Beginners Guide to Creating Your Own Facebook Live Show

During a recent flight delay I meandered over to the book store to pick up some magazines. While my first thought was to catch up on the gossip mags, the Fast Company magazine cover photo of Beyoncé with the heading: Create. Defy. Slay. was speaking to me. How did Queen B know I was on the way to Wisconsin to keynote a Direct Sales Convention and needed to fire up my biz mojo? By the time I landed I felt super empowered and ready to make my own lemonade. There was one other blurb in the magazine that stood out: Facebook is predicting that video content will dominate the newsfeed within the next two years. As in, most of your News Feed content will be videos.

With the rapid-fire growth of live streaming, I’m not surprised. Get ahead of the curve now by creating your own weekly or bi-monthly Facebook Live show. I tested the concept out when Facebook first announced everyone could “go LIVE” and the results were surprising. In a good way.

I expected it would take weeks to build an audience and generate actual sales, but guess what? I generated sales on Episode 1. By Episode 4, I sold over $1,000. Not bad for 15 minutes of my time once a week. Well, it’s a little more than 15 minutes because you have to prep for your “Show”, but still…pretty exciting, right? Results like that have never happened from posting a product picture, motivational quote, or even a really funny mom meme. Sidebar: These results are one more reason to go LIVE when you party virtually.

Move over home shopping channels! My Beginners Guide to Creating Your Own Facebook Live Show will help you get started today:

1. Name Your Show: Look no further than the ‘Guide’ button on your remote control to find inspiration and get your creative juices flowing. Create your own version of Top Chef, or maybe you’ll be sharing your passion for DIY and decorating…HGTV style. Whatever type of show speaks to you, rock your personal brand and highlight your unique talents. Your show should add value and include a how-to tip or advice that connects to your direct sales business (and products).

2. Number Your Episodes: I take this “creating your own show thing” very seriously, and that includes numbering each episode – even if your show is 15 minutes long. Stay with me on this. If you’ve bought a TV recently, you might have noticed TVs are actually computers (what?!!) which means Facebook Live can be streamed on your TV. That makes you a TV Star! Numbering your episodes makes it easy for customers to reach out and ask questions about products they saw on replay. I know this because I got this message a few days after one of my LIVE shows:

Hi Lynn. On episode 4 of the clearance sale is the fireplace warmer $20.00? If so, how do you order it? Let me know, thanks!!!” – Stephanie

Minutes later I got this message:

Hi Lynn!! Loving your Facebook LIVE segments! It is like I get to spend time with you. I was wondering if I could book a show. I just moved so it would be a great chance to get my friends to my new house. I was thinking a Thursday night if you are available.”

True story.

3. Pick a Day and Time: You know the old saying, same bat time, same bat channel? Ok, if you were born after 1985 maybe you don’t know that saying, but trust me – consistency is key to building an audience. That being said, even I show up late for my 4pm-ish show or miss a broadcast due to family commitments. Life happens. Do the best you can to broadcast at the same time each week.

4. Keep It Simple: I know you want to show the world all your awesome products but less is always more. The secret to getting results is to highlight one product. That’s it. You want to give your followers a reason to come back next week, right? Share a how-to or tip about your one product and end the show with a call-to-action that includes a limited-time offer (free video tutorial, invite to consult with you, prize drawing, gift with purchase, discounted shipping, etc). I went with a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives meets GMA’s Steals and Deals theme, naming my show Candles, Clearance & Closeouts. My first show generated $300+ in sales. The Home Shopping channel should be worried.

5. Use Signs: Stop by the Dollar Store and pick up some bright colored 8½ x 11 poster board and magic markers to make handmade signs for your show name and your key points. Why? Because stats show that over 80% of viewers watch on silent. Visual cues help you communicate your message and encourage viewers to listen in. Fold the poster board in half so the signs fit in your camera view. If you’re experiencing the backward text glitch (I’m talking to you Android users) use a dark marker on thin paper and turn the paper around so your sign is backwards to you, but frontwards to your viewers. If you have an Iphone you’ll find a fix for the glitch by clicking on the magic wand icon. That will open up features that include a tool’s icon. Click that and you’ll see the option for a horizontal flip. If you are streaming on your Facebook Business Page you can also edit your video to add captions.

Sign Ideas:
Prize Drawing –  or Free Gift with Purchase
Winner!
Oh No! This Ends Today
Special Sale For You
How-To Tip Or DIY Fun
(Your Show Name)

6. Pre-Promote Your Show: Get the ball rolling by promoting your show a day or two ahead. Email your customers, create an Instagram Story about it, share a fun graphic in your VIP group, and invite friends to tune in.  Take a picture of your new “studio”, which might really be a corner in your bedroom (we’ll keep that between us), to spread the excitement. You’ll want to go LIVE for at least 15 – 20 minutes to give everyone enough time to find you and tune in. Keep them coming back by asking viewers to tap the bell icon so they can get notified every time you go LIVE (available on Business Pages).

7. Get Some Cool Equipment: If cash flow is stopping you from live streaming I have good news. You don’t need to break the bank on lighting, microphones, and even tripods. Here’s everything you need to nail your show – on a budget. I got everything I need for under $50.00.

Can you create, defy, and even slay like Queen B herself? Heck yeah.

Do you want to start your own Facebook LIVE show and look like a pro? I use StreamYard and love it. Features include showing comments on screen, adding up to 10 guests on screen, and screen sharing. Upgrade to a basic plan to customize your branding and go LIVE in 3 places at one time. That means if you have 3 virtual parties happening in 3 separate Facebook Groups you can stream to all of them at one time.

Want to see me going live? Go to the video tab on my Facebook Page to see replays of my live show for direct sellers, called Social Girl LIVE.

Ready to really rock your direct sales biz?