Page 4 - Engage - no.9 - Summer 2017

Summer 2017
INSIGHTS
NEWS | REVIEWS | IDEAS | OPINION |
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING »
Facebook Live:
Not Just Mobile—It’s Stationary, Too
When Facebook Live was introduced to the masses in April 2016, it offered users the power
to broadcast live from the palm
of their hand. It was also another example of mobile usage leading the way forward. But don’t fret; that computer sitting on your desk or in your lap isn’t a fossil just yet, and Facebook understands that.
In March of this year, Facebook announced that anyone can go live from his or her desktop or laptop computer, too. Previously, verified publishers were the only ones capable of doing so.
Part of the appeal of the new Live offering is the ability to stream video from external sources such as professional cameras and to do so right from a profile, rather than just on a business Page, as was
previously the case. Facebook Product Manager Erin Connolly and Software Engineer Jeff Hendy explained some of the new potential in a blog post: “With this update, people can seamlessly share their screens, insert graphics, switch cameras, or use professional equipment in Facebook Live videos,” they wrote. “They also have the option to broadcast to Facebook groups they belong to, Facebook Events they’re part of, or Facebook Pages they manage.”
For marketers, this means being able to do things such as question
and answer sessions, video blogs,
or even live tutorials, and to do so
in better visual and audio quality.
To enable Facebook Live from your desktop or laptop, just click on “Live Video” at the top of your News Feed or timeline and follow a few directions.
To use streaming software, download one of the streaming software programs Facebook supports, go to facebook.com/live/create, then click “Create Live Stream.”
“On a practical level, having Facebook Live on your desktop
or laptop means being able to do professional-quality, live broadcasts and easily reply to viewers’ comments using the keyboard, which can be difficult [when] operating a phone by yourself,” says Anssi Mäkelä, a social media consultant who has worked
Facebook Live Standard-Bearers These three brands are using Facebook Live to its full potential!
Dunkin’ Donuts
“Dunkies” has used Facebook Live to broadcast from Dunkin’ Brands University, delivering a tour of the training facility and o ering an inside look at how products are created. During their
rst Facebook Live, they introduced employees, took questions and comments, and nished with a surprise creation to keep viewers around.
For more great examples of how brands are
Bene t
The cosmetics company has created appointment viewing by hosting a weekly Facebook Live series called “Tipsy Tricks,” in which their team shares their best secrets over wine at 4 p.m. PST every Thursday. By creating a Facebook Live series, they’re building a loyal following and showcasing their products while delivering valued information.
Starbucks
On National Voter Registration Day last September, Starbucks hosted a Facebook Live from Rufus King Park in Jamaica, Queens, New York. During the live broadcast, viewers were encouraged to post questions for CEO Howard Schultz and rapper Common, who would answer them later from onstage at the
event. That kept viewers engaged to see if their questions might
be answered.
using Facebook Live, download our e-book at: corporatepress.com/client-resources