If you want to make your Facebook Live broadcasts stand out, and better help to establish your credibility, then you may want to consider investing in a couple tools.
But first, it's important to keep the following acronym in mind when shooting your videos.
C.S.I.
1. "C"
The "C" stands for "Content", and this comes first because your content is what is ultimately most important.
It doesn't matter how nice your video quality is, if you don't have good content, people aren't going to watch.
If you need help with creating great content-rich videos, then check out my 5-Step Facebook Live Formula.
2. "S"
The "S" stands for "sound", as this is the second most important aspect of your videos.
You can get away with poor video quality if your content is spectacular, and people can hear you well, and there aren't a lot of audio distractions.
3. "I"
As you've probably guessed, "I" stands for image. This may come last, but if you master the first two letters, and also rock your image quality, then you have everything you need to really set yourself apart, and establish yourself as an authority.
Without further ado, let's dive into the tools you can use to help improve your video quality.
These are all products we use, and highly recommend.
This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, our family will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Rode smartLav+ Lavalier Microphone
For capturing better quality audio
Like we talked about above, sound is the most important aspect of your videos after your content. If you get nothing else, having a mic can really help improve your video audio.
The mic in the image above is what I use, and it makes a big difference.
If you want to hear for yourself, you can check out this video. First you'll hear me talking with the mic, and next you'll hear me talking without it.
The switch happens a minute 5:42, and you'll immediately hear a difference.
Just be aware if you have an iPhone that doesn't have a headphone jack, and just has a thunderbolt port (like I have), then you'll also need to purchase an adapter (if you don't have one already).
You can get one by clicking the link below.
A Tripod
For stable video
I didn't always use a tripod when I shot Facebook Lives, however, I stopped making people "see-sick" once I did start using one.
Without a tripod, your video is going to be way too shaky, which is not only unprofessional, but it can make people "see-sick" from seeing too much.
A tripod is really a must. It stabilizes your videos, allows you to get the right hight level for your camera, and overall just makes your videos much more professional.
You can order the one we use here. We actually have two of them!
A Selfie-Stick
For shooting Live's when you're on the go.
I first heard of selfie stick when my sister got back from South Korea in 2014.
I thought they were the stupidest things I'd ever seen. I mean, come on, how self-absorbed must you be to need a tool specifically designed so you can take tons of pictures of yourself?
The thought never even entered my mind that I would one day use one of these things.
But hey, when you're building a business, and you need to get a video out but you're on the go...
These things are a necessity. You can lug your tripod everywhere you go, but you can easily bring along a selfie-stick, which makes shooting videos a cinch.
They're also great for shooting "lifestyle" photos for when your out and about, which are great for social media.
A Ring Light
So people can see you
One of the fastest ways to kill your video quality is too shoot it in a dark area.
If your video is all dark, it's going to scream "unprofessional".
A light isn't necessary, because you can always shoot outside, or in front of a window so the light is on your face...
But if those aren't options, it can be nice to have a little light you can easily attach to your phone.
You can get fancier lights, like this one, to ensure you always have quality lighting, especially if you tend to shoot at night.
Index Cards
So you don't forget what to say
The thing about live video is you're going to make mistakes, and that's ok.
In fact, it can even be beneficial, as it shows you're audience that you're a real person.
That said, you don't want mistakes to get in the way of delivering your high-value content.
And nothing gets in the way of delivering your message like completely forgetting what you were going to say.
What's that? No, I'm definitely NOT talking from experience here. Definitely not... *cough*
You obviously don't have to buy index cards, but these are what I've found to be the most helpful.
They've very easy to hold, don't make noise like a piece of paper would, and their small size prevents you from writing too much on them, which is actually what you want.
You want your videos to be short and sweet, and you don't want to sound like you're reading a script.
Again, don't forget C.S.I. Your video quality only matters if you have great content!
If you want to grab my 5-step formula for shooting your live videos so you crush your content each and every time, then click below.
I hope you found this post on, How To Improve The Quality of Your Facebook Live Broadcasts, helpful!
Please feel free to share if you got value, and let me know in the comments below...
What other questions do you have about Facebook Live?
Have a great day!
- Reagan Ramm
Hi! I'm Reagan Ramm
I’m Paula's son (a.k.a. her favorite app). I'm the Website & Content Engineer for PaulaRamm.com. I manage our website and email marketing for our family business (among other various tasks).
When I'm not working on the family business, I'm working on my music project, Andromeda Coast, with my wife Haley, and baby son, Asher Phoenix.
