How to Go Live on Facebook

Going live on Facebook is one of the most direct ways to connect with your audience in real time, building trust and engagement that pre-recorded content often can't match. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from pre-broadcast preparation and a step-by-step tutorial for desktop and mobile, to best practices for during and after your stream.

Why Go Live on Facebook? The Real-Time Advantage

Before getting into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why Facebook Live should be a part of your strategy. Unlike polished, pre-recorded videos, live streams offer a raw, authentic connection with your viewers. The interaction is immediate, you can answer questions, react to comments, and have a genuine conversation with your community as it happens.

Facebook’s algorithm also tends to favor live content. When you go live, your followers are more likely to receive a notification, and your video often gets higher placement in the News Feed. This boosts your organic reach significantly, putting you in front of more eyes without spending a dime on ads. It's an unfiltered channel to showcase your personality, demo a product, host a Q&A, or take your audience behind the scenes.

Before You Hit 'Go Live': An Essential Checklist

A successful live stream starts long before the camera is on. A little preparation can make the difference between a random, chaotic broadcast and a professional, engaging event that achieves its goals.

1. Define Your Goal and Topic

First, ask yourself: what is the purpose of this live stream? Without a clear goal, a broadcast can feel pointless and meander. Are you trying to...

• Teach something? (e.g., A tutorial on how to use a software feature or a cooking demonstration)
• Host a Q&A session? (e.g., An "Ask Me Anything" with a guest expert or your company's founder)
• Launch a product? (e.g., An unboxing and first-look demo of a new item)
• Share a behind-the-scenes look? (e.g., A tour of your office or a look at your creative process)
• Run an event? (e.g., Streaming an interview, a performance, or a workshop)

Once you have a goal, outline the key points you want to cover. It doesn’t need to be a full script - in fact, bullet points often work better to keep the conversation sounding natural. Having a loose structure will help you stay on track and prevent awkward silences.

2. Set Up Your Space and Gear

You don't need a professional studio, but a few small adjustments can dramatically improve your video quality.

• Find Good Lighting: Natural light is your best friend. Position yourself facing a window. If that’s not possible, use a simple ring light or place a couple of lamps in front of you. Avoid having a bright light source behind you, as it will turn you into a silhouette.
• Check Your Background: Make sure your background is clean and uncluttered. A messy room can be distracting. A simple bookshelf, a clean wall with a piece of art, or a tidy corner of your office works perfectly.
• Prioritize Audio: Viewers will forgive mediocre video quality, but they won’t tolerate bad audio. While your phone's built-in microphone can work in a quiet room, an external microphone - even a simple lapel mic or the one on your headphones - is a game-changer. Do a quick test recording to make sure you sound clear.
• Ensure a Stable Internet Connection: A choppy, lagging stream is frustrating to watch. Use a strong, stable Wi-Fi connection or a dedicated ethernet connection if possible. Run a speed test beforehand to be safe.
• Use a Tripod: Nobody wants to watch a shaky video. Whether you’re using your phone or a webcam, secure it on a tripod or a stable surface to keep the shot steady.

3. Promote Your Stream in Advance

Don’t just go live without telling anyone. Build anticipation by promoting your upcoming stream a few days in advance. Create a simple graphic with the topic, date, and time, and share it on your Facebook Page, in relevant Groups, and on your other social profiles. You can even use Facebook's scheduling feature to create a notification post that your followers can opt into.

How to Go Live on Facebook: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process is slightly different depending on whether you’re on a mobile device or a computer. Here’s a breakdown of both.

Going Live from a Mobile Device (iPhone or Android)

Broadcasting from your phone is the quickest and easiest way to go live.

1. Open the Facebook App and navigate to the Page, Group, or Profile you want to stream from.
2. Tap the “What’s on your mind?” box to create a new post. From the menu that appears, select "Live Video."
3. Grant Permissions: If it's your first time, Facebook will ask for permission to access your camera and microphone. Allow it.
4. Write a Compelling Description: This is crucial! Your description tells people what your stream is about and entices them to watch. Be clear and engaging. You can also tag people, a location, or add a feeling/activity.
5. Set Up Your Stream:
   • Tap the magic wand icon to add filters or effects.
   • Tap the person icon to tag friends or collaborators in your video.
   • Rotate your phone horizontally for a cinematic widescreen look (highly recommended) or keep it vertical.
6. Check Your Framing: Make sure your head and shoulders are centered in the frame. Look directly into the camera lens, not at your own face on the screen, to create a better connection with viewers.
7. Tap the blue “Start Live Video” button. Facebook will give you a "3, 2, 1" countdown, and then you’ll be live!

Going Live from a Desktop or Laptop

Going live from a computer gives you more control and is ideal for screen sharing, presentations, or using third-party streaming software.

1. Navigate to the Facebook Page, Group, or Profile you want to post from.
2. In the "Create Post" box, click the "Live Video" button. This will take you to Facebook’s Live Producer.
3. Choose Your Video Source: On the left-hand panel, you’ll see choices like "Go live" or "Create event". Stick with "Go live". In the setup panel, choose your video source. For a simple broadcast, select "Webcam." (The "Streaming Software" option is for advanced users with tools like OBS or StreamYard).
4. Select Your Camera and Mic: Use the dropdown menus to select the correct camera and microphone connected to your computer.
5. Add Your Post Details: On the right side, add a required Title and Description for your broadcast. This is your chance to hook people in.
6. Customize Your Stream (Optional): You can explore other settings like cross-posting your stream to another Page you manage, adding interactive polls, or setting audience restrictions.
7. Look at your camera preview, make sure everything looks right, and click the “Go Live” button at the bottom left. You’re now live!

During Your Live Stream: Best Practices for Engagement

Once you’re live, your primary job is to create an engaging experience.

• Welcome People as They Arrive: When you first start, give people a minute or two to join before diving into your main topic. Acknowledge new viewers by name and welcome them to the stream.
• Interact with Comments: Your secret weapon for engagement is the comment section. Read questions aloud and answer them. Respond to comments by name. This makes viewers feel seen and heard, and encourages more interaction.
• Repeat Your Topic: People will be joining at different times. Periodically remind new viewers what the topic of your live stream is so they have context. For example, "For those of you just joining, we're talking about the best ways to prepare for a Facebook Live stream."
• Have a Call to Action (CTA): What do you want people to do after watching? Tell them! Your CTA could be to visit your website, download a resource, sign up for your newsletter, or follow you on another platform. Mention it a few times during the broadcast.
• Don’t Panic If Something Goes Wrong: A technical glitch might happen. Your dog might bark. Just roll with it. The beauty of live video is its authenticity, and viewers are usually very forgiving. Laugh it off and keep going.

After the Live Stream Ends: Maximizing Your Content's Value

Your work isn't over when you click "End Live Video." Now you can extend the life and reach of your content.

• Post the Replay: Facebook automatically gives you the option to post the live video replay to your timeline. Always Do This. Many people will watch the replay who couldn't tune in live.
• Edit Your Video Details: After your broadcast is posted, you can edit the post. This is a great opportunity to refine the title and description, add relevant hashtags, and upload a custom thumbnail that’s more appealing than a random frozen frame from your video.
• Analyze Performance: Dive into your video’s analytics. Facebook provides stats on peak viewership, total reach, minutes viewed, and audience demographics. Use this data to understand what your audience responds to and to improve your next stream.
• Repurpose, Repurpose, Repurpose: This is a big one. One hour-long live stream can be turned into a treasure trove of content. Pull out a compelling 60-second clip for a Reel. Transcribe the audio and turn key points into a blog post. Create quote graphics from powerful statements you made. You can get weeks of content out of a single broadcast.

Final Thoughts

Going live on Facebook is an incredibly effective tool for building a genuine connection with your followers. By planning your broadcast, engaging with your audience in real time, and repurposing your content afterward, you can turn a simple live video into a major driver for your brand's growth and community building activities.

Once you’ve repurposed your live stream into clips, blog highlights, and graphics, the next step is getting that content out there consistently. This is where we built Postbase to make things easier. I know from experience that taking all those newly created assets and manually scheduling them across TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn can become a chaotic chore. We designed our visual calendar to help you easily plan and schedule all that repurposed content in one place, so you can see your entire strategy at a glance and focus on your next live stream instead of getting lost in logistics.