Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9 pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Christian Karasiewicz. Christian is the CEO and Founder of Social Chefs (http://www.socialchefs.com/blog), a leading social media training and education site, where his goal is to make creating a winning social campaign as easy as following a recipe! He is also a Social Business Manager for IBM, avid supporter of Apple and frequent tennis player who loves helping other business owners succeed.

SmallBizLady: WHAT IS FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO?

C.Karasiewicz: It’s using your mobile device to broadcast live in real-time to your audience/tribe using Facebook.

You can use Facebook Live video for profiles, pages, groups and even events.

For Pages, by using Facebook Live you have another way to build a deeper relationship with your customers and fans on Facebook thanks to livestreaming!

By using Facebook live video in your group, this can be a great way to build deeper connections with your group members and to make your Facebook Group a destination that your customers visit regularly and recommend to their peers on Facebook.

For Events, when you are putting on an important event for your business, you can incorporate live video and promote it just to people who said they were attending your event on your Facebook Page. By using this Facebook tactic, you can engage prospects and customers before, during and after your businesses events!

SmallBizLady: CAN ANYONE USE FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEOS?

C.Karasiewicz: Absolutely! Right now, you can broadcast just yourself on Facebook to your friends or fans. If you’re a verified page, this week they rolled out a way for you to collaborate with others when livestreaming.

SmallBizLady: IS THERE A COST TO CREATE FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEOS?

C.Karasiewicz: There really isn’t any except for mobile data, your time and a few tools such as a mobile device.

SmallBizLady: CAN ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS GET INTO LIVE STREAMING?

C.Karasiewicz: Certainly. A restaurant might use Facebook Live to give customers a sneak peek of their evening specials. They could also tie-in an exclusive coupon code just for Facebook Live viewers.

People in banking or finance might use live video to answer common questions they receive from customers.

If you run a retail business, consider using live video if you have specials in-store or online you want to announce to your audience.

The same goes for bloggers. Instead of having readers post comments, you can bring readers together to discuss a blog post with you in real-time.

SmallBizLady: ARE VIDEOS SAVED?

C.Karasiewicz: Yes. Your live videos are stored in the photos/videos tab of your Facebook Page. They can also be saved on your mobile device immediately after you end the broadcast. You can also go back and download them later if you need them. While you can always access your Facebook Live videos from your account, it’s good to have a backup.

SmallBizLady: CREATING A LIVE VIDEO SOUNDS COMPLICATED. HOW MUCH PLANNING NEEDS TO GO IN TO ONE?

C.Karasiewicz: If you’re just getting started, it’s best to create an outline so you can stay on-track. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes. No one creates a perfect video the first time. Experiment and then improve with each new Facebook Live video.

SmallBizLady: WHAT ARE SOME WAYS I CAN IMPROVE MY VIDEOS?

C.Karasiewicz: Besides creating an outline, instead of just going live on Facebook, you can create a 30 second teaser to let your fans know you’ll have a special Facebook Live video on a set date and time and to tune-in.

If you have links you want to share with your audience, create an easy-to-remember Bitly short URL you can tell them in your video and post it in the comments as well!

SmallBizLady: HAVING QUALITY VIDEO AND AUDIO ARE IMPORTANT WHEN LIVESTREAMING. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY VIDEOS LOOK THEIR BEST?

C.Karasiewicz: Have a strong WiFi signal. For videos, I recommend getting a tripod such as the Manfrotto…so the camera doesn’t shake and use an external mic such as the RODE VideoMicro. Each runs about $50, but you can use them for Facebook Live Video, YouTube videos, Periscope and more! They’re extremely portable too! Stabilizers, portable lights, portable battery chargers, Bluetooth remotes, and additional lenses are also great to have.

SmallBizLady: IF SOMEONE IS UNCOMFORTABLE OR NEW TO BEING ON-CAMERA, HOW CAN THEY EASE INTO USING LIVE VIDEO?

C.Karasiewicz: I would recommend working with a friend to use Facebook Live video. You can start a video and have it where it is only shared with one other person. This would allow you the opportunity to practice using live video, while testing out the equipment. Be sure to keep the group small, but don’t be afraid to ask for feedback.

SmallBizLady: WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE WHEN ONE ISN’T SURE HOW FB LIVE VIDEO WOULD APPLY IN THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESS?

C.Karasiewicz: Look at other major brands to see how they are using live video. Don’t forget to look at competitors as well to see what they are doing and consider borrowing some ideas from them. Another thing being done a lot with live video is to include subtitles in your videos. This is easy to do – you can hire a service to help create these. This can help you capture a reader’s attention if the video is auto-playing, but they don’t have the sound up. Look at all aspects of the videos someone makes. Not just the content, but how long the videos are, how they deliver it and so forth. If you really like a concept they use and want to implement it in your own videos, don’t be afraid to network with them and ask them for help.

SmallBizLady: WHY IS LIVE VIDEO SO IMPORTANT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS?

C.Karasiewicz: Live video used to be really expensive to produce. Today, anyone can create live video using just their mobile device. It is important because it enables small business owners to be able to reach their audience better and connect with them on a deeper level – for example, you can sense someone’s emotions and feelings over video better than you can through a picture. Video also presents small businesses with a more interactive way to connect with customers. At the same time, customers feel valued if a business owner can see they are watching their video and mention them by name. It gives people a sense of belonging.

SmallBizLady: WHAT IS ONE THING I AS A BUSINESS OWNER CAN DO TODAY TO USE FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO?

C.Karasiewicz: Come up with 3-5 ideas you could consistently talk about on video and schedule them on your calendar. What gets scheduled, gets done!

Review your live videos and see where you can improve and keep at it!

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9 pm ET; follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter.

Here’s how to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/1hZeIlz