We’re all aware of how Facebook has altered their algorithms, and as marketers and business owners if we want to stay in view of those who matter to us, stepping out from our comfort zones- and in front of the camera, may just be the key.

Facebook Live isn’t just for the rantings of distant relatives; it’s an amazing business tool, because it allows us to create shareable, organic content that affords a space in which direct connections can be made with our customers or followers.

If having a camera pointed in your face and inviting the world to watch makes you at all uneasy, you’re by no means alone. Success, however, resides far outside our comfort zones- so get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Creating quality Facebook Live content requires a lot more than just pointing the camera. There are some very common practices to avoid, as well as some inarguable best practices to follow.

Consider these tips when you go live:

1. Know Your Stuff

While it may seem like there’s no way to avoid those awkward silences and mutterings you may have seen in other live videos before, putting in a bit of research before grabbing your phone can make a substantial difference.

Go into your live video having specific ideas and topics you want to be sure to discuss. While the best part of a live video is the element of reality it offers, writing down a few things you want to be sure you say can be a great help when starting out.

2. Don’t Disengage

When you’re doing a Facebook Live, it truly does lend to a personal experience despite the reach it can have; you can see those who start to watch, and can even interact with them through comments.

If you’re looking to earn a reputation as providing content worth watching, don’t greet every individual in your audience. Despite so many executing this practice, it’s both distracting and disengaging to the viewer.

There’s little time to provide quality information when you’re stopping to say “Hello,” and catch everyone up to speed constantly.

3. Consistency Is Key

The more we do anything, the easier it becomes (usually, anyway).  While taking the time everyday within your current schedule may not seem realistic, the easiest way to get better at creating Facebook Live videos… is to make Facebook Live videos.

Getting comfortable talking to that camera can be a difficult task for many, but the only way to do this is to continue creating with it.

4. The Medium Is The Message

When filming your live videos you may be seeing that hundreds of people are watching, but remember- each of those viewers is watching alone. They’re not sitting in an auditorium in front of you having a communal experience, so don’t talk to them as if they are.

Keep your tone personal and the message conversational; that’s a simple one.

5. Keep It Relatable

Facebook Live is not the platform for your salesmanship. As mentioned, it’s a more personal space unlike all elsewhere online, where viewers are numb to advertisement. Maintaining relatability and keeping things simple, with digestible content will provide the best outcome.

It’s also not a mirror, so don’t focus the entire conversation on yourself. Using examples from you own life isn’t an issue, and can be great for creating relatability, but those watching your live video are doing so to learn something and it’s your job to provide that.

6. Be Ready

Sometimes, the best Facebook Live opportunities aren’t when you schedule them. There are moments throughout the day that call for conversation or documentation, and starting to record a live video during these instances can bare some amazing content.

So, don’t overthink it. Show your humanity; people like seeing the real side of those they follow, and you can show that by shooting some live footage on more spontaneous occasions.

An example of an opportunity to do this might be make a quick video at an event you’re attending.

Don’t wait any longer to start connecting and creating; the only way to get your content in front of your audience is by putting it out there, and who better to represent it than you.

For more advice on how to curate quality Facebook Live content, watch Think Tank with Paul Potratz: https://www.potratzny.com/thinktank/how-to-make-great-facebook-live-videos/

by Kelly Spencer