September 20, 2017 • Aerio Staff
It’s true – you can engage audiences with the click of a button and bring them into your world, sharing information that helps build your brand. Knowing how to use Facebook Live can be a beneficial part of your marketing strategy. First, let’s start with the basics.
Facebook Live allows you to livestream video to your followers and other interested parties, or watch a recap directly accessible from your timeline.
The broadcast is done from a mobile device directly from the newsfeed, or from a desktop computer via Facebook Pages. The process is simple:
For Mobile
For Desktop
Now that you have a general idea of how this works, it’s important to understand the benefits of this feature. Facebook Live allows you to record videos up to 90 minutes. As technology continues to dominate the way people engage, this option can be more effective than standard posts or paid advertisements. Why? Live video is authentic.
For an author who needs a strong book marketing strategy, Facebook Live can be used in a variety of ways. Hosting a live book read event can help attract new audiences. You can also position yourself as an industry leader by hosting a class on different topics that can tie back to your book. This makes selling books through Facebook a lot easier than standard advertising. You can sell your books online, or right from the livestream. You can also get speaking engagements and other opportunities from your videos, which can be very profitable.
Non-fiction authors can host webinars to provide more intimate details that give further insight into their books. Fiction authors can use this tool to create teasers, or host contests. Both non-fiction and fiction authors can advertise book signings, or help promote causes associated with their books.
Implementing best practices for your Facebook promotions is key. Here are a few tips:
If you’re going to start using videos with Facebook Live, it’s best to have a comprehensive strategy in place outlining what you are going to talk about and the activities you will cover with your videos. This helps save time, and gives you an opportunity to focus on specific items and areas that need to be covered.
As your live video stream is going, you will see comments from your viewers. Take the time to mention them by name to keep them engaged.
Be very descriptive when outlining what you video is about. It will help draw interest, and compel your audience to find out more about your book.
If you’re marketing books, you have to look the part. Being alert and dressed appropriately makes a difference.
Before you start taping, think about your lighting, the spot where your video will be seen, and any background you need. This will help you determine what works and what doesn’t.
Broadcast your upcoming video as much as possible. Create teasers as to what’s coming to gain interest.
Take time to evaluate the analytics to determine which topics and tactics work best for your audiences.
Continue discussing the video on your News Feed with the audience. This helps provide authenticity and a realistic viewpoint from another perspective. Take this opportunity to learn what your audience wants, and use this information to structure your videos to provide what they need.
These are just a few ways Facebook Live can benefit you as an author. Your marketing efforts will be enhanced by using this tool to your advantage. You can make more money selling books to your fans and other audiences, while helping build a fan base.
This is a perfect time to embrace your tech-savvy side and reap the benefits!