It’s no secret that more and more businesses are turning to live streaming options to
boost their visibility and build loyalty. If you’re already live streaming, fantastic! If you’re
on the fence, then now is the time to jump into creating FB lives!
Here’s some stats that may convince you now is the time: (source:MeetEdgar.com)
- 20% of videos are live videos on Facebook.
- Facebook Live videos produce 6x as many interactions as traditional videos.
- Facebook users are 4x more likely to watch live streams than recorded videos.
- Users watch live videos 3x longer than traditional videos.
As impressive as these stats are, let’s be honest: it’s nerve-wracking to hit the “Go Live”
button!
I get it! Going live is scary because what if you stumble on your words or no one joins
you or you get rattled and lose your train of thought?
Here’s the thing, perfect is not a human trait!
Sure, going live may be stretching the boundaries of your comfort zone and that’s how
you expand and with practice, just like starting a new workout routine, it gets easier, and
you might just surprise yourself!
Here’s 5 tips to help you master going live in FB
1. Have a specific topic for your FB live
Before going live, create a list of topics that are aligned with your marketing plan. This
ensures that you’re delivering valuable content that 1) your prospects need and want; 2)
reinforces your authority status; and 3) demonstrates the depth and breadth of your
expertise and what you want to be known for.
When creating your list of topics, perhaps you have a theme for the month and each FB
live is a spoke in the wheel. It could be tips, or how to or step-by-step or best tools.
Summary: have a plan!
2. Have an outline
You don’t have to create scripts to become a master at Facebook lives; an outline is all
you need to keep you on-topic, concise in your delivery and engaging. Here’s a super
easy outline structure:
- Grab their attention such doing something unexpected or asking a question.
- Share your promise or desired outcome for your viewer. Your viewer needs to
know how watching will benefit them – WIIFM (what’s in in for me). - Be respectful of their time by staying on topic and all their questions will be
answered in the Q&A at the end. - Wrap up with a specific CTA (call to action). What do you want your viewers to
do? Opt in for your free lead magnet? Join your FB group? Sign up for a
webinar? Schedule a call with you? Buy your product or service? This is so
often overlooked and that’s a costly mistake you want to avoid.
3. Know your audience
Review the analytics to know when your prospects are most active in Facebook and
schedule your FB lives during that time. Knowing this makes it easy for them to watch
and you’ll have greater participation. Also, let them know in advance when you’ll be
going live. A tip: review the analytics periodically to catch any new trends or changes.
4. Leverage your content
Look into streaming on multiple platforms – known as simul-casting. This maximizes your reach without any extra effort. Expanding on this, repurpose your content by transcribing your FB live into a blog post; and use the questions asked by viewers as
topics for future posts or lives.
5. It’s all about engagement
Here are some easy actions you can take to connect with your viewers and maximize
engagement.
Acknowledge: welcome viewers by name – it creates immediate connection and
acknowledges that you see and appreciate them.
Be creative: whether your sharing tips on healthy eating or the latest trend in social
media, think of ways you can be deliver your content that’s unexpected. This is a great
way to boost engagement and share your creative thinking with your viewers. It’s all
about you being visible for your uniqueness and inviting your viewers to get better
acquainted with you.
And there you have it – 5 tips for creating trust and engagement with FB lives. One final
suggestion, give yourself permission to be you and to laugh at your mistakes. Granted,
there is no magic formula that works for everyone, so be curious and willing to
experiment to find what works best for you, your business, and your prospects. Why?
Because that’s what you’ll do consistently.
