What better way to display your brand’s human side to your customers than to invite people with behind the scenes, and systematic Lives on your Social Media profiles into your life and business?
Today more people/businesses than ever use live streaming, with a huge success. Going Live on your social media profiles; Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, have such a power. People more and more are interested, show up for, and follow Lives. Going and connection lives with your audience changed the visibility and trust factor in the online world.
If that wasn’t compelling enough, for example Facebook Live videos experience three times the engagement of typical videos shared on social media, with millions of users tuning in around the world.
The question is how do you take advantage of that engagement for your brand?
Since going Live on your social media profiles is free and easy to use, as long as you have internet connection, phone or computer, anyone with a business, something valuable to share, or product to sell, can get involved and start sharing at any point.
But still you need to keep in mind that it’s you need to have a strategy is in place before you go live, during and after the broadcast.
While preparing for new Facebook Lives, I’ll share with you my top 12 Tips to follow to go Live on Social Media. Here it is, my plan to follow before, during and after going live:
1. Have a clear goal in mind.
Ask yourself first why do you want to do Lives in the first place? Do you actually need it? What’s your message? What’s your goal, your purpose? Why do you think that going Live on your social media platforms is your answer?
2. Promote your Live events before you go live – make sure that your audience knows that you will be live {on Facebook, or Instagram} ready to connect and share
It’s crucial that you keep in mind that with planing to go live you need to generate interest before the experience if you want to get that all-important live participation. Live videos are more like an event than a blog post and you need to invite people to it.
Post about the upcoming announcement on your on all your social media profiles, including your blog and newsletter, as often as possible, especially when you just starting. You could share updates, while preparing for it with behind the scenes, even before you will go live for the first time. But keep in mind that every time you remind your audience that you will be there for them, share something new and of value.
For example, highlight what you are working on, mention tips you’ll share, a question that you are going to answer, or what kind of information you’ll be covering.
Make sure to cross-promote across your blog, email campaigns and all your social media, not only the one you are actually planing to have the event on. Give a shout about it on all your platform and make sure to include where and when you will be there. Give your audience a chance to actually show up and join you.
3. Prepare for you Lives – have a plan
As much as showing up live is more laid-back and natural than a standard video that you would create for your YouTube channel, you still need to have a plan of action.
Remember that everything you do and post, Live broadcasting included, represent you and your business. You can’t afford a bad impression.
Yes, you need to prepare. You need to know the technical side as well as your content, so test it before if your are not comfortable and if it’s your first go a it. You need to be ready and at ease as much as possible. Also you need to test your connection, lighting, sound and background. Make sure that all of it works well together.
Statistics show that Live users watch videos three times longer, whether live or while watching rebroadcast your audience will see it.
TIP: Invest in a tripod to avoid the “shaky cam” experience and makes sure that your sound is on point, laud and clear. Keep in mind that a strong connection, good quality video, clear sound can go a long way.
4. Choose: what, how and when your audience will see you
While you’re prepping, make sure you take the time to think about how you’ll shoot your video and when you’ll stream it. For instance, when using the Facebook Live app, you can choose between broadcasting horizontally or vertically–depending on what gives you the best view.
Consider who your target audience is, and what kind of relationship, connection you are after. If you want to have an intimate behind-the-scenes chat with your audience, vertical close-up could be exactly the vibe you want. But if you plan to have a guest, that might not be the right choice for you. Know what your plan is, and choose the best option for you.
TIP: If you are planing to have interviews, invite people over to have a conversation live, getting additional microphone for your interviewee and for you is something that is definitely worth considering. If people will have hard time to hear you, you might loose your audiences interest.
5. Choose your moment
Timing can be everything when it comes to making an impression on your audience. Just as there are tips for when to send out email campaigns for the best opening rates and responses, there are also guidelines for times to host your Lives on your social media platforms. During a live-streaming events, the last thing you want is to schedule your live to appear when everyone in your target audience is at work or asleep.
Make sure you think about it ahead of time, and plan your lives for your target audience accordingly.
6. Offer breath introductions constantly at different points of your Live events
Keep in mind that during lives visitors can join the stream at any moment. So as more people come in, make a breath introduction, and let your audience know what’s happening.
For instance, you may want to use lines such as:
- “Hey, if you’re just joining us, welcome to my {for example: Facebook} Live. We’re currently talking about {topic} and we’ve just covered {previous topic}.”
7. Be responsive
One of the most powerful ways to increase engagement online is to address the comments that appear live on air. This invites more people to share their opinions and thoughts as you go along.
If you’re worried that you might have too many comments and do not know which ones are most relevant and important, get some help from someone off-camera to direct the most important comments your way.
Always keep in mind that live appearances are a window into your brand experience in real-time. And your live responses to comments keep your audience in the moment.
8. Be lovely
One of the most important tips during lives events I can share with you is to remember is that this is your chance to really connect with your audience, so be lovely. Remember that your audience shows up because they want to get to know you, find out who you are and how you can help them. They are there because they choose to be there with you. Appreciate it!
Make sure to show up for them in the best way you possibly can. Make sure that your followers know that they can trust you, and that you are there to help. When you’re ready to broadcast, make sure you’re relaxed, don’t forget to smile and be confident. You know your stuff… share it. Focus on sharing knowledge, tips and being there for your audience.
Think of your audience as if they were the new amazing friends you haven’t met yet.
9. Let your audience know that you see them. Give your viewers, who are there with you, a shout out
Live videos on your social media are instantly archived after they’re finished. This means you can always call attention back to them if you want to share additional value with your audience. To help boost your views among people who didn’t join you for the live show. For example, be grateful and share a quick post thanking people for showing up, watching and commenting. You can also ask for new questions and comments to generate additional engagement. The people who view your videos like to feel appreciated, so show them some love and gratitude wherever you can.
10. During your Lives encourage engagement
Use the superpower of broadcasting and showing up Live to connect and encourage your audience to engage with you while you are there. Give verbal calls to action. Do it in a relaxed way & with intention.
For example you could say something like this:
- “Let me know where are you watching from, and hey tag somebody in the comments if they should join us and watch this Live.”
- “Hit that {LIKE} button, hit that {LOVE} button if you are here with us.”
- “Can you hit that {WOW FACE} button if you can hear me loud and clear?”
Encourage your audience to comment through out your live broadcast!
Don’t you just love getting great comments? They not only can make your audience feel that they are part of the conversation, make you feel great because you are getting live feedback but also boost the visibility. So make sure to remind your viewers that you would live to hear what they think [about the topic], or that you would like to hear their questions.
11. Use calls to action. Offer freebies: cheat-sheets, eBooks and/or invite your viewers to subscribe to your newsletter
Using calls to action is always a great idea. Have a freebie with useful, relevant tips that offer value, ready. And make sure to give a shout about it and share the link.
12. Before and after your Live: Promote it on all your social media profiles, your blog and newsletter subscribers included
Do you have other profiles across social media? Use them. Promote across all your social media profiles to get users to tune into your video {Facebook or Instagram}. You’re not always going to get everyone to watch it, but providing a link to the video might pick up your numbers and get you more live wives on your next Live event.
Bonus TIP: Always learn from your experiences. Analyze your results
Finally, especially if your are interested in growth, and getting better in anything you do, check your statistics and learn from your experiences. After every Live appearance make sure to check your social media analytics. The more you learn about your viewers preferences, the more you will be able to plan, adjust, and have better, stronger Live experiences with more engagement and happy followers in the future.
It’s clear that people, your potential future customers, crave more human, more personal connection with their favorite brands and businesses. They really like to know who is the face behind their favorite brands. So much so that before they even consider becoming your clients or giving you their money they want to know if you are likable, trustworthy and if you are a good match for them. And showing up Live on your social media platforms offers and creates an opportunity for that ever important connection. Use this superpower wisely!
I hope that with the 12 tips to follow to go LIVE on Social Media I shared with you, you will have everything you need to start your broadcast on the right track.
Enjoy! Have fun and happy streaming!
Marta
P.S. Let me know when you will be live, I’ll do my best to be there!
Stay connected!
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