Facebook Live is on the Rise: Why B2B Marketers Need to Use This Trending Social Tool

If you’re not already using Facebook Live in your content marketing strategy, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon.

Video consumption will continue to grow, accounting for nearly 80% of all internet traffic by 2019, according to a recent study from Cisco. And despite Instagram’s consistent, rapid growth in users, Facebook remains the most popular social network on the globe.

Facebook Live combines these two digital trends and has the added bonus of delivering key messages to a targeted audience immediately. Marketers should be taking advantage of their capability to easily create and share video content on a platform where their audience is already active.

Here are four reasons B2B marketers should start using Facebook Live to reach their targets.

Marketers and small businesses are demanding it.

While video is projected to represent a majority of overall web traffic in the next four years, more specifically, marketers and small businesses are demanding it. Forbes reports that 59% of company decision makers would rather watch a video than read an article or blog post. What’s more, a Hubspot survey found that 43% of businesses say they want to see even more video content from marketers in the future.

If you’re spending time, money and resources on a content marketing plan in hopes of attracting and converting prospects, try delivering exactly what your audience will be most receptive to.

It’s a time and cost-effective form of video.

Anyone can host a Facebook Live. That doesn’t mean everyone should, but another benefit of Facebook Live is the ease of production at the touch of a button. Going Live doesn’t require a high-tech camera or a crew, just some preparation, a device like your smartphone or laptop and a good connection to the internet. Because this form of video is live, it also saves video editing and production time and cost.

Facebook Lives can be repurposed after you go live.

Once your live video has ended, it is automatically saved to your Facebook page. When sharing evergreen information in a Facebook Live event, add the recorded video into your social editorial calendar and share it a few times over the next few months. Facebook also allows you to embed a Facebook Live recording. Blog about it later and embed the video or share in an upcoming email newsletter.

Engage directly with your audience.

When you go live, viewers can comment directly on the video. This is an ideal place to host a Q&A or a discussion where you can interact with viewers and receive immediate feedback. Going live also creates an opportunity to let your company’s culture really come out.

Facebook Live is a tool that lets you showcase your expertise and deliver key messages to a target audience in an effective and engaging way. There is a lot of planning that goes into hosting a Facebook Live to ensure its success during and after the event. Download our checklist below to be sure you’re fully prepared before you go live.