How to Go Live on a Facebook Business Page

Going live on your Facebook Business Page is probably one of the most powerful, direct ways to connect with your audience. It bypasses the perfectly polished, pre-recorded feel of most social content and drops you right into a real-time conversation. This guide will walk you through exactly how to set up and run a successful Facebook Live, from the basic technical steps to the strategies that will actually get people to watch, comment, and engage with your brand.

Why Bother with Facebook Live?

In a world of highly-edited short-form videos, showing up live is your brand’s chance to be human. It’s unscripted, authentic, and creates a sense of shared experience that a regular post just can't match. Facebook’s algorithm also tends to favor live video, giving it more visibility in your followers’ News Feeds when you’re live and after the broadcast has ended.

Live video is perfect for a variety of formats, including:

• Q&As and "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) Sessions: Let your audience get to know the people behind the brand.
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Show off your office, workshop, or how your products are made.
• Product Demonstrations: Unbox a new product and show people how it works in real-time.
• Tutorials and How-Tos: Teach your audience how to do something related to your industry or products.
• Interviews with Guests: Bring on an expert or industry partner to share their knowledge.
• Announcements and Breaking News: Share a big update or a special offer with a live reveal.

The goal isn’t to create a perfect television production, it’s to build a genuine connection. People want to see the real you.

Before You Hit 'Go Live': Your Pre-Flight Checklist

A little preparation goes a long way. Spontaneity is great, but walking in with a plan will separate a rambling, awkward stream from an engaging, professional broadcast. Let's break down your prep into two parts: the gear and the game plan.

The Gear: Keep It Simple, but Stable

You don’t need a fancy production studio. In fact, you probably already have everything you need. But investing a small amount in a couple of key areas can dramatically improve your quality.

• Camera: Your smartphone is more than capable of producing a great-looking HD video. For more advanced setups, like screen sharing or using multiple angles, the webcam on your desktop or laptop works perfectly. Either way, make sure you wipe the lens before you start!
• Stability: A shaky camera is distracting. If you’re using your phone, grab a simple tripod. If you’re at your desk, make sure your laptop or webcam is on a stable surface. You want viewers to focus on you, not an earthquake effect.
• Audio: This is arguably more important than video quality. Viewers will forgive a slightly grainy picture, but they won't stick around for muffled, tinny, or hard-to-hear audio. While your phone’s built-in mic works in a pinch, a simple wired lavalier microphone that clips to your shirt can make you sound 10x more professional for less than $20.
• Lighting: You don't need expensive production lights. Your best bet is to face a window and use natural light. If you’re filming at night or in a poorly lit room, a simple ring light can provide soft, even lighting that makes a huge difference.
• Internet Connection: An unstable connection will make your stream choppy and pixelated, or even cut it off completely. Before you go live, run a speed test (search "internet speed test" on Google). You want a stable upload speed of at least 4-5 Mbps. If possible, connect to your router with an Ethernet cable for the most reliable connection.

The Plan: Don't Just Wing It

Jumping on camera without a plan is a recipe for long, awkward pauses. Take 15 minutes to structure your broadcast.

• Define Your Goal: What do you want to accomplish with this live video? Are you trying to generate leads for a new service? Show off a product's features? Or just build community by answering questions? Knowing your goal will keep you on track.
• Outline Talking Points: You don’t need a full script, but a bulleted list of topics you want to cover can be a lifesaver. This outline should have a clear beginning (introduction), middle (the main content), and end (your call to action and closing).
• Promote Your Stream: Don't just go live out of the blue. Let people know you’re planning a broadcast a day or two in advance. Create a simple graphic with the date, time, and topic, and post it on your Page. You can even create a Facebook Event to send reminders to interested followers.

How to Go Live on Your Facebook Page: Step-by-Step Instructions

The technical part is actually the easiest. Here’s how to do it a couple different ways.

Method 1: Going Live from a Mobile Device (iPhone or Android)

This is the quickest and easiest way to go live, perfect for Q&As, simple announcements, or broadcasting on the go.

1. Open the Facebook app and navigate to your Business Page.
2. Find the status update box where it says "What's on your mind?" and tap it. Just below, you'll see a row of options. Select 'Live Video'.
3. The first time you do this, Facebook will ask for permission to access your camera and microphone. Grant access.
4. Now you’re in the setup screen. At the top, write a compelling description. This is what people will see in their feeds. Make it catchy and tell them what the live is about. Use questions to invite immediate comments. (e.g., "We're unboxing the new collection! What's the first product you want to see? Tell us in the comments! 👇")
5. Use the icons at the bottom to explore options. You can add fun filters, switch between your front and back cameras, or toggle your phone's flash for extra light.
6. When you’re set up and ready, tap the blue 'Go Live' button. Facebook will give you a "3... 2... 1..." countdown, and then you're on!

Method 2: Going Live from a Desktop (Using Live Producer)

Going live from a computer gives you a lot more control and is ideal for screen sharing, interviews, or a more stationary broadcast. You'll be using Facebook's tool called Live Producer.

1. Navigate to your Business Page on your desktop browser.
2. Under the status update box, click the 'Live Video' button. This will open the Live Producer.
3. In the setup screen, you’ll be asked to choose a video source. For a simple broadcast, select 'Webcam'. (If you were using external software like OBS or StreamYard, you'd choose 'Streaming software' here).
4. On the left-hand side, fill out your Post details. Add a catchy title and a clear description just like you would on mobile.
5. On the right side, you’ll see a preview from your webcam. Make sure you’re happy with your camera angle and lighting.
6. Pro Tip: Before you go live for the first time, change the audience setting to 'Only Me'. This lets you run a private test to check your audio and video without anyone else seeing it. Once you're comfortable, you can switch back to 'Public'.
7. Once everything looks good, click the blue 'Go Live' button at the bottom left of the screen. You'll get a countdown, and then your broadcast will begin.

During the Broadcast: Best Practices for an Engaging Stream

You’re live! Now the real fun begins. Here's how to make your broadcast a great experience for your viewers.

• Welcome People by Name: When you see people join, give them a shout-out! Saying “Hey, Sarah, thanks for joining!” makes people feel seen and encourages others to comment.
• Engage with Comments in Real Time: The whole point of being "live" is interaction. Read comments aloud and answer questions as they come in. If someone asks a great question, it makes for fantastic, unscripted content.
• Start Strong, Don't Wait: Avoid starting your broadcast with "We'll just wait a few more minutes for people to join." Start with high energy right away. Greet your audience, re-introduce your topic, and jump right in. People watching the replay will thank you for not making them wait.
• Repeat Your Topic and CTA: People will be popping in and out of your stream. Periodically remind everyone what you’re talking about and what you want them to do. For example: "For anyone just joining, we’re talking about my top 3 tips for container gardening. At the end, I'll be sharing a link to download our free planting guide."
• Aim for at Least 10-15 Minutes: It takes time for notifications to go out and for people to join your stream. Longer broadcasts (within reason) tend to get more reach and give more people a chance to engage.

After the Broadcast: Make Your Content Work Harder

Your work isn’t over once you click "End Live Video." That recording is a valuable piece of content.

• Share the Replay: After your broadcast, Facebook gives you the option to share the video to your Page. Do it! Most of your viewers will come from people watching the replay. You can even edit the description or title before you post.
• Pin a Comment: Go back to the replay on your Page and pin a helpful comment, like a link to your website or the free download you mentioned. This keeps your call to action front and center for all future viewers.
• Repurpose and Resize: Your live video is a goldmine of smaller content pieces. Pull out a juicy 60-second tip and turn it into an Instagram Reel. Find a helpful answer to a common question and post it as a clip. One 15-minute live stream can easily become 3-5 pieces of new content for other platforms.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to go live on a Facebook Business Page is less about mastering complicated tech and more about having the confidence to connect with your audience authentically. By planning your content, engaging with viewers in real-time, and repurposing your broadcast afterward, you can turn a simple live video into a powerful tool for building your brand and community.

And once your live stream ends, planning out how to repurpose and schedule all that great content is the next step. We built Postbase to make that process effortless. Use our visual calendar to see where your live stream promotion fits into your content plan, and then easily schedule clips from your replay across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube shorts. It transforms the overwhelming task of keeping all your socials active, allowing one live event to fuel an entire week of content.