WARNING: This email may transform your Facebook Live from boring to badass.
The #1 question that Lights, Camera, Live™ viewers always ask is, "What gear are you using?"
So I thought it would be useful to create a resource page that details every product, tool and service I recommend. The best part is that some of the services below are free #yasssss 🙌
If you're thinking about live streaming on Facebook in the new future, definitely bookmark this post for reference—and yes, those are affiliate links.
Mobile Broadcasters
Arkon Mount Tripod - If you're going live on your mobile device and want something portable, then the Arkon Mount is definitely something that you should keep handy. It's sturdy enough to hold my iPhone 7 and it has this cool little level to let you know if your shot is crooked or not. The holder can also be removed if you plan on using a different tripod.
Rechargeable Selfie Ring Light - Let's be honest, the right lighting makes a huge difference and with this rechargeable selfie ring light, you'll be always be ready for the spotlight. This bad boy includes a built-in rechargeable battery so you don't need extra batteries and has three adjustable light settings.
Camera Lenses - If you're camera isn't as clear as you'd like it to be, you can use smartphone camera lenses to improve your video quality. These lenses start at $20, and includes 5 quick connect lenses: telephoto lens, circular polarized lens (CPL), fisheye lens, macro lens and wide angle lens.
EVO Shift Smartphone Gimbal - The new EVO SHIFT transforms your smartphone into a pro-quality camera stabilizer, making every moment you shoot look smooth and professional. Viewers will think you have some type of high end camera.
Look at how smooth this Facebook Live video is by my girl Jenna Soard from YouCanBrand.
Audio Technica ATR3350 Lavalier Mic - This handy dandy mic will boost the sound quality of your audio so viewers can really tune in to what you're saying versus what's going on in the background.
Insta360 Nano (iPhone only) - If you want to take your live stream to a whole new level, broadcast live in 360! I picked this nifty little gadget thanks to my friend at Urbanist who does walking tours in New York City. With the Insta360 Nano, you can go live on Facebook and Twitter!
Desktop Broadcasters
Logitech C290 - Broadcast live with the external web cam that most pro live streamers use. In full transparency, I use the built-in camera on my iMac but I did try this camera out. I found that the video quality was the same as my iMac so I ended up returning it.
Cowboy Lighting Kit - If you're just starting out, this kit is a good place to start. It's easy to setup and the umbrellas are big enough to create a nice diffused light. Overall, it comes at a great price and everything fits nicely in the bag. The lights create a clean and strong white light. Excellent for video work.
Blue Yeti Mic - This is my go to mic for LCL. The sound quality is fantastic and viewers often leave comments on how impressed they are by the show's audio.
Microphone Suspension Boom with Pop Filter - The standard Blue Yeti Mic stand would take up a lot of room in my live video so I bought this suspension boom to position my mic where its less noticeable to viewers. The pop filter is super helpful in making your audio sound even better.
Third-party Live Streaming Platforms
OBS Studio (FREE) - If you want more control over your Facebook Live broadcast (e.g., custom branding, interview capabilities, etc.) then check out OBS Studio. The software is 100% free and will allow you to go live on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube. For tutorials, you can scan YouTube or if you want a more detailed step-by-step tutorial, then check out my course Unlock OBS Studio 101.
BeLive.tv (FREE - Kinda) - BeLive is one of the most popular live streaming platforms used today. You broadcast via their platform and your stream is routed to Facebook. It's great for entrepreneurs that don't want to deal with a lot of tech. As of right now, you can go live on their platform twice a week for 20 minutes. To take advantage of all of their other features, you'd have to upgrade to a paid plan.
Zoom Webinar - Zoom makes online meetings easy and now they have a product called Zoom Webinar where you can go live on your Facebook Business Page or Facebook Group.
Graphics
Canva.com (FREE) - As part of the LCL promo strategy, I create social media graphics that my guest and I can both share. If you're looking for easy to use templates, then you should definitely check out Canva.
Pexels and Unsplash - And while we're on the topic of graphics, my two go-to sites for stock images would be Pexels and Unsplash.
Facebook Live Engagement
Rev.com - Majority of the engagement that you're going to get with your live video is going to happen *after* your broadcast. Most Facebook users will see the replay of your live video in their News Feed but unfortunately, the sound will be turned off. To catch the viewers attention, you can have Rev.com create captions for your broadcast that way, when someone scrolls by, they can quickly get an idea on what you're talking about and push play to watch the rest of it.
ManyChat (FREE) - A great way to get fans to watch your broadcast live is to send them a message via Facebook Messenger. You can easily send out a messenger blast—similar to an email blast—that alerts users when you go live. To take advantage of more advanced features, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
WHEW! Okay that was a lot of brain power there!
I hope you found this list super helpful. Please share with anyone that you think might find this helpful.
If you've come across any gear that you absolutely cannot live without, I'd love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and give me the details.
DISCLAIMER: This website contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I receive a small commission. This assures that we can continue bringing you valuable content. Thank you for supporting Lights, Camera, Live! We only link to products we use or are highly recommended by trusted sources.
