Last year, the Facebook Live video view count mounted up to two billion viewers, and searches for Livestreams on the platform increased by 330% in just one year. The popularity of live video streaming has spiked in recent weeks, as many businesses are using the feature to engage and communicate with their communities following the impacts of COVID-19.
Since its launch in 2016, Facebook live has seen more than 3.5 billion broadcasts shared on the platform. It’s a fun and simple way to share content and create a genuine connection with your audience – and now is the time to make the most of it.
You can use the power of video to communicate in real-time and build relationships. In this article, we will cover the basics of Facebook Live and how you can use it for your fitness business. Skip ahead to:
- What Is Facebook Live?
- Benefits of Using Facebook Live
- How to Use Facebook Live
- 9 Ways to Use Facebook Live for Your Fitness Business
What Is Facebook Live?
Facebook Live is a feature of the social network Facebook that allows you to broadcast in real time. It uses your phone or computer webcam to share content with your audience immediately. As a broadcaster, you can decide who sees your Facebook Live stream and engage with the right people at the right moment.
For fitness businesses, Facebook Live creates a unique opportunity. You can target your audience, who prefer to interact with online video content in a very direct way. It can fit any marketing budget, however big or small. When built into your wider marketing strategy, it can be a beneficial and effective tool to engage with your audience and potentially reach new customers.
The Coaching Ignited Podcast has a great episode on this with Justin Tamsett. Justin has 30 years of experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer, club manager, club owner, and business coach. The episode talks about getting your message heard and using Facebook Live to generate leads and attract clients.
Benefits of Using Facebook Live
Whether you’re looking to connect with your audience, raise brand awareness, or Livestream home workouts, Facebook Live is a great tool to use. Here are four reasons you should stream with Facebook Live.
Engagement
Facebook Live videos receive 3X higher engagement than recorded videos. A live broadcast allows you to engage with your members and audience in a completely different way. Members can react and engage in real time, and the Livestream video gives your audience a glimpse at a real person – allowing you to create more genuine human connections. It can also be a great source of traffic for your Facebook page because of the relationship it establishes with audiences in real-time.
Cost-Effective
You can create 100% unique content in a very cost-effective way. It doesn’t matter if you’re a multi-location fitness studio or an independent yoga hub; cost-effect results are always beneficial to a business. With the demand for beautifully-captured videos, sometimes it can be hard to stay on budget. However, Facebook Live takes the pressure off your budget and gives you the ability to create and push out video content quickly. You don’t need any fancy equipment or editing software; it’s all about living in the moment.
Save Time
As we mentioned, Facebook Live is about being in the moment. Instead of creating additional video content surrounding an event, you can save time and just live stream the event. You can set aside only 10 minutes of your day for a Facebook Live session to answer some questions in real-time. It’s not about being polished and perfect t; your audience is looking for real and human insight into you and your brand.
Build Community
If done well, Facebook Live can help you stand out from the competition and really connect with your community. A Q&A or live event can have companies reacting to viewers’ live comments quickly and building community engagement effectively. It gives you a chance to showcase your brand’s personality and create a fitness community with strong management.
How to Use Facebook Live
Before we talk about ways you can use Facebook Live, let’s discuss how to set up live streaming. First of all, make sure you have a strong connection. Streaming quality can vary based on your internet connection. Ideally, it uses wi-fi instead of mobile data. Tell your audience ahead of time when you’re planning on broadcasting so that you can reach more people. Remember to be very friendly and say hello, using viewers, names, and comments.
Here’s how to go live on Facebook from your mobile business page:
- Open the Facebook app on your phone
- Go to your business page and tap Post
- You’ll see the option to Go Live, tap it
- Write a compelling description of your video
- Add more details like your location
- Tap the three dots in the right-hand corner and select Audience Restrictions
- You can choose the audience based on age, gender, and location
- Go back and choose Start Live Video
You can create a Facebook Live from your computer too. With a live broadcast, it’s essential to be yourself. You’re selling your brand but also your personality and ability to connect with people. Go live regularly to encourage viewers to return and continue engaging with your business.
For hacks and tips about going live, here are a few great resources:
- The Humble Entrepreneur Podcast: Facebook live hacks and tips to drive engagement! – this episode talks about gaining more viewers and simple things you can do to promote your Facebook Live content.
- Screw The Commute Podcast: Up Your Facebook Live Game: Tom talks Facebook Live Tips – this episode discusses how to prepare for your broadcast, what to do during and after the video, and how to check your video insights.
- The Brand Nation Podcast: 3 Tips For Better Facebook Live Videos – if you’re strapped for time, this quick podcast delivers advice in less than 10 minutes. It talks about showing off your expertise through video and how to succeed with Facebook Live.
9 Ways to Use Facebook Live for Your Fitness Business
As a fitness business, there are several different ways you can use Facebook Live to engage and inspire your audience. All you need is a decent internet connection, your mobile device, and you’re ready to go.
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Discover more Follow-a-Long Workout Session
With at-home workouts on the rise, now is an excellent opportunity to broadcast workout sessions for your audience to follow-a-long with. Make sure to raise awareness before you go live and create a buzz around your workout session. With a follow-a-long workout, the idea is that your audience gets moving with you from home.
For this type of content, it would be beneficial to use a tripod so you can set up your mobile phone to broadcast. You could use a laptop as well, so you can set up the camera and then start your workout session. Running regular streams either in a private Facebook group or to the public is a great way to stay in contact with members. It’s also an excellent way to continue to offer your expert services from anywhere.
Go Behind the Scenes
Facebook Live allows you to take your members behind the scenes. To show off your brands’ personality and your human side. This type of content can be incredibly popular and for a good reason. It shows people what goes into the brand that they love. Facebook Live also takes this a step further by allowing your audience to interact, ask questions, and influence the outcome of the broadcast.
Live Tour of Your Facility
An excellent way to get your viewers pumped about your fitness business is to give them a tour of your facility. Walk your audience through your gym and show off your brand new state-of-the-art equipment. Show them how your members and trainers work out, whether it’s a glimpse at a personal training session or a look at one of your fitness classes.
By showing your audience around your facility, you’re giving them an authentic and relatable look at your community and day-to-day life. It’s great to include other members, staff, and trainers to provide your audience a glimpse into how you interact with each other and the type of environment they should expect if they join.
Host Expert Interviews
You can create a lot of different types of content using Facebook Live. One way to use the streaming tool is by hosting live expert interviews and Q&A’s. This is an excellent opportunity to position yourself and your team as experts. It will also highlight that you’re connected and up-to-date on industry knowledge and trends.
Here are just a few ideas for hosting expert interviews on Facebook Live:
- Interview with an athlete
- Q&A with a nutritionist
- Interview your members about their progress
- Stress management expert
- Q&A with a personal trainer
Run a Weekly Series
Turn your Facebook Live sessions into a weekly series. Choose a day and post content on a specific subject for a series. This could look like a 4-week mindfulness series. Each week you bring on a different expert to discuss mindfulness techniques and the benefits. Whether it’s fitness-related or nutrition-based, you have several options to choose from.
Make sure to spread the word about your weekly Facebook Live sessions so that your audience knows when you will be online. Allow them to navigate each session by asking the type of content and questions they would like answered in the following session. This can help to build community engagement, showcase your personality, and position your brand as an expert in the fitness industry. You don’t need to be physically present to help your members. In a time, where social distancing is on the rise, you can stay connected.
Share Health and Fitness Dos and Don’ts
You can use Facebook Live videos to demonstrate the dos and don’ts of health and fitness. How to’s and how not to’s are popular pieces of content and provide added value not only to your members but the general public.
Share how to nail the perfect form or the best foods to eat after your workout. Try sharing incorrect exercise forms and explain the effects it can have on the body and results. Remind viewers to seek professional guidance if they aren’t sure and then show them the correct form. Be sure to interact with viewers at the same, answering any questions live on the spot.
News and Announcements
Facebook Live allows you to share breaking news and announcements easily and immediately. Whether you’re releasing a new class streaming platform or a new online six-week training program, you can inform viewers straight away. Spread the word about your next Facebook Live to raise awareness before broadcasting your latest news.
Collaborate with an Influencer
There’s a huge opportunity to collaborate with some of the best health and fitness influencers using Facebook Live. This can help spread brand awareness and bring in new audiences. Focus on collaborating with key influencers in the fitness industry and thought leaders who your audience will love.
Social media has paved the way to engage with brands and influencers in an unprecedented way. All you need is a mobile phone, and you’re able to communicate with potentially millions of Facebook users. For some inspiration, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the top fitness influencers as well as those shaping the future of fitness.
Campaign Launches
Do you have a campaign, a new product, or a fitness challenge launch coming up? Announcing a Facebook Live video to discuss the launch is a great way to build anticipation and spread the word. For example, if you plan on releasing new weekly online workouts, you can use Facebook Live to make the announcement and tease the new content coming to your members.
In Summary
Facebook Live is a powerful communication tool that allows you to create video connect to connect with your audience honestly. The very cost-effective platform means you can broadcast content no matter the budget. Form genuine connections with your audience and build a community following. With a reliable internet connection and mobile phone, you can reach your members wherever they are and provide support both at home and in the gym.
