Have you ever been on Facebook and got a notification recently that says “X Page is Live: Video Topic?” If you have, you’ve noticed the new Facebook Live feature that was launched on April 6, 2016. As Mark Zuckerberg announced, “Live is like having a TV camera in your pocket. Anyone with a phone now has the power to broadcast to anyone in the world. When you interact live, you feel connected in a more personal way. This is a big shift in how we communicate, and it’s going to create new opportunities for people to come together.” With a new platform like this, there will surely be a lot of questions about how it can be used effectively for businesses and this post is meant to help answer many of the most common ones.
Who is Using Facebook Live Videos?
Everyone seems to be using them at this point. From businesses, to viral pages, to individuals on their personal profiles, Facebook Live has really taken off. Recently, the viral page named Dose showed the value of even the silliest forms of long-form video as they waited for a Galaxy Note 7 to blow up over a 4 hour video (*spoiler alert, it didn’t blow up). In general, businesses are using Facebook Live as a new way to engage their followers that often has higher engagement rates than other forms of content like text or image posts.
What Are They Filming With Facebook Live Videos?
Facebook Live is still new so it’s more art than science, but some of the business use cases for Facebook Live videos include:
- Webinars
- Live Event Coverage
- Interviews
- Benefits
- Panel Discussions
- Product Demonstrations
- Office Walkthroughs
Essentially, Facebook Live has replaced a variety of former platforms including traditional video production, Google Hangouts, and even YouTube depending on the circumstances. Individuals have also tried using Facebook Live like one might use Snapchat, but the real value lies in long-form video. It’s recommended that you record videos of at least 10 minutes in length to build an audience.
Why Does Using Facebook Live Matter?
Facebook Live videos should be an integral part of the marketing strategy for any business who actively utilizes Facebook. Shortly after releasing Facebook Live, Facebook announced that they were actively boosting the visibility of Live videos to encourage its use. This algorithm change combined with the “This Page is Live” notifications have led to an explosion of videos on Facebook. The algorithm still seriously favors video, so if you want to get noticed by potential customers, it’s highly recommended that you post live videos at least somewhat regularly.
How Should I Approach Creating a Facebook Live Video?
As mentioned before, Facebook Live videos are at their best when they are long-form videos that feel natural. It’s a video you should do in one take and if you mess up a bit, that’s okay. The videos are meant to be a little more unfiltered than traditional video production. This is also why it’s recommended that Facebook Live videos shouldn’t be over staged. They can be planned out and made to look nice, but it will not replace traditional video production like those in commercials.
If your business is planning a company event coming up, that might be a good opportunity to do your first Live video. It will give the outside world a little insight into your employees and will humanize the business. Who knows, you might even win a new customer!
Should I Hire a Professional to Do a Facebook Live Video?
It’s not 100% necessary, but it can be beneficial for large events. Here at Blue House Productions, we service the Washington, DC metropolitan area. We have experience interviewing event attendees and have access to a variety of cameras and smartphones. It may benefit a convention for example to hire a company like ours.
If you are looking to hire video production company, feel free to contact us, otherwise we hope you found these tips helpful!