be able to sense your excitement around the subject matter. In regards to company postings, it is recommended that your organization post behind the scenes, town halls, and other areas of the company that are not considered confidential or sensitive. Participating in Facebook Live will give the viewers an inside look into your brand! This will in turn, give you an edge over other content creators.

Additional Tips

In order to reap the full benefits of Facebook Live, parts of your videos should be subtitled, which help increase engagement. In addition, the host should make this video as personable as possible. They don’t need to worry about stutters and should really focus on the viewer. They should say their names a few times along with the person that they are interviewing. In addition, a member of the marketing team or your digital marketing agency should be monitoring the comments from a computer or phone so that they can quickly respond to any inquiries.

Facebook Live is viewer-centric and every action taken by the company or broadcaster should be done to make the user feel comfortable and valued. This tool is a relatively easy tool to use and should be incorporated into a company’s overall marketing strategy.