Why Live Video Needs to be Part of Your Content Marketing Strategy

For most small businesses, the key focal point of any content marketing strategy has traditionally been written content – whether it’s blog content, whitepapers or case studies. The problem, however, is that big social media companies like Facebook are now putting increasing pressure on businesses to emphasize video and de-emphasize traditional written content.

It all starts with the Facebook algorithm

In many ways, this pressure has occurred so subtly that you might not have even noticed it. It all started with tweaks to the Facebook algorithm, which began to prioritize visual imagery and videos over written content. So companies began producing beautiful infographics designed to look good on social media. They began posting photos with captions or inspirational messages that would be shared on Facebook. And they began posting YouTube clips.

Then, Facebook tweaked the algorithm again, to favor “native video” (i.e. video produced using Facebook) as well as “live” video. This again led to a change in content being produced by brands and small businesses – instead of embedding YouTube or Vimeo videos, they began to create video content with platforms like Facebook Live. Moreover, since Facebook appeared to favor longer-form video content, that meant that relatively scripted Facebook Live shows became popular as a way of connecting with fans and customers.

The pivot to video

And this so-called “pivot to video” is happening everywhere you look. Some of the most popular media outlets out there – MTV News, Sports Illustrated, The Huffington Post, Fox Sports and Vice – have all pivoted to video. They are firing teams of writers, de-emphasizing written content, and producing more and more content that Facebook “likes.” The big picture view is that Facebook wants people to produce original, 30-minute video shows that can become part of a Facebook TV programming schedule, and it needs all content producers to be on the same page.

It’s impossible to overstate the role of Facebook in this. Any move made by Facebook is going to have ripple effects with brands and publishers. That’s because any company or brand will only produce content that people are going to interact with via Facebook. That makes sense, right? Why would you spend time, energy and dollars producing content that’s dead on arrival?

Video engagement is way up…

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