Live streaming has quickly become a popular way of sharing videos online. There are many different venues to post live streams, but using Facebook Live is possibly the most popular one. Many people use it to post real-time videos of what they’re doing, news channels use it to share updates on stories and weather, and many businesses also use it for advertising and promoting. And more. Live streaming offers so many video sharing possibilities. Perhaps you have been considering using Facebook Live, either for personal use or for your business, but aren’t quite sure how to go about doing it. If so, here’s helpful step-by-step guide to get you started. It really isn’t all that hard to do, as you’ll see.

Here are the simple steps you’ll need to follow to do a Facebook Live stream:

1. Obviously, if don’t have one yet, set up a Facebook account and a Facebook profile. Or if you’re doing a business or fan page, set up that page.
2. If you don’t have one yet, get a mobile device, like a smartphone or tablet, that has a camera so you can record videos and has the Facebook app on it.
3. Once you have your Facebook profile set and your mobile device ready, open the Facebook app.
4. Go to either your Facebook profile page or your business or fan page, whichever you are wanting to broadcast live on.
5. Click on the “Status” option to bring up more options.
6. See a little video camera icon and either “Go Live”, “Live”, or “Live Video”? Click on that. You can also find this icon on your newsfeed, if this is an easier option for you than going through your profile page.
7. You phone’s camera will open. You can use the front or back camera, it’s your choice. You can also set privacy settings before you go live. Be sure to allow Facebook access to your camera and microphone.
8. Be sure to add a description for your live video so people will know what they’re going to be seeing.
9. Tag any friends you want, choose your location, or add an activity if you want to.
10. Add any lenses, flares, writing or drawings, emojis, etc. that you might want for your video.
11. When you’re all set, click on the option to “go live”.
12. A countdown will come up. When it’s run out, your live stream will be. Be ready!
13. Record your live stream video.
14. You can also interact with any viewers through the comments section, so you can answer any questions or respond to any comments they make.
15. When you’re done, simply click on the “Done” or “Finish” button.
16. Congratulations! You’ve done your first live stream!

See? Doesn’t that sound simple? Of course it does. Your live stream video will appear on your friends’ and followers’ news feeds, and they will have the option to subscribe to your live streams and be notified when you post future streams. Happy live streaming!