Facebook Live is a platform that appeals to many coaches trying to build a personal brand and establish themselves, or just to connect with clients and followers. It’s a wonderful tool that just about anyone with a decent phone can use, and best of all, it’s free! Read on to learn some of the tips of the trade that will help you to create more engaging and professional video.
Make Sure You Have Good Video Quality
Video quality makes a huge difference on video sites like YouTube. On Facebook Live of course this isn’t such a big issue (seeing as everyone is recording from their phones) but your video can stand out and make a big difference if you invest in a high quality camera phone.
What’s arguably even more important meanwhile is that your videos be bright. Even a low quality video will look much clearer crisper if the room has lots of light! Either invest in a light box, or try to use natural light strategically. Aim for ‘Rembrandt lighting’ which means lighting your face from one side more than the other.
Check Your Connection
This is something that you wouldn’t have to worry about with a YouTube video but it is paramount when streaming live. Ideally, you should wait until you have a WiFi connection to ensure that your video will stream well and won’t be interrupted. Otherwise, aim for at least 4G.
Audible Audio
Your audio is equally important. Make sure that you record your sound using a lapel mic or a phone with a clear built in microphone. Speak slowly and clearly and think as well about the acoustics of the room you’re in: this can make a surprisingly big difference! Avoid echoing spaces where possible and think about your background noise.
Presenting to Your Audience
Being a good presenter is about being engaging and clear. It’s also about being charismatic and smart. Try to dress for the occasion but likewise don’t look overdressed as this will just make you look desperate – which is never a good look! Go for ‘effortlessly smart’ and try watching your favorite YouTubers for tips.
Cater to Viewers Coming In
When structuring your content, remember that very few people will have watched your content from start to finish. This means that your most important audience is probably the people who arrived after the start and won’t stay to the end. This is why it’s a good idea to ensure that your content can be enjoyed from halfway through as well. Recap back occasionally and make sure that you keep everyone up-to-speed!
Greet New Viewers
As you are streaming, new viewers will log in and find your content. A great tip is to welcome these new viewers by name and say hello. This really wakes them up and immediately shows off the power of live video for them. No longer are they passive viewers – now they’re active participants and they can be seen by the presenter.
Structure Your Content Lightly
In other words, don’t just ramble on with no structure to what you’re saying. Make sure that your video has some kind of point and some kind of structure – such as an interview or a top 10 list. At the same time though, be flexible and free to react to your audience. People love feeling as though they’re getting to know you and if you are too rigid and scripted then it may as well not be live!
Choosing Your Setting
Finally, think about your ‘set’. The area you film in is very important and will make a big difference. In particular, try to avoid filming anywhere where there’s too much activity behind you that could be distracting. Likewise, avoid filming anywhere that looks untidy or unprofessional.
Getting Started with Facebook Live
For more information about streaming live on Facebook, check out our new 60-page comprehensive guide – Getting Started with Facebook Live!
Just a few of the things covered in this eBook are:
- What your options are when it comes to creating live content
- Why Facebook is getting involved in live streaming and why this is big news
- How to get set up with your own Facebook Live account
- How to build a Facebook page and grow your audience
- How to create live content for Facebook
- Tips to make your live videos as engaging and exciting as possible
- Strategies for monetizing and utilizing live streaming
- Instructions on how to use advanced features of the platform
- The future of live streaming and Facebook Live
…and much, much more!
You can purchase this guide for $5.95 or get it through our Workshop!
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