How to Go Live from a Facebook Page

Going live on your Facebook Page is one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience in real-time, showcase your brand's personality, and drive direct engagement. This guide is your complete playbook, walking you through everything from pre-live preparation to post-stream strategy so you can broadcast with confidence.

Why Your Brand Should Be Using Facebook Live

In a social media landscape filled with polished feeds and scheduled content, live video cuts through the noise. It’s unscripted, authentic, and immediate, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity that pre-recorded videos can't match. The algorithm often favors live content, pushing notifications to your followers and giving your broadcast more visibility in the News Feed. This direct line to your audience allows you to build community, answer questions on the spot, get instant feedback, and humanize your brand in a way that static posts never could.

Before You Go Live: Your Essential Preparation Checklist

A successful live broadcast doesn't happen by accident. Just a bit of thoughtful preparation can make the difference between a fumbled, low-engagement stream and a professional, captivating event. Follow this checklist to set yourself up for success.

1. Settle On Your Goal and Topic

First, ask yourself: why am I going live? A clear goal will guide your content and keep you focused. Your goal isn't just to talk, it's to achieve something. Are you trying to...

• Launch a new product?
• Host a Q&A session with your community?
• Give a behind-the-scenes tour?
• Teach a tutorial or demonstrate a skill?
• Interview an expert in your field?
• Drive traffic to a landing page or sale?

Once you have a goal, choose a specific, compelling topic. "Talking about marketing" is too broad. "Five Common Mistakes Small Businesses Make on Instagram" is specific and valuable. A great topic tells potential viewers exactly what they'll get out of watching.

2. Promote Your Live Stream in Advance

Don’t just hit the "Go Live" button and hope for the best. Build anticipation! Treating your broadcast like a mini-event will dramatically increase your initial viewership.

• Schedule Your Live Video: Facebook allows you to schedule your broadcast up to a week in advance. This creates an announcement post on your Page that people can get notifications for.
• Create Teaser Content: Post about your upcoming live stream on your Facebook Page, Instagram Stories, and other social channels. Use eye-catching graphics or short videos to announce the topic, date, and time.
• Tell Your Email List: Your email subscribers are often your most engaged audience members. Send them an email letting them know about the live event and why they should tune in.
• Add a Countdown Timer: Use the countdown sticker in Instagram or Facebook Stories a day or two before your stream to create a sense of urgency.

3. Get Your Tech in Order

You don't need a Hollywood studio, but unstable tech can quickly derail your stream. Focus on these three areas:

• Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is non-negotiable. If you're using Wi-Fi, be as close to the router as possible. A wired Ethernet connection is always the most reliable option if you're streaming from a computer. Run a speed test beforehand to make sure your upload speed is solid (at least 5-10 Mbps for good quality).
• Audio: Bad audio is more distracting than bad video. Your device's built-in microphone will work in a pinch, but an external mic will make you sound infinitely more professional. This can be as simple as a lavalier mic that clips onto your shirt or a USB microphone that plugs into your computer. Do a quick test recording to check for echo or background noise.
• Lighting & Camera: Good lighting makes a huge difference. Sit facing a window for natural light, or invest in a simple ring light. As for the camera, the one on your modern smartphone is often perfect. If you’re on a desktop, a dedicated webcam will typically provide better quality than the one built into your laptop.

4. Outline Your Talking Points

This is not a script. Reading a script word-for-word sounds robotic and defeats the purpose of an authentic live video. Instead, create a simple outline with bullet points. This structure keeps you on track without stifling your natural conversational flow. A good outline includes:

• An engaging opening: Welcome viewers, introduce yourself and the topic, and encourage them to say hello in the comments.
• 3-5 core talking points: These are the main value-bombs you want to deliver.
• A clear Call to Action (CTA): What do you want people to do after watching? E.g., "Visit the link in the description," "Sign up for our newsletter," "Ask your questions below."
• A closing statement: Thank everyone for watching, briefly recap the main points, and give one final mention of your CTA.

How to Go Live from a Facebook Page: The Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve done the prep work, and now it's time to go live. The process is slightly different depending on whether you're using a computer or a mobile device.

Going Live from a Desktop (Using Meta Business Suite)

Streaming from a desktop gives you more control and is ideal for more professional setups, like interviews or screen sharing. Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to your Facebook Page and find the "Create Post" box. Click the Live Video button. This will open the Live Producer tool.
2. In the left-hand menu, you'll choose your video source. Select Go Live.
3. Then, choose how you want to create your live video. You have two main options:
   • Webcam: This uses your computer’s built-in or connected webcam. It's the simplest option for direct-to-camera broadcasting.
   • Streaming Software: This is for more advanced broadcasts using tools like OBS, StreamYard, or Ecamm Live. It allows for multiple cameras, screen sharing, professional graphics, and other powerful features. If you choose this, you'll be given a stream key to paste into your software.
4. Next, complete the details for your post on the right-hand side. This is your chance to grab attention.
   • Title: Write a catchy, descriptive title for your video.
   • Description: Add more context, include any relevant links (like your CTA!), and use a few relevant hashtags.
5. Before going live, on the left under "Dashboard", get acquainted with the Interactivity Tools. You can prepare Polls or Questions in advance to launch during your stream and boost engagement.
6. Look for a Settings dropdown to check your camera and microphone sources. Confirm the right ones are selected.
7. At the bottom of the left menu, you'll see a button to Create a test broadcast before you go live. This is a valuable feature that lets you check your audio, video, and overall setup privately without notifying your followers.
8. When you're ready, click the blue Go Live button at the bottom left. You’ll get a 3-2-1 countdown, and then you'll be live!

Going Live from Your Mobile Device

Broadcasting from your phone is perfect for on-the-go, informal, and behind-the-scenes content. The interface is simple and intuitive.

1. Open the Facebook app and navigate to your Page.
2. Tap the "Create post" dialogue box as if you were going to write an update.
3. From the menu that appears, select Live Video.
4. You'll need to grant the app permission to access your camera and microphone if you haven't already.
5. At the top of the screen, tap Tap to add a description... This is your space to write a catchy title and tell people what your broadcast is about. You can also tag people or check in to a location.
6. Along the bottom, you'll see a toolbar with fun options. You can add filters, effects, or use tools like the virtual green screen. This is also where you can find the feature to Bring a Guest and have them join your broadcast in a split-screen view.
7. Decide on your phone’s orientation. Horizontal (landscape) often looks better on desktop replays, while vertical (portrait) feels more native to mobile viewing. Choose what fits your content best.
8. When you're all set, tap the blue Start Live Video button. After a brief countdown, you're live!

During the Broadcast: How to Keep Your Audience Hooked

Starting the stream is only half the battle. Now you need to hold your audience's attention and create a dynamic, two-way conversation.

• Acknowledge People as They Arrive: When you start, people will trickle in. Don't just stand there in silence. Immediately welcome them and re-introduce your topic briefly every few minutes for new viewers.
• Engage with the Comments: The magic of live video is interaction. Read comments aloud, greet viewers by name, and answer their questions as they come in. This makes people feel heard and encourages others to participate.
• Stay On Track: It's easy to get sidetracked by a lively comments section. Refer back to your outline to make sure you're covering your key points.
• Repeat Your Call to Action: Not everyone will see the beginning of your broadcast. Gently remind your audience of your CTA (e.g., "...and if you're enjoying these tips, don't forget the full guide is available at the link in the description.") a few times throughout the stream.
• Finish Strong: Signal that you're about to wrap up. Summarize your most important points, thank your audience one last time for their time and engagement, and give your CTA one final, clear shout-out before you hit "End."

After the Stream Ends: Maximizing Your Video's Lifespan

Your work isn't done when the camera turns off. The replay of your live video can become a valuable content asset that works for you long after the broadcast finishes.

1. Optimize the Replay

Once your stream ends, you'll be prompted to post the video to your Page's feed. Always do this! Once it's posted, go back and edit the post.

• Update the Title/Description: You might want to tweak the title for better searchability now that it's a replay. Make sure your CTA link is prominent in the description.
• Add a Custom Thumbnail: If the auto-generated thumbnail is unflattering (a frozen frame of you mid-sentence), create and upload a custom thumbnail image with a clear title.
• Add Timestamps: If your video was long, add timestamps in the description (e.g., "1:15 - Tip #1, 4:30 - Tip #2, 8:05 - Audience Q&A") so viewers can jump to the sections that interest them most.

2. Repurpose Everything

One live video can be a content goldmine. Break it down into smaller pieces to share across all your platforms.

• Create Short-Form Video Clips: Find the best 30-60 second highlights - a great tip, a funny moment, or an important answer - and edit them into vertical videos for Reels, TikToks, or YouTube Shorts.
• Write a Blog Post: Transcribe the video (using an AI tool to speed up the process) and turn the key talking points into a detailed blog post.
• Make Quote Graphics: Pull out impactful quotes or statistics you mentioned and turn them into shareable images for your social feeds.
• Use the Audio: If the content is purely informational, you could even strip the audio and release it as a short podcast episode.

Final Thoughts

Going live on Facebook doesn’t have to be intimidating. By pairing a clear goal with a bit of planning and a focus on genuine interaction, you can create a powerful connection with your audience that translates into brand loyalty and growth. The key is to start, learn from each broadcast, and have fun with it.

We know that a successful live stream is part of a bigger content picture. Promoting your broadcast before it happens and sharing repurposed clips after are just as critical as the event itself. We built our social media management tool, Postbase, with this in mind. By using a clear-cut visual calendar, you can easily map out your entire live video campaign - from scheduling the initial hype posts to planning the follow-up content, ensuring your valuable live broadcast gets the reach and attention it deserves.