Facebook Live Video

Facebook Live is one of the newer features added in recent years that uses the camera to broadcast real-time videos to the platform. Your followers can join and leave the live at any time and engage as much or as little as they like.

People spend 3x longer watching a Facebook Live video on average compared to a video that’s no longer live - meaning users typically find Live videos more interesting in the moment than watching one after it has ended and is uploaded (Facebook).

Steps to going Live:

1. Go to your Facebook News Feed and press the Live option (the camcorder icon)
2. Write a video description
3. Select a privacy setting by tapping the ellipsis in the bottom right corner and opening up Audience Restrictions (this way you can control who can join)
4. You then have the option to add a Facebook Live filter, lens, or doodle
5. Press the "Start Live Video" button

Facebook offers reactions in live videos to allow your viewers to express their feelings in real time during a live broadcast. You can then see the reactions animate on top of the broadcast and disappear in real time.

The amount of comments on your live video is another way to get Facebook to give it a higher relevancy score, making it more likely to show up on people's News Feeds. So encourage your viewers to comment, and engage with people who are commenting by answering their questions and calling them out by name - this includes your viewers in the live experience, which could make them stay for longer.

Once you've finished the live broadcast, you can always go back and edit the description, change the privacy settings, or delete the video, just like you would any other post.

How can tourism businesses use Facebook Live Video?

Going Live on Facebook can be cost-effective for business by saving time and energy from filming, editing and uploading a video. Live videos add a personal touch to real time viewers and creates a sense of community.

You can use Live Videos for:

1. Connecting with followers and building trust by showing the face behind the business
2. Giving a ‘behind the scenes’ insight to the running of your business and showing people what is typically off limits (e.g. opening routine, restocking, day-to-day tasks etc.)
3. Interviewing people (e.g. bloggers/ travel or food experts)
4. Showcasing live events (e.g. tourism conferences, events, concerts etc.)