Take Advantage of LIVE Social Media Features!
From Facebook to Instagram, now more than ever is a great time to take advantage of social media’s “live” features! Hosting live events is a particularly valuable tool during this unprecedented time.
Across platforms, the live feature involves broadcasting a streaming video in real-time. “For instance, say your business is a vodka brand, consider going “live” with a prominent bartender. When it comes to content, the sky is the limit!
There are some differences across platforms when it comes to these live tools. With Facebook, a live stream can be broadcast from a page, group or event. It appears in your followers’ news feeds, and can be shared by others. A live stream on Instagram is shared in a similar way to a “story”, and also remains viewable for 24 hours. IGTV differs from Instagram Live. IGTV is like your very own “TV channel” on Instagram where you can upload videos of your choice, whereas Instagram Live shares video in real time and cannot be edited.
The TOP 3 Benefits of a LIVE Stream
Engagement
Engagement is a key part of social media on many levels, and going live boosts engagement in a major way. For example, if viewers join in on a virtual cooking lesson, they have the ability to ask questions about the recipe in real time. If the live event is more of a performance, viewers can make requests and shout out any personal favorites that are being highlighted. Plus, the more engagement your live stream receives, the more likely it will be shown to other potential viewers scrolling on a Facebook feed, for example.
Collaboration
Instagram offers the option of going live with another user, which appears as a split screen. Facebook allows for you to create a “watch party” where your live feed is simultaneously broadcast on another page. Mutually beneficial, these are great ways for another brand’s following to discover your page, and to simply boost your number of viewers. For instance, say your business is a vodka brand, consider going “live” with a prominent bartender and have him or her create a vodka drink with your brand!
Reach
When you go live, a notification is sent to each of your followers! A live stream has a significantly larger reach than your average post, particularly on Facebook where it “lives on” afterwards and continues to accumulate views. It’s worth a mention that TikTok also offers users the ability to share a live stream! Regardless of your platform of choice, going live is a powerful way to connect with and grow your followers.