You’ve seen the notifications, maybe even watched a Live video. Have you ever wondered if it could help you reach your company goals? Increase leads or generate brand engagements?
I’ve had a lot of questions lately about what Facebook Live is, how it works, and if it is good for the company. Hopefully, I will answer those questions for you today.
What is Facebook Live?
It’s really quite simple; this is a live feed via a smart phone or camera, through a Facebook Profile, to your followers and connections. This allows you to interact and share with your connections in real time. They can ask questions, post comments, and share your feed while you are broadcasting.
How Does It Work?
According to Facebook, it only takes two simple steps to start broadcasting to your network from your business page. It is recommended that you use your mobile app or Google Chrome extension.
First, in the Status Update bar, click on Live Video.
Second, write a brief description of your video then hit the “Go Live.” You’ll see a three-second countdown before your broadcast begins.
From experience, I can tell you that it will take roughly a minute before the first person joins your broadcast, so don’t lead with the most important content. This is due to the fact that Facebook will alert your connections once the live stream begins, and it will take some time for people to click over to you.
How Can I Use It For Business?
Now that you know how to use it, let’s get started!
- Make an announcement!
Share new and exciting news with your friends and acquaintances. Launch a new product or service or introduce new staff. This option can be short and sweet; less than 3 minutes and from any location that is relevant to the announcement.
- Go behind the scenes.
Is there an aspect of your business that your clients, prospects, or potential employees may find interesting? A process that can seem complex when written on paper? Use this opportunity to explain it in person.
- Promote events.
Planning an open house? Conference? Or kicking off a new class? FB Live is a great way to generate interest. Don’t forget to share the easy-to-remember URL and then follow up by posting it in the comments.
- Answer commonly asked questions.
If your sale team – or customer service counter – have a list of frequently asked questions, start a weekly Live series that goes through each one. Share the answers with your customers in a fun, personable, engaging format. This is way more fun than ready a bulleted list on a website.
- Educate or train.
Use the tools to share tips or tricks. Showcase seasonal products. Create a runway for the latest fashion for a boutique. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
If you’d like some examples, feel free to check out our Facebook page and YouTube page; we have announcements and offer a weekly 10-minute Live segment covering the latest trends, changes, and topics within our industry.
Happy broadcasting!