Why Facebook Live Needs to Be Part of Your Social Media Strategy

Jill Kurtz, Owner, Kurtz Digital StrategyFacebook Live lets you offer your Facebook followers an immersive experience and gives you the ability to interact in real-time. It is a great way to build on your Facebook page.Users follow Facebook pages because the brand appeals to them in some way. Facebook Live gives them a great opportunity to get to know you better.Here are tips on how to use Facebook Live to offer live-streams that are relevant and engaging.Promote your Facebook Live broadcast before and after the fact.Let followers know when you’ll be going live so they can make time to be a part of the broadcast.Facebook data says that most users look at live-stream content within 24 hours of the broadcast, so you also need to make the video available on demand.Plan a topic that fits into your overall social media strategy.Facebook Live needs to fit into the bigger picture of your social media and marketing strategy. The content of the broadcast should complement and extend your other content on Facebook and elsewhere.Here is a quick list of types of content you could consider delivering via Facebook Live:Live events (or event promotions and recaps)Behind the scenes of a production or eventCompany announcementsDiscussions of hot topicsInterview with industry leaders or company executivesProduct launchesInteract with the audience.Ask customers to follow your Facebook page so they receive notifications when you go live and to ensure an ongoing connection. Note the comments and reactions that come through during the broadcast and adjust in real time.Use names. Read viewer comments, react to what they say, listen to their suggestions.People will be coming in and out of the broadcast, so make sure to repeat the purpose of the broadcast and any other key information.Learn the features.Play around with all the settings for Facebook Live and create a checklist for what you want to do before, during, and after each broadcast. Features change all the time, so a recheck before each event is a smart move.[author]About the Author: Jill Kurtz founded Kurtz Digital Strategy to help clients see the communication potential of the newest trends and technologies. She is an expert at website strategy and redesign, social media planning, and developing exceptional content.[/author]