!
Facebook Live for Nonprofits
Track: Social Media. Level: Intermediate.
Description: Facebook Live allows you to broadcast anytime, anywhere. Your dreams of jumping in front of potential donors and grabbing their attention are now at your fingertips. In this
session, we'll explore this exciting social media "tool" and show you how to use it without becoming one.
How to find and watch Facebook
Live videos?
Find them in your news feed if following organizations and individuals
who use Facebook Live.
Search the Facebook Live map:
https://www.facebook.com/livemap
How are people/organizations using
it now?
- Live streaming programming
(shows, speeches, etc.)
- Live streaming announcements
- Live streaming events
- Live chatting
- Live musical/dance/etc. performances
- Live “behind the scenes” look
Drawbacks of live streaming:
• Difficult to produce at high quality (audio, lighting, stable camera).
• It’s live, mistakes and all.
• Can be stressful for you.
• Can be a snooze-fest if done poorly.
Benefits of live streaming:
• Participation/engage with human beings.
• “We’re live!” - Timeliness/Urgency.
!
Reach. Facebook has altered its News Feed algorithm to make sure live videos
appear higher in the stream. According to Facebook, people spend three times
longer watching videos when they're live compared to videos that are no
longer live. • Authenticity. Live is real. Gritty. Has mistakes. Isn’t overly produced.
• Can be fun for your audience (and most times for you).
Why livestream?
- Get more attention, eyeballs, interaction
- Elevate your work, your mission and your reputation (connect with people)
Our recommended uses for nonprofits:
- Live streaming educational content to make it an interactive experience
- Live stream discussions or Q & A with your ED or other experts
- “Behind the scenes” look at your work or preparation for an event/
project
- Meet clients, animals (dogs up for adoption?), etc. and answer questions.
Technical Tips:
•
•
•
•
•
Use a tripod for your camera. (Your shoulders and arms will get tired and
you really don’t want a shake camera.)
Pick an area where there’s not a lot of external noise, wind or anything else
that will distract from the voice of your subject(s)
Pick a well lit area for filming.
Make sure you have reliable connectivity, good wifi signal strength as well
as battery life.
Set your privacy setting.
Other tips:
•
•
When audiences are small in the beginning, ask staff or volunteers to participate with some questions. Don’t be afraid to “plant” a few friends in the
audience!
Periodically while filming chime in to reiterate where you are streaming from
and what is going on. This is a broadcast technique used in television and
!
•
•
•
radio. This is a great strategy for keeping those who might be joining midstream in the loop.
Consider going live at a scheduled time each week. Your audience will learn
and anticipate, maybe even make time to watch.
Assign contributors who can live stream for your page in the admin roles
section of your page settings.
You can get enhanced metrics for your live viewership for pages with 5,000
followers or more.
!
How to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Go to your organization page.
Click on “post” to start a new post.
Click on “Live Video”
If your page is “public” your live stream will be as well, but you can choose
audience restrictions by geo-location. So just Minnesota if you would like.
5. You can also flip the camera, adjust the picture and more.
6. You’ll have the option to post the saved video after your live stream is finished.
Equipment recommendations:
Directional Mic for Smartphone (headphone jack required) $59
https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-Directional-Microphone-Phones/dp/
B018KIJGU8/ref=sr_1_3?
ie=UTF8&qid=1486435398&sr=8-3&keywords=smartphone+microphone+for
+recording
Lavalier Mic for Smartphone $22.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TIZLZ9I/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?
ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A17MC6HOH9AVE6
Smartphone tripod adapter $5.99
https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Phone-Tripod-Adapter-BLISS/dp/B00LDLIEPI/ref=sr_1_4?
s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1486436957&sr=1-4&keywords=smartphone+tripod+adapter
Video LED Light $32.99
https://www.amazon.com/Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic-Samsung/
dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=sr_1_3?
s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1486437159&sr=1-3&keywords=led+video+light
Case for mounting light, mic, etc. $59
https://www.iographer.com/collections/cases-for-iphone/products/iographergo-for-android-iphone