Facebook Live has become an essential tool for businesses, marketers, and content creators looking to connect with their audience in real-time. With over 2.7 billion monthly active users on Facebook (Statista, 2021), the potential reach of live video content is massive. However, the value of your Facebook Live videos doesn‘t have to end when the broadcast does. By downloading and repurposing your live content, you can extend its lifespan, reach new audiences, and maximize your content marketing efforts.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk you through the process of downloading your Facebook Live videos and share proven strategies for repurposing that content across multiple platforms. We‘ll also dive into best practices for creating live videos with repurposing in mind and measuring the success of your repurposed content.
Why Repurpose Facebook Live Videos?
Before we get into the how-to, let‘s explore the benefits of repurposing your Facebook Live content:
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Extend the reach of your message: By sharing your live video content on other platforms, such as YouTube, Instagram, or your blog, you can reach new audiences who may not have caught the original broadcast.
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Increase the lifespan of your content: The average lifespan of a Facebook post is just 5 hours (Sprout Social, 2020). By repurposing your live videos, you can continue driving engagement and generating value long after the initial broadcast.
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Enhance your content marketing strategy: Video content is a powerful marketing tool, with 87% of marketers reporting a positive ROI from video (Wyzowl, 2021). By incorporating repurposed Facebook Live content into your overall marketing strategy, you can strengthen your brand messaging and engage your target audience more effectively.
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Save time and resources: Creating new content from scratch can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. By repurposing existing content, you can maximize your content output without having to start from zero every time.
Now that we‘ve established the value of repurposing Facebook Live videos let‘s dive into the process of downloading your live broadcasts.
How to Download Facebook Live Videos
Facebook makes it easy to download your live videos, but the process differs slightly depending on whether you‘re using a desktop computer or a mobile device.
Downloading on Desktop
- Navigate to the Facebook Live video you want to download on your business or personal page.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the post.
- From the dropdown menu, select "Download Video."
- The video will begin downloading to your computer. Depending on your browser settings, you may be prompted to choose a location to save the file before the download starts.
Downloading on Mobile
While Facebook doesn‘t have a built-in option for downloading live videos on the mobile app, there are a few workarounds you can try:
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Use a third-party app: There are several apps available for both iOS and Android that allow you to download videos from Facebook, including live broadcasts. Some popular options include MyMedia, Video Downloader for Facebook, and FastSave for Facebook. Be sure to read reviews and do your research before downloading any third-party app to ensure it‘s safe and reliable.
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Use a screen recording tool: Another option is to use your phone‘s built-in screen recording feature (available on iOS 11 or later and Android 10 or later) or a separate screen recording app to capture the live video as it plays on your device. While this method won‘t produce a perfect copy of the video, it can work in a pinch.
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Log into Facebook on a mobile browser: You can also try accessing Facebook through a mobile web browser, navigating to the live video, and looking for the download option there. The success of this method may vary, but it‘s worth attempting if other options don‘t work.
Method | Pros | Cons |
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Third-party apps | Easy to use, often free or low-cost | May have ads, potential privacy concerns |
Screen recording | Uses built-in phone features, captures exactly what you see | Lower video quality, may include unwanted elements (e.g., notifications) |
Mobile browser | Doesn‘t require additional apps or tools | May not always have download option available |
Once you‘ve successfully downloaded your Facebook Live video, it‘s time to start exploring repurposing ideas to maximize its value.
Creative Ways to Repurpose Facebook Live Videos
The beauty of repurposing content is that a single piece of content, like a Facebook Live video, can be transformed into multiple formats and shared across various channels. Here are some creative ideas for repurposing your live broadcasts:
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Create highlight clips for social media: Extract the most engaging or informative moments from your live video and create short, captivating clips to share on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. These highlight reels can drive traffic back to the full video on Facebook or your website and help you reach new audiences on each platform.
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Transcribe the audio for blog posts or articles: Use a transcription service or tool, like Rev or Otter.ai, to convert the spoken content from your live video into written text. You can then edit and refine the transcript into a comprehensive blog post or article, incorporating additional insights, examples, or resources to provide even more value to your readers.
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Repurpose the audio as a podcast episode: If your Facebook Live video primarily features talking or interview-style content, consider extracting the audio and using it as the basis for a podcast episode. You may need to do some light editing to remove visual references or awkward pauses, but this can be an effective way to reach an audience that prefers audio content.
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Develop graphics or quote images for visual platforms: Identify powerful quotes or key takeaways from your live video and transform them into eye-catching graphics using tools like Canva or Adobe Spark. These visual assets can be shared on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn to reinforce your message and encourage engagement.
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Incorporate clips into future videos: Save relevant sections of your Facebook Live video to use as b-roll footage or examples in future video content. This can help add visual interest to your videos and create a cohesive, professional look across your video marketing efforts.
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Create a lead magnet or course content: If your live video provides valuable insights, teaches a skill, or walks viewers through a process, consider using it as the foundation for a lead magnet or online course. Package the full video with additional resources, worksheets, or exercises to create an enticing opt-in offer or a paid product that delivers even more value to your audience.
When repurposing your Facebook Live content, it‘s essential to keep your target audience and marketing goals in mind. Consider which platforms and formats will resonate most with your audience and align with your overall content strategy.
Best Practices for Creating Facebook Live Videos with Repurposing in Mind
To make the repurposing process smoother and more effective, it‘s helpful to plan your Facebook Live content with repurposing in mind from the start. Here are some best practices to follow:
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Plan your topics and structure in advance: Before going live, outline the key points you want to cover and create a loose structure for your broadcast. This will make it easier to identify sections that can be repurposed later and ensure your video has a clear, logical flow.
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Invest in quality audio: Poor audio quality can be a major barrier to repurposing live video content, especially if you want to extract the audio for a podcast or transcribe it for written content. Use a reliable microphone and minimize background noise to ensure your audio is clear and easy to understand.
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Use visual aids and graphics: Incorporating visual elements, such as slides, images, or on-screen text, can make your live video more engaging and easier to follow. These visual aids can also be repurposed as standalone content pieces, such as infographics or social media posts.
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Include clear calls-to-action: Throughout your live broadcast, provide clear calls-to-action (CTAs) for viewers to engage with your brand or access additional resources. These CTAs can be seamlessly integrated into your repurposed content, driving traffic and encouraging further engagement.
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Engage with your live audience: One of the unique benefits of Facebook Live is the ability to interact with your audience in real-time. Encourage viewers to ask questions, share their thoughts, and participate in the discussion. These interactions can provide valuable insights and quotes that you can incorporate into your repurposed content.
By keeping these best practices in mind, you can create Facebook Live videos that are not only engaging and informative but also easily repurposable across multiple channels.
Measuring the Success of Your Repurposed Content
As with any content marketing strategy, it‘s crucial to track the performance of your repurposed Facebook Live content to understand what‘s working and where you can improve. Here are some key metrics to monitor:
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View count: Track how many people are viewing your repurposed content across different platforms. This will give you an idea of the reach and visibility of your content.
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Engagement rate: Monitor likes, comments, shares, and other engagement metrics to gauge how well your repurposed content resonates with your audience on each platform.
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Click-through rate (CTR): If your repurposed content includes links back to your website or other resources, track the CTR to see how effectively it drives traffic and encourages further exploration of your brand.
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Conversion rate: Measure how many people take a desired action, such as signing up for your email list or making a purchase, after engaging with your repurposed content.
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Audience growth: Monitor how your repurposed content contributes to growing your audience on each platform, such as new followers, subscribers, or email list signups.
By regularly reviewing these metrics and comparing the performance of your repurposed content across different platforms, you can identify what types of content and formats resonate best with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Conclusion
Downloading and repurposing your Facebook Live videos is a smart content marketing strategy that allows you to maximize the value of your live broadcasts, reach new audiences, and strengthen your brand messaging across multiple channels. By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article and implementing the creative repurposing ideas and best practices discussed, you can effectively extend the lifespan and impact of your Facebook Live content.
Remember to keep your target audience and marketing goals at the forefront when planning your repurposing strategy, and continually monitor the performance of your repurposed content to optimize your approach over time. With a commitment to quality, consistency, and creativity, repurposing your Facebook Live videos can become a powerful tool in your content marketing arsenal, helping you drive engagement, build brand awareness, and achieve your business objectives.
Additional Resources
- Facebook Live Best Practices
- How to Repurpose Content Like a Pro
- 17 Ways to Repurpose a Facebook Live Broadcast
- The Ultimate Guide to Repurposing Content
- 7 Tips for Creating Engaging Facebook Live Videos
By exploring these additional resources, you can further enhance your knowledge and skills in creating, downloading, and repurposing Facebook Live videos, ultimately helping you achieve greater success in your content marketing efforts.