4 ways to stream Facebook to increase engagement

Facebook launched its live feature in 2016 for all users. Since then, it has become a powerful marketing tool for engaging with viewers in real time. They report the following impressive Live Statistics on Facebook:

• One in five Facebook videos was streamed live in 2017.
• Live streams on Facebook reached 3.5 billion in 2018.
• Facebook live videos have six times more interactions than traditional videos.
• There are ten times more comments on Facebook live streams than on regular videos.

Make sure you have everything you need to make a successful Facebook Live video, and if necessary, the ability to upload your Facebook videos. Someone will have to control the technical aspects of the show. For simple events, this can be as easy as starting and stopping the broadcast. For interviews or co-hosting shows, a more professional setup will be required.

How to live stream to Facebook from your computer

Facebook allows you to broadcast live directly from your computer. You can broadcast on your Facebook pages, profile, event page, or company page.

Before starting your Facebook live stream, prepare yourself as follows:

• Have a definite outline and description about your topic.
• Broadcast from a comfortable location.
• Make sure your internet connection is stable and reliable.
• Promote your event live in advance.

Facebook allows you to broadcast live from almost anywhere at any time. If this is your first time going live on Facebook, you will be asked for permission to use your microphone and camera. Click on Let.

• Start by creating a new message. Click on Live video.

• Select a Category of the options offered by Facebook or Create your own.

From the options pop-up window, do the following:

• Please enter a title.
• Add a photo or one or more videos – choose one of the Facebook options or upload your own.
• Confirm the date.
• Give it a description.
• Tag your friends.
• add a place

Click the drop-down list next to Public and choose the audience for your live video. You can choose:

• Public, which includes everyone.
• Reserved for friends.
• Friends except.
• Specific friends.
• Specific groups.
• Just me (useful for testing).

After completing all the settings and choosing from the available options, click Go to live. When done, click End Live Video.

Unless you delete the video, it will be automatically added to your timeline.

Live broadcast to Facebook from a mobile device

The steps below will work on an iPhone, Android, tablet, or any mobile device.

• Go ahead What do you have in mind
• Click on Live video

If this is your first live broadcast, you will also be prompted on your mobile device to access your device and microphone. Give your permission.

The following steps are the same as for using your computer. When you’re ready, click Start live video. Your mobile device will display a Live red indicator in the corner of the screen. You will also be able to see who is watching your video.

There are tools at the bottom of the screen that you can use while streaming, including:

• Add filters
• Switch to front camera
• Lightning to illuminate the screen
• Write comments

Once streaming is complete, click End up. You can choose Delete the video or Share, distribute as a message to your Facebook friends or fans of the business page.

New Facebook Live Streaming Tools

Facebook recently released updates to help video creators and editors improve, enhance, and simplify live broadcasts.

These expanded features also include enhanced analytics. Some of the updates include the ability to:

• Test streams before putting them online by limiting your audience to only professional page managers and editors.
• Trim the start and end of live videos to eliminate dead space.
• Go live for up to eight hours.

Two other major improvements for live streaming on Facebook are:

• Watch parties that give users the ability to schedule an event in advance and allow on-demand video replays.
• Creator Studio manages, measures and monetizes the content of Facebook and Instagram pages in one place.

Start an observing party on Facebook

Facebook Watch Parties is a way for people to watch Facebook videos together in real time. Participants can view the video, live or recorded, and interact with others.

You can organize a party on your personal profile, business page or Facebook group. Follow the steps below to start your Watch Party:

• From your page, click the Write a message later in the box to open more options.

• Click on Watch the party As shown above. Then you will see a screen where you can select the videos you want to show at your party.

• If you want to add more than one video for your group, click the Add button queue. You can click Show queue if you want to preview your playlist before uploading it.

• When you’re done adding your videos, click Finished. At this point, you will be redirected to your post.

Be sure to clearly describe the topic your monitoring team will be discussing so that people will join. Promote it from your page to increase the number of viewers.

Many companies use Facebook Watch Party to replay a live event for those who couldn’t make it the first time. It’s also good to repurpose a previous successful live stream.

The latest Facebook Watch Party features include advanced scheduling, the ability to replay, tag business partners, and live commentary.

Live stream to Facebook Creator Studio

Updated Facebook Creator Studio brings together all the tools you need to publish, manage, measure, and monetize all your Facebook pages and Instagram accounts in one place.

The steps below show how to start a Facebook live stream from Creator Studio.

• To go live from the Home tab, select the + on the Content library wave welcome , then click the Go button Live.

• Choose the page you want to stream from. Please note that you will need to have administrator rights on this page.

• You will see two options to use to start your feed: Camera or Link to another device. To select Camera to stream from your webcam or phone. Choose Link when you:

• Use streaming equipment or streaming software
• Go live from your phone
• Share the broadcast with someone else to upload it.

Choose the To post option from the image above for:

• Select where you want to post your live broadcast
• Add your title and description
• Choose microphone, camera and screen (for screen sharing)
• Select the language of your broadcast
• Include (invisible) labels for increased visibility

• Choose Interactive if you want to add surveys to your submission.
• When you are ready, choose Go to live to start your live broadcast.

As mentioned above, Facebook Live videos are archived unless deleted. This gives you the opportunity to draw attention to successful events and continue to add value to your target audience.

Here are some ways to do this:

• Host a Facebook Watch party to broadcast a live event
• Create a message thanking attendees of your live event to attract those who haven’t originally made it to see it.
• Generate additional engagement by asking questions or commenting after the event.

You can also cross-promote your Facebook Live content on other social media channels.

Don’t forget to analyze your results. Now it is much easier to use New Creator Studio, where all the critical metrics are in one place.