In a bid to quash YouTube’s monopoly of the video landscape, Facebook introduced a new way to connect with an audience and rolled out Facebook Live. Already, it is proving to be an important marketing tool in every marketer’s bag, though not everyone has mastered its use yet.

Initially only available to celebrities, Facebook Live quickly gained momentum, particularly with media companies who that use it 18 times more than businesses in other industries.

So, it’s time to step up your marketing campaign and use Facebook Live to draw more viewers to your page. Keep reading to learn how Facebook Live works and how your business can benefit from using it.

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How to Stream Live on Facebook

Facebook makes it possible to stream live from your desktop, laptop, or mobile device. The Facebook Live screen is square, whether you hold your phone in a landscape or portrait position, and this applies to desktop streams too.

Your broadcast can be up to 90 minutes long. Facebook recommends broadcasting long because you’ll have more time to wait for more people to join in your live broadcasts.

Of course, if you have a large following, attracting throngs of viewers to your video would be easy. If you are thin in that department, consider buying social media Followers to establish social proof for your name and business, on all of your accounts.

Social proof will not only draw viewers in, it will also result in more Followers for your account. Social proof is the invisible force that compels people to follow what others are doing and, as such, it’s a very effective marketing tool for any business to use.

So, here’s a step-by-step guide for broadcasting Live on Facebook.

Broadcast Live From Mobile

To go live from mobile, simply open the Facebook app on your phone. There are no extra apps that you need to download.

On the Newsfeed where you see the “What’s on your mind?” text, look for the video icon and click it.

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From your Profile, you need to click that “What’s on your mind?“ text so the Live Video options will come out from the drop-down menu.

Facebook will prompt you to allow access to your camera and microphone. Press OK. It won’t ask you again the next time you use Facebook Live.

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Choose who you want to share your live video with. If you want to test it out and experiment with it, you can choose “Only Me” if you don’t want to go live immediately.

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Describe your video and then tag friends, choose your location, or add an activity.

Click the “Go Live” button to start your broadcast. When you’re done, click “Finish,” and then save or discard your video. If you save, your video will stay on your timeline like any other post.

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Broadcast Live From Desktop

Go to Facebook and on your Newsfeed or Profile, click “Live Video” found on the top of the “What’s on your mind?” text box.

Image credit: Facebook

Give Facebook permission to access your computer’s camera and microphone.

Describe your video, choose who to share it with, then hit “Go Live” to start your broadcast.

Image credit: Facebook

There is an option to use an external device like a camera or microphone. Click that link and it will take you to another another page where you’ll get assistance with setting up your external device.

Click “Finish” when you’re ready to end your broadcast. Again, the video will appear on your timeline and you can even pin it so it always stays on the top where your visitors can easily see it.

Viewer engagement on Facebook Live is 10 times higher than regular videos, which is why you should start getting comfortable in front of a camera, if you aren’t already, and start broadcasting live. Join the 16% of marketers on Facebook who already went live in 2016. Here are even more reasons why you should go live soon.

Why Facebook Live could be Great for Your Business

1. Video content marketing is effective

It’s the video revolution and businesses left and right have seen the wisdom of employing video content marketing in their digital ad campaigns. It’s as powerful as it is effective in bumping up the ROI for your online marketing efforts.

Videos, without a doubt, are easier to consume than any other type of online content. Facebook Live made videos even more attractive thanks to its functions and features, without which real-time interaction wouldn’t be half as fun.

Aside from comments, viewers can click emoji reactions during a broadcast. Facebook actually likened them to applause and boos, letting people be more than just passive viewers.

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2. You can engage with your customers in real-time

You can see the comments and engage with your viewers in real-time! You can answer questions as they come in and take your time with each, because the thread will progress at a pace you can dictate.

Comments don’t refresh until you go ahead and refresh it yourself. There will be no flashing comments to interrupt your thoughts so you can focus on your reply to each individual question or comment. Quite different than what you get in a YouTube live chat.

3. It provides a meaningful connection with your audience

Because you can see people’s names and locations as they join your broadcast, it’s easier to connect with them on an intimate level. You can welcome them as they arrive by their names, thereby instantly involving them in your video.

All these interactions humanize your brand and make you more accessible to your audience.

4. It’s cost-effective

Unless you want a full-on video production, complete with light reflectors and high-end external cameras (for desktop), you can go live today with whatever phone and gadget you already have.

You don’t have to spend a copious amount of time editing your video, too, because it’s live! The somewhat-rough and untouched nature of it is part of the charm. You just have to be yourself, be present, and provide the content your viewers want.

5. It gives your business a competitive edge

In this day and age when social media apps get feature updates every few weeks, you have to flow along with the changes or your brand dies a silent death – and you can be sure nobody will even be there to watch. That doesn’t mean responding to every new tweak, but it does mean staying on top of what’s hot.

One-third of all online activity is spent watching videos and 45% of people watch more than an hour of Facebook or YouTube videos a week. Want to take your share of the video-loving audience? Go live on Facebook and give your business a competitive edge over other brands that don’t bother staying relevant in this ever-changing Internet world.

The following are some ways you can use Facebook Live to benefit your business.

Ways You Can Use Facebook Live

1. Promote and broadcast live events

Do you have an event coming up? Use Facebook Live to announce it to your Followers and then broadcast that same event live too.

2. Showcase your products

Take advantage of Facebook Live to demonstrate the use of your products. If you have new products to launch, you can give your Followers a special preview and encourage them to avail themselves of it in the process.

Just recently, a real estate company called HouseSimple used Facebook Live for a house viewing with the owner doing a live virtual tour. If the house sells, it will be the first house ever sold on Facebook.

Image credit: Mirror

3. Host interviews

Host interviews of influencers in your field and do some live Q&A, which in itself will attract more viewers. Remember to promote extensively ahead of time, to let people know that you’re going live and to encourage them to ask friends to join too.

When you’re done broadcasting, you might want to buy social media Followers and other signals as a strategy to get more people to watch your video. A lot of Followers and Likes will attract a lot of attention, and your video will likely end up with more Views, as well as garnering real, organic Likes. The next time you go Live, some of your new followers will flock to your video and make your Facebook marketing even more successful.

4. Show some behind-the-scenes of your business

You can also make your connection more authentic by inviting people to take a look behind the scenes of how you do business, or what your typical day is like.

Marketing specialist and author Guy Kawasaki uses Facebook Live for a behind-the-scenes of a shoot, or when he simply wants to share whatever big or small things are happening in his life.

Behind the scenes: what it's like to be on CNBC Behind the scenes: what it's like to be on CNBC #dayinthelife Posted by Guy Kawasaki on Tuesday, May 3, 2016

5. Online lessons

Demonstrate your expertise in your field by conducting online lessons via Facebook Live.

Take a look at how fitness coach Christine Dwyer broadcasts her lessons. Anyone can join her online kickboxing class!

https://www.facebook.com/CoachDwyer/videos/1543138509030024/

Give Facebook Live A Try!

As the world of social media continues to evolve, keeping up with the changes has become very important. Facebook rides those waves of change admirably with its introduction of Facebook Live.

Facebook Live has shifted the video marketing domain considerably, and many brands rode this progress, braving the technical mumbo jumbo of live streaming.

Take your brand to new heights by leveraging Facebook Live today. Strengthen your customer relationships and attract new ones. These are just some of the benefits but don’t just take our word for it. Try Facebook Live and discover how it can boost your Facebook marketing campaigns now!