It'south very important that you pretend I am Kate McKinnon for one quick moment as I inform you: Live, from Facebook… it's a streaming video!

Facebook Live video broadcasts launched in 2016, but with so much of life going remote in 2020, the medium has never been more popular.

Daily watch fourth dimension for Facebook Live broadcasts is 4 times higher than terminal twelvemonth. One in v videos on the platform are now Live. (And withal no one is watching my Kate McKinnon impression videos? Hmm. Weird.)

Conferences, trivia nights, concerts, Q&Every bit, tabular array reads, juicy backside-the-scenes gossip, your mom's retirement party: it'south all coming to your feed, raw and uncut, equally brands and citizen broadcasters alike try to bring authentic, real-time interactions to your computer or phone screen.

And for the most part, information technology'due south working. With the opportunity for viewers to enquire questions, join the conversation, react and comment, Facebook Live videos receive half-dozen times more engagement than standard videos.

All of which is to say: Live broadcasts are function of a well rounded business concern Facebook marketing campaign, and an platonic fashion to increase social media engagement.

Desire to go Live and thrive? Here's everything you demand to know.

Facebook Live Broadcast

Source: Facebook

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How to go live on Facebook

You can go Live on Facebook from your computer or from your telephone. It'southward like a tiny boob tube studio is with you everywhere you go — what a world!

When you lot broadcast a Facebook Live video, information technology will appear on your Page, group or upshot, and may too show up in the News Feed or on Facebook Watch.

When the broadcast is over, you can edit and share a recording of the Live video on your folio. What a treat for hereafter generations to enjoy over and over again.

Hither'due south the step-by-step for your next lights-camera-action moment.

How to go live on Facebook from your phone

There are two means to go Live on Facebook using your mobile device.

Using the Facebook app:

1. Go to the Page, Group, outcome or personal contour that you would like to stream your video from.

ii. Tap Live, located at the bottom of your post composer.

3. Write a description. (This is where you can tag friends, collaborators, or your location.)

Go live on Facebook using mobile

four. Tap Start Live Video to begin the alive circulate.

5. When you're washed, tap Terminate to end the livestream.

Using the Creator Studio app:

  1. On the Habitation or Posts tab, click the etch icon on the top correct corner.
  2. Select the option for Alive post.
  3. Write a description. (This is where you can tag friends, collaborators, or your location.)
  4. Tap Start Live Video to begin the live broadcast.
  5. When you lot're done, tap End to end the livestream.

How to go alive on Facebook from your computer

Yous can create Alive video content using your computer's built-in webcam and microphone, but you lot also take the option to connect higher-end production equipment if you'd similar. I'yard looking at you, Scorsese!

To take your livestream to the next level with graphics, screen-sharing and more, y'all can also incorporate streaming software like Streamlabs OBS. (For more information nigh connecting streaming software, click here.)

Whichever tools you use to get Alive on Facebook from your computer, you lot'll get-go exist directed to the Alive Producer tool.

Using your built-in webcam

i. At the top of your newsfeed, beneath the "what'southward on your mind?" status field, click on the Alive Video icon.
Live Video icon

2. You lot'll be taken to the Live Producer tool, and prompted to choose your video source. Select Use Camera.

3. On the left side of the screen, write a description and add an optional title for your live video. Here, you tin tag people or places, or choose to raise money with a "Donate" button.

Live Producer tool

four. When you're ready, click the Go Alive button on the lesser left of the screen.

Find more details about how to apply Live Producer here. Facebook as well has advanced tips for planning a larger virtual show or result hither, if you're ready for the big time.

Using a streaming software

Some streaming software, also known as "an encoder" or "encoding software," tin be used in Live Producer. Other software that is integrated with Facebook'south Live API permit you to go alive directly from that program.

Because of those variations, it'due south best to look to the software itself for info on setting up a successful Facebook stream.

The all-time pick for you depends on the kind of content y'all'd like to stream… but many are gratuitous and open-source. Acquire more about encoding software options and going live with streaming software.

How to become Alive on Facebook from Messenger Rooms

Desire to share your scintillating Messenger Room conversation with the world? You can broadcast your multi-person video chat live!

(Note that merely the creator of the Room tin choose to become live. Also, Messenger Rooms broadcasts only work using the Google Chrome browser.)

Messenger Rooms
Source: Facebook

  1. Once your Messenger Room is upwards and running, click Live in the upper righthand corner.
  2. Give your live video a title if yous'd similar.
  3. Choose where you'd like your Live video to be broadcast: on a Folio you manager, in a Group, or on your own personal timeline.
  4. Select your audition.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Participants are and so given the choice to confirm or go out the room. The room creator can besides remove participants who do not respond.
  7. Click Starting time to go Live!
  8. When the fun is over, click Alive in the upper correct corner again, and then click End.

15 tips for using Facebook Alive

Now that you lot're a lean, mean, streaming machine, information technology'due south time to level up. Become the most out of your streaming feel with these tips and best practices.

Plan ahead

Just because information technology'south live, doesn't hateful information technology has to be sloppy! A little improvisation adds a flair of actuality, but a rambling, endless video isn't anyone's idea of a proficient time.

Brand sure you take a purpose — something you'd like to reach, a message you'd similar to get out — before you striking that Live button. Think of information technology similar an episode of Adjourn Your Enthusiasm. They may not have give-and-take-for-word scripts, but they've got an outline of the plot to work towards.

Creating a route map of the beats and talking points yous want to make certain to hit will ensure your conversation is moving forrard in a purposeful management.

Be accurate

The unpolished, anything-could-happen nature of Alive videos is function of their charm. Embrace this congenital-in intimacy and authenticity. If something goes wrong, express joy information technology off. If you're getting emotional, lean into it.

By sharing an unfiltered, uncensored view into your life or business, you're generating tons of viewer trust and admiration. Don't be afraid to go real! (Every bit long every bit it'southward within Facebook's code of conduct, of course.)

Team up with guests

Some of the nigh engaging Live content involves co-broadcasting: two or more than people, chatting alive.

Interview an expert, perform with another musician, host a Q&A or console or have a tour — all in a split up-screen broadcast. You're a talk show host, and no 1 tin stop you! No one!

Select a guest to go Live with during a mobile live broadcast from your folio or profile.

For bigger groups (upwards to 50 participants!), yous tin broadcast to Facebook alive from Messenger Rooms.

Yous could as well use select streaming software on the computer (meet above) to co-broadcast. Video conferencing software partners similar Zoom and Bluejeans are one more way to broadcast alive with multiple people. Get the whole gang involved.

Team up with guests on Facebook Live
Source: Facebook

Build anticipation

Nothing stings more than than going Live to an audience of… no one.

Become some hype going for your side by side livestream with teaser posts. (Discover tips for writing an effective call to action hither.)

Facebook also offers the option to subscribe for Live Notifications, ensuring your audience doesn't miss a moment.

You may also choose to schedule your circulate up to one calendar week in advance.

Schedule Live video event

  1. Click "What's on your mind?" at the top of the newsfeed.
  2. Click Live Video.
  3. Click Schedule a Live Video on the height left.
  4. Cull your appointment and time.
  5. Select where you'd similar to broadcast the video.
  6. Select an Image to add a photo if you lot'd similar.
  7. Click Schedule Alive video on the bottom left.

When y'all schedule a live broadcast, an announcement post is created and published to your folio: people who run into this can click "Become Reminder" for a sometime notification shortly earlier the stream starts upwards.

Later, a mail service containing your alive stream is automatically published at the scheduled time. Action fourth dimension!

Learn more about settings for scheduling live video over on Facebook's Business Help Center.

Examination your broadcast privately first

Become a private sneak peek of your circulate to make sure everything looks and sounds practiced by changing the privacy settings.

Switch to "Merely Me" to view your Live video stream without whatsoever prying eyes, before you become live to the whole world.

Test out broadcast by switching to "Only Me"

Invest in quality

Audiences are pretty forgiving nearly video and audio quality for alive videos.

But if you've got the resources to invest in some external microphones, a tripod or fifty-fifty a ring light, they can certainly up the glam gene.

We've got a full separate post nigh social media video specs here and how to maximize your quality correct hither.

Tag your collaborators

Live stream descriptions offer the power to tag people, Pages or places. Utilise the opportunity to shout-out your collaborators or identify your location or business.

Not simply will that help the viewers understand what the heck they're watching, but tags volition aid the content appear in other feeds, reaching an audience outside your own.

Keep offering context

Your superfans may be watching eagerly correct from the start of your stream, but others volition exist popping in and out. So make sure you're helping give viewers context, no matter when they might exist joining you.

Insert short and snappy recaps throughout your broadcast to quickly explain the who, what, where, or why. For example, at regular intervals throughout an interview with Austin's most prolific domestic dog hairdresser, I might say, "If y'all're just joining us, I'g speaking with Austin'south virtually prolific dog barber."

Branded backdrops or on-screen text can assist analyze what's happening, besides. You tin also pin a comment that offers some context, or prompts engagement.

Take your sugariness time

The longer yous circulate, the more than people yous'll reach… so keep that stream a-runnin'.

Facebook actually prioritizes longer videos with its algorithm (videos that are three minutes or longer), then don't be afraid to have your time. You can fifty-fifty stay alive for up to eight hours if you're using streaming software.

Actively engage your viewers

What makes Live videos so special is that they're not a one-way street. Broadcasters tin actively interact with their viewers in existent-time.

Say hello to commenters as they tune in to your broadcast, and reply to comments and questions as they come up. Yous tin also pin acme-notch comments to the acme of the chat.

(If you've got a troll in the mix, never fear: Y'all tin block viewers during a live broadcast. Simply tap their profile movie, and so click Block.)

It tin be tough to balance customs date every bit you lot're broadcasting, so don't be shy near asking for help. With a second person moderating the conversation or filtering for great questions and comments to share, you can focus on beingness the host with the near.

Create your own highlight existent

When the stream is over, the fun doesn't have to end. Trim any unnecessary footage, or create shorter clips, and share the final product on Facebook.

  1. To trim a previously live video, get to Creator Studio and and then the Content Library.
  2. Click the Posts tab.
  3. Check the box next to the formerly live video you want to edit.
  4. Select Edit Post.
  5. Select Trimming or Video Clipping and tweak every bit necessary.
  6. Select Save when done. You'll detect the finished product under the Clips tab.

Produce regularly scheduled programming

Facebook loves consistency. In fact, the algorithm takes into account how ofttimes viewers come back to picket your content.

Broadcast on a regular schedule to keep your audience coming back for more.

This doesn't mean you can't mix things upwardly, of course. Experiment with formats, durations, and dissimilar styles of broadcasts to see what viewers like best. Make your own Facebook page Must-See Idiot box.

Host a paid online event

In a move to help pocket-size businesses and consequence producers whose live offerings have been hit hard by the pandemic, Facebook launched a paid online event option for select partners this year.

This option allows creators to limit content distribution to ticket holders or registered users.

  1. Create a paid online event past going to the Events tab and clicking Create and then Online.
  2. Fill in details such as event name, date and time.
  3. Choose Private, Public or Grouping privacy settings and click done.
  4. Toggle to Online Event and select the event format you prefer: Messenger Rooms or Facebook Live.
  5. Choose Admission, and select Enable Paid Admission to choose your price from the drop-downwardly menu.

You can learn more virtually Online Events here.

Host paid online event

Source: OfficialMinks

Add captions

85% of Facebook video is watched without sound, so make sure your message is coming through loud and clear, even without sound, by calculation captions.

This also is an important accessibility tool for those viewers with hearing damage. Smashing content should exist for everybody, after all.

Get more tips for creating inclusive content on social media here.

Cross-promote your Alive content on other social media

Just because you're going Alive on Facebook doesn't hateful your Twitter audience should be left out.

Whether you've got one special upcoming Live event, or a regular series, spread the word across all your platforms that this is the place to exist.

Facebook Live video ideas

Nosotros've got a smorgasbord of dandy video product ideas over here, only to get you warmed up for Content Creation Mania, here are a few options for your next Facebook Live video.

Tap into trending topics

Use Live videos to help you lot arrive on topical conversations.

Whether a major current event, viral challenge or a national holiday, hop on board whatever fourth dimension-sensitive bandwagon that inspires yous.

Facebook user Minks, for example, got into the holiday spirit with a live-streamed gingerbread contest. The mix of fierce competition with her partner and festive vibes got the annotate section going.

OfficialMinks live-streamed gingerbread competition

Source: OfficialMinks

Q&As and interviews

The co-broadcast functionality of Facebook Live makes it the ideal format for grilling someone live on the air.

The best part: You can fifty-fifty take questions from the viewers, like it's some amazing interactive version of lx Minutes and y'all're Barbara Walters… but even hotter!

Tell Me Infant, for example, did a alive Q&A with witting parenting motorcoach Anna Davis, and the comments were chock full of toddler woes.

Tell Me Baby Live Q&A

Source: Tell Me Baby

Breaking news

When the people gotta know, they gotta know! Yous don't demand to wait for a defended circulate time to loop in your viewers virtually breaking news. Just hit the "Live" push button and betoken that camera in the direction of the drama.

During the heat of Covid, with so much changing hour-by-hour, news organizations fabricated slap-up use of this feature to share important new data with the community.

Here, Sky News Commonwealth of australia shared a live stream of Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews providing a pandemic update to citizens.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews shares breaking news about the pandemic
Source: Sky News Commonwealth of australia

Live events and performances

If you lot can't exist at that place in person, watching a functioning or contest unfold via Live is pretty much the side by side all-time thing.

The American Cornhole League knows this first hand.

For those who weren't lucky enough to see the thrills of the beanbag toss immediate at the ACL Open Singles Division, there was a live feed available on Facebook.

You'll pay for the whole seat but you'll only need the edge!

The American Cornhole League live event Source: American Cornhole League

This goes for conferences, panels, lectures, workshops or concerts, likewise. If a camera tin capture it — similar the Weeklings Holiday Concert — get it up on Live for all to see.

Weeklings Holiday Live Concert stream
Source: The Weeklings

Backside the scenes

Provide an intimate, insider look backside the scenes of your business or product with a Live tour.

This bout of the Jutta Shelter dog sanctuary gives usa a whole new perspective on the animate being shelter.

Is the camerawork a little shaky? Yep. But are those dogs adorable and all being adopted past me immediately? Yes.

Jutta Shelter dog sanctuary behind-the-scenes animal footage

Source: Jutta Shelter

Product demos or tutorials

Show off all the features of your products and share tips and questions over live, much like Mary Kay consultant Sam Lanuzo did on her ain stream.

Mary Kay Live product demo
Source: Sam Lanuzo Mary Kay

Product launches

This is breaking news of some other kind: hot new products, ready to drop.

If you lot've got company news to share, why not make an event of information technology, drumming up excitement for a big, yous-don't-wanna-miss-this moment.

This flip-flop company announced huge news on a alive stream to really build some buzz: new tie-dye sandals. I know, I know. Basically also hot for TV!

Bonus: Download a gratuitous guide that teaches you how to plough Facebook traffic into sales in four simple steps using Hootsuite.

Get the free guide right now!

Bella Jade Boutique live product launch
Source: Bella Jade

Regularly scheduled live prove

In the spirit of Wayne'due south World, turn the internet into your very own public access cable network and produce a regularly scheduled Alive show of your own.

If information technology's expert plenty for Jada, Adrienne and Willow on Ruby Table Talk Alive, it'due south practiced enough for you!

Red Table Table Live
Source: Scarlet Table Talk

Interact with an influencer

Squad up with a known name to aid boost your own profile… much like the charity Feeding America did with a popular, Call of Duty-playing grandma.
Feeding America Call of Duty collaboration
Source: Tactical Gramma

Other Facebook Live questions

Yous've got burning Facebook Live questions, and I've got answers. Should I probably be answering these in a Facebook Live video? Also belatedly at present!

How does the Facebook algorithm care for Facebook live video?

The newsfeed prefers quality, original videos, according to a May 2019 update.

Videos longer than three minutes, that aren't repurposed from elsewhere, that people search for and return to, volition rank college than other content.

For more than on mastering the Facebook algorithm, click here.

Where do Facebook Live videos appear?

Live videos will appear on your Page, Group, Effect or personal profile, as selected when you start broadcasting.

Once the video is over, the video will go on to live on your page or profile. You can edit this content in Creator Studio (see above).

How long can Facebook Live videos be?

If you're broadcasting from your computer — either from your webcam or a streaming software — the fourth dimension limit is eight hours.

For broadcasting from mobile, the limit is iv hours.

How to connect Zoom to Facebook Live

Offset, enable Facebook Live streaming for webinars.

  1. Login as the owner or ambassador on the Zoom website.
  2. Click Business relationship Direction.
  3. Click Webinar Settings.
  4. Click Edit.
  5. Enable "Allow host to live stream to webinars," and then enable "Facebook."

Broadcast your Zoom meeting with the post-obit steps:

  1. Start your webinar.
  2. In the meeting controls, click More.
  3. Click Live on Facebook. (Y'all'll exist prompted to sign in if you aren't already.)
  4. Choose the location on Facebook you'd similar your video to be broadcast.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Click Become Live.
  7. Expect for the Zoom notification that your steam is live, and begin the show!
  8. To end the webinar, click Stop Streaming in Zoom, or finish the meeting.

For more details or troubleshooting, visit the Zoom website.

How to screen share on Facebook Alive

In social club to share your screen with viewers during a Alive broadcast, you lot need to become Live using your camera.

  1. Get to Live Producer.
  2. Choose Use Camera.
  3. Go to the Setup carte du jour and choose Start Screen Share.
  4. Select the content you'd like to share.
  5. Click Share.
  6. Click Go Live.
  7. To finish sharing your screen, click Stop Sharing Screen.

How to save Facebook Live videos

After your live broadcast, yous'll be shown a screen that enables you to mail information technology to your page. Hither, you can tap the download button to salve the video to your camera roll.

Congratulations! If Facebook were similar SNL (Remember my reference from earlier? Correct off the summit? Nosotros all loved it?) you would absolutely be promoted to the main cast, now that you're an skillful of all things Live.

Desire to go fifty-fifty further with your livestream mastery? Head on over to our Instagram Alive how-to guide next.

Streamline your Facebook marketing strategy with Hootsuite. From one dashboard yous can schedule posts and videos, engage your audience, create Facebook Ads, and more. Try it complimentary today.

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