How to use Facebook Live video like a pro. The essentials of getting it right.

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Live video is changing user consumption of news and entertainment and is further connecting TV and social media. More brands and news organizations are using live video to augment their digital reach.And, now Facebook Live is impacting the whole spectrum as a platform both for real-time storytelling and journalism.

You cannot deny the awesome power of Live Video – if it's done right. With Facebook Live now jumping on the bandwagon alongside Periscope, Meerkat, and YouTube, how are brands going to benefit from this new here-and-now social media marketing channel?

There is no doubt that video is the way to go these days. Read here about how video provides a unique opportunity for your brand to create compelling, engaging, sharable content:
4 ways to fight online distraction with compelling video ads and content

How to win with Facebook Live

Facebook Live is pretty new for brands. Yes, the bigger brands have jumped on it, as have some smaller niche brands, but there are essential boxes you need to tick for your content to succeed in engaging your audience.

1. What are you going on Facebook Live with? What's the idea?

Start with point one: Insight. In any form of digital marketing, consumer or customer insight is your first and most important step. First of all, is your audience going to appreciate the Live video format?Will it add value and enhance their experience? What's the kind of live content that your target audience wants. What resolution to their need or problem will you provide with your live video? You need to plan your live 'broadcast' around that.

Planning your content strategy is key. Once you have a solid content plan, only then should you plan for taking it 'live' on Facebook with a live broadcast. Remember, particularly with a live video post, you need to truly engage your audience by providing value. Read this important tip first:

Winning Content Strategy: Always share something valuable and useful

2. Prepare for your Facebook Live broadcast. Rehearse. 

Unless you are a seasoned broadcast journalist, you can't – or shouldn't – be wining it for a live broadcast. You'll need to prepare – your content, format, your set up, tools, your logistics etc. 

Facebook recommends that live videos last at least 10 minutes, but you can go up to 90 minutes. Your broadcast should be interesting and crisp. Plan the timing. Rehearse your content as much as possible – unless of course you are broadcasting an event, a launch or a seminar. Regardless, you should plan the length and bits of content that will go in. 

Plan your location. Lighting, ambient noise, how your phone will work (front or rear camera?), who will hold the phone? These are important factors. Having a strong internet connection is critical. Don't settle for poor quality just because it is a live broadcast. Use the highest resolution setting possible, for example. Make sure your audio will come through clear and without surrounding disturbances. And most importantly, you should look and sound professional. Practice that.

3. Promote your Broadcast ahead of time

It’s nice to let your audience know ahead of time that they can expect a live broadcast from your brand. Tell them about the upcoming live video with your regular news feed posts. Create anticipation and hype. A live broadcast isn't something you do every day. If your live video is important enough, boost your announcement posts as paid Facebook ads. Use other social platforms that your brand is on to tell them about your broadcast ahead of time.

4. The actual Facebook Live broadcast

To start your Facebook Live video broadcast, open the Facebook app and go to the personal, business, group, or event page that you want to target. On your phone, tap to create a new post and look for the Live icon at the bottom of the screen.

Once you tap on the Live icon – provide a short description of your video. Make sure your description is precise, to the point and makes sense to your audience as well as to the search engines. More than anything, make this absolutely as interesting as possible.

Of course, you know your content. You know what you'll be saying, you know how you will feed the interest of your audience. Relax. Be professional, smile, look engaged with your audience (rehearse this, over and again). Start by telling your audience a little about yourself, your brand, perhaps, and what you'll be broadcasting about. Beyond the initial description, this is what will hook them in and keep them watching.

Encourage comments and feedback – while they are watching. That's how you increase their involvement, and their engagement with your content. Facebook Live allows your audience to provide feedback and ask you questions during the broadcast – live. They can click on the six emoji reactions that replaced the simple Like button. These appear for a few seconds onscreen – and you can keep an eye out for them. Facebook treats them the same as applause and boos on regular posts.

End your live video broadcast with a call to action and tell them when they can expect more or where they could go for more related content. Ask them to share the archived copy of the video that will be in the timeline. 

5. Post the broadcast, maximize and optimize

Your broadcast gets automatically archived and gets posted on your timeline. Increase your engagement at this point. Thank your fans and your followers, remind them about your live broadcast, ask for comments and shares – increase the engagement right there. You are also able to add or change the location and date if you want, provide a longer description, update the thumbnail, and select a category at this point. Do this if you feel you can maximize the potential reach and engagement by tweaking meta data for example.

6. Analyze and Learn from Facebook Live's feedback

Facebook provides useful feedback. You can see the total number of people who watched at least a portion of the video, along with a metrics of how many viewers you had at different points in time. You are able to see minutes viewed, people reached, total views (entire), 20 second views, unique views, reactions, comments, shares etc. This is valuable feedback to help you prep for the next broadcast. Was your content interesting enough? Did you sell your broadcast enough? Did you do your preparation right? Was it too long?

Now that you know the essential elements for a successful Facebook Live campaign, go back and re-visit the whole idea again. Is that what your brand really is about? Are you providing value for your audience? Is a live broadcast really what your fand and followers really want to watch? Overall, are you ready for the Live video trend? Read more about it here:

Is your brand ready for the Live Video trend? How to use Facebook Live, Periscope, YouTube and Meerkat.

Facebook is pushing Live Video big time. We know of the massive reach and engagement potential of live video as a format. It's important that you get the essentials right. And that's the basics. That's Digital Marketing Strategies 101.