Video will be the fastest-growing content category on mobile, desktop and everywhere else through to at least 2020, eMarketer.com predicts, and as a result digital-video ad spending will rise from $9.90 billion in 2016 to $28.08 billion in 2020!
Since it launched August 2015 and became available to all users this January 2016, Facebook Live has quickly become a game changer. Media companies like CNN, Viacom, the New York Times, and Buzz Feed have used Live to experiment with new video formats and expand their audiences.
Facebook isn’t the first social platform to debut a live streaming feature. Periscope and Meerkat broke ground in early 2015; YouTube has supported live streams for years; and Amazon built a massive live gaming community through Twitch.
Nevertheless, Facebook Live, in particular, holds a clear appeal for brands.
Many brands have already carved out a chunk of the social network’s massive user ship. Now they can easily share Facebook Live videos with fans, friends, and followers without having to build a new audience from the ground up.
Facebook is also sweetening the pot with helpful capabilities such as live events, two-person broadcasts, comment feeds, and filters. And they might launch mid-roll ads soon, which could give brand an alternative revenue source.
Given these benefits, many businesses – from auto manufacturers to makeup companies – are using Facebook Live to grow their audiences. Brands that are new to live streaming, however, might be wondering how to plan and launch a successful Facebook Live video.
