The TERROR of Facebook Live

6 MIN READ
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Terror lurks in your cell phone.

And it’s about to go LIVE.

A woman in Cleveland Ohio is sweeping up her retail store in preparation for another exciting day selling Cleveland based arts and crafts.  As she watches the dust from the floor glisten in a particularly bright sun ray peeking through the storefront window, she feels a sudden urge to pull out her cell phone.  She resists the urge, knowing that it’s time to open the front door and get to work.  She twists the lock to the left and opens the door so that her customers can come in and enjoy her products.  Cell phone safely in pocket, she begins to tally up some inventory and progress with her day.

But the urge is getting stronger.  She starts hearing a voice in her head saying “Let them know”.  She realizes that the voice is referencing her customers, and her cell phone holds the key to getting them to her store. But it means facing her biggest fear. It means a live video.  Reluctantly she gives into the urges and pulls the phone out.  Her heart races.  The fear is palpable.  Her mouth is dry and as she struggles to speak the words escape her and nothing comes out.  She knows the camera is at the top of her phone, and yet her eyes are drawn to the image of her face on the phone’s screen.  She can’t look away.  She is in a trance.  She fights the paralysis just long enough to tap the button to end the recording.  The video posts to her timeline, where her fear will remain alive… FOREVER!!!!

Dramatic? Yeah. Does it feel dramatic to those who are shy or just plain don’t like how they look or sound on videos?  No way.  Fear of cameras and videos is real.  An astounding 40-60% of adults are considered to be shy (psychcentral.com), so it’s not uncommon for this phenomenon to impact someone.  Sometimes all someone needs to get over being camera shy is the proper motivation.  The interaction stats from Facebook Live might just provide that motivation.

The fact is, Facebook Live videos are viewed 6X as often as a traditional video.  Facebook Live videos also receive 10X the comments that a traditional video would solicit. (Stats from 99firms.com)  Bottom line- people pay attention to Live broadcasts. They cost you nothing to produce and you can reach customers on a level that’s unthinkable with traditional marketing. From making to announcements to handling questions to releasing new products, Facebook Live gives you flexibility to do many different things with an attentive audience that is just waiting to hear from you.

So you know it’s effective.  You feel the urge to do it.  But then you freeze.  How do you overcome that fear?  Hear are some tips to help you have success in overcoming your fears of Facebook Live and start making great live videos!

  • Practice by shooting regular videos and not posting them.
    When old time broadcasters saw themselves on camera for the first time, it was often when the show ran live.  Camcorders made it possible to hook up a bunch of wires to a tv an watch yourself before letting others see your work.  Now, we have a portable tv studio in our pocket, and it’s great for those who are uneasy with the concept of going life without knowing what they look like.  Practice making 30 second and one minute videos first.  Try different camera angels and lighting.  Record it and watch it.  Once you find the perfect formula for the video details you think look best, you can go live.  The great thing about having the video function on your phone is that you can play around with the camera before you go live!
  • Put a picture of someone you feel comfortable with by the camera.
    One of the things people say about Facebook Live is that it feels weird just talking to the back of a phone.  So change that. Put a picture of a person you love to talk to next to the camera, and imaging yourself explaining whatever you are talking about in your video to them.
  • Ignore the comments until you are comfortable with doing live format videos
    Another common sentiment among those that are feeling uncomfortable with live videos is that the comments at the bottom of the screen are a distraction.  It’s almost like someone constantly blurting out statements while you are trying to give a speech.  You can turn off the comments, or simply ignore them until after the video is posted, and then you can go back and review and reply later.
  • You don’t have to freestyle the whole thing.
    It’s okay to have some notes if you want while doing your Facebook Live.  A natural, conversational video is best, but if you want to have some talking points to help you organize your thoughts, that’s okay too.  You don’t want to read a paper verbatim, but you can use some helpful hints on a paper to help you stay on track and make sure that you aren’t missing any of the key points you are trying to make.
  • Post often
    Once you get the hang of it, use Facebook Live often. It’s a great way to showcase new product offerings, get feedback from your customers and showcase events that you are attending without having to spend money on advertising.  Once you feel comfortable with being “exposed” by the Live format, you’ll get results by using the full potential of Facebook Live!

Looking to maximize your company’s social media reach?  Company 119 can help!  We offer exciting social media marketing packages that will help you use paid advertising to get the most out of your social page and we can train you and your team to be effective at social media posting.  Contact us today and let us know what you are looking to get out of your social media channels!

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