5 Tips for Going Live on Social Media

Tip #1: Announce Your Social Media Live Video Ahead of Time

When you’re going live on social media—whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn—you want to be sure the audience is aware. Create social media posts ahead of your live video session, so followers know when to tune in and what they can expect to get out of it. You might also announce the upcoming video in other communications, like email newsletters or blog posts.

Check out NASA’s recent announcement of going live on social media:

Source: Facebook

Apart from scheduling posts, you may want to create an event with all of the relevant information. Once people indicate they’re planning to attend an event, they will get reminders beforehand, which can help increase attendance for your live video on social media.

Tip #2: Practice Before You Go Live on Social Media

While it’s true that live streaming on social media is more casual than traditional, pre-recorded video, you still want your content to represent your brand in the best way possible. Before you go live with your video, take some time to practice what you want to say, check your lighting, get rid of background noise, and eliminate distractions. You may even want to invest in a tripod to avoid the shaky camera appearance, and check that you have a good internet connection to avoid disruptions or downtime.

Tip #3: Connect with Your Audience

Live streaming on social media is less about promoting your brand and more about making connections with viewers. It’s an exciting opportunity to give your audience a look “behind the curtain” of your brand and associate it with your people rather than your products and services. Social Media Examiner hosts regular live Q&A videos where viewers can ask questions and get answers during the social media live stream.

Source: Facebook

Tip #4: Invite Others to Join the Conversation

What makes live streaming on social media so engaging is the opportunity to pull in other guests to enrich the conversation—and to invite and respond to comments from viewers. Doing this makes the video way more engaging. In fact, Facebook Live drives ten times more comments than non-live video. 

Food Network combined its special guests with fundraising to double the impact of its live streaming video.

Source: Facebook

Tip #5: Consider Your Timing

Is your audience going to be asleep during your live broadcast? Maybe that 10 p.m. slot isn’t looking so appealing. It’s important to consider the timing when you’re planning to go live on social media. Sure, it can be challenging if your audience is all around the globe, but keep in mind your social media live videos don’t go away once you stop recording. Usually, live videos on social media can be played later on your other social platforms, too.

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