Live videos have been around for quite a while now. However, many businesses still don’t fully understand the benefits they can deliver.
When used correctly, going live through sites such as Facebook and YouTube can greatly expand your reach. It can also deliver a lot of other awesome benefits. So, how exactly can you expand your reach selling through social media platforms? Below you’ll learn everything you need to know…
What is Facebook and YouTube live?
Facebook and YouTube Live are services that allow you to stream in real-time. Your fans can watch you live, enabling you to directly interact with them. As with live TV, the videos are completely unedited.
With Facebook Live, you have a number of options. You can go live on your business page, in a group, or an event. You will find you get more options when you live stream to your page.
YouTube Live has a lot of options too. It is particularly ideal for those with advanced live streaming needs. Both sites have a huge userbase, giving you access to potentially millions of new customers.
The benefits of going live with your audience
There are so many benefits businesses can expect to experience when they start to go live. Here, we will look at some of the main benefits you can expect…
You will reach a larger audience
As mentioned earlier, both Facebook and YouTube have a large userbase. Facebook alone has over 1 billion users. This means you have the potential to reach a much larger audience.
Live videos also tend to capture more interest. You will get people watching the video who otherwise might not have turned up.
Enhanced audience interaction
A great benefit of going live on social media, is enhanced audience interaction.
If you want to grow your business, trust is an important factor. Consumers today need to trust a brand before they decide to do business with them. The good news is, interacting
with your audience can greatly help to increase trust. They will also develop a more personal connection to you. This in turn will increase the likelihood they will buy from you.
The more interaction you encourage, the more results you are likely to see.
It provides great value for money
Going live doesn’t cost anything. Of course, if you want to achieve the best results, you’re going to need to invest in high-quality recording equipment. This will ensure you don’t experience any quality issues when live streaming.
However, once you have the equipment you’ll need, going live itself doesn’t cost money. This makes it a great option for small businesses who might not have a huge budget to work with.
As you are saving money on marketing, you can use the money to bring in additional profits elsewhere.
You won’t need to spend time editing
With standard videos, you tend to need to spend quite a bit of time editing them. However, with live videos there is no editing available. This creates a raw, real connection with the audience.
Of course, there are downsides to not being able to edit the videos. However, the time that it saves you will surely be appreciated.
Live streaming mistakes to avoid
Now that you know how your small business can benefit from live streaming on social media, let’s look at a few mistakes to avoid.
Failing to plan ahead is a major mistake. You need to know what you will be covering and the key points to focus on. You should also ideally test the streaming before you go live. That way, you will be aware of any issues quickly before your stream goes live.
You should also make sure you include a call to action. What is the purpose of the live stream and what are you hoping viewers will do? Let them know otherwise you won’t get the results you are expecting.
Using Facebook and YouTube live can greatly benefit your business. It can expand your reach significantly, helping you to attract potentially thousands of new customers. Remember to
keep the tips above in mind when creating your live videos. The more research and planning you do, the more successful your live video is likely to be.