Click on any of the images or GIFs in this article for a closer look.
In this article, you'll learn:
- The benefits of using stream keys for Facebook lives.
- How to use stream keys to go live on your Facebook group and page.
About Stream Keys
When your shop goes live, that means you are live streaming to your chosen platforms: your webstore, mobile app, and/or Facebook page and group. Stream keys are the code that allows CommentSold to connect your live stream directly to your Facebook stream target locations.
Using stream keys to go live on Facebook is different than the traditional method of going live since this method allows you to use CommentSold’s features and additional Facebook live options.
Learn more about the traditional method of going live via CommentSold here.
Have you enabled Going Live as Page Instead of Profile? We strongly recommend going live as your Facebook page as it simplifies CommentSold's ability to read SOLD comments. When enabled, CommentSold will send shoppers who've carted items an invoice via Messenger. This message will contain a call-to-action link that will automatically confirm a shopper's account. Learn how to enable this setting here.
How Going Live Using Stream Keys Benefits Your Shop
- Gain access to customizable Facebook live engagement features.
- Maximize your shop's use of the CommentSold Overlay and automated shopper invoicing.
- View additional metric measurements for your live sale on your Facebook page and group.
Going Live Using Stream Keys
Going live using stream keys uses the same initial steps as the traditional method of going live. You’ll go to your Live Sale Overview, verify your broadcast stream, and choose your products. Your third step is the step that differs from the traditional process.
You will have the option to go live on your Facebook page and/or group, so we recommend having your page and/or group open in an additional browser tab.
- Complete the first two steps of the traditional live selling method which will verify your broadcast stream video quality and help you select products for the live sale.
- Locate the Real-Time Comments section on the right side of your overview and select Choose Where to Go Live.
- Select Copy & Paste Stream URLs.
- Choose your preferred Stream Target. With stream keys, you have two options:
- Go Live on Your Page. This method shares your live stream with your group via a post. However, shoppers in your group must comment on the live sale video and not the post in order to cart items. This option requires you to enter only one set of stream keys in CommentSold.
- Go Live from Your Page and Group. This method creates a live sale event on both the page and the group. Group shoppers can comment on their group live sale feed to cart items. This option requires you to enter two sets of stream keys in CommentSold—one for your page and one for your group.
- Navigate to your Facebook tabs. You may have two open if you wish to go live on both your page and group.
- On your Facebook page, locate the Create options and select Live.
- Select + Create New at the bottom of the Go Live section.
- Note: You must perform this step on a desktop computer. This page is not available on mobile devices.
- You do not need to enable the test broadcast option on Facebook.
- From the Choose where to post drop-down on the left side menu, ensure you've selected your shop page.
- From the When are you going live? drop-down, select Now.
- Enter a Title and Description for the Facebook post in the Add post details section on the right side of the page.
- Under Video Source, select Streaming software.
- Locate and Copy your Stream Key.
- Navigate back to your CommentSold tab and paste the key in the Stream Key field under Shop Name [Page].
- On your Facebook page, select the Advanced Settings drop-down below the stream key.
- Locate and Copy the Server URL.
- Navigate back to your CommentSold tab and paste the key in the Server URL field under Shop Name [Page].
- If you are going live on your page and sharing with your group, then you're all set.
- Select Go Live at the bottom of CommentSold and Go Live at the bottom of Facebook.
- You can now switch back to CommentSold to manage your sale from the live overview.
- If you wish to go live on your page and group, follow the identical steps outlined in the next tab.
Note: Facebook tabs must remain open while you're live in order to stream to your page and group. Closing Facebook will end your live sale on Facebook.
If you wish to go live on your Facebook group in addition to your page, you'll need another set of stream keys. Follow the below steps to locate and copy those keys.
- In your Facebook group, select Live Video.
- Select + Create New at the bottom of the Go Live section.
- Note: You must perform this step on a desktop computer. This page is not available on mobile devices.
- You do not need to enable the test broadcast option on Facebook.
- From the Choose where to post drop-down on the left side menu, ensure you've selected your group.
- From the When are you going live? drop-down, select Now.
- On the right side of the page, enter a Title and Description for the Facebook post in the Add post details section.
- Under Video Source, select Streaming software.
- Locate and Copy your Stream Key.
- Navigate back to your CommentSold tab and paste the key in the Stream Key field under Shop Name [Page].
- On your Facebook page, select the Advanced Settings drop-down below the stream key.
- Locate and Copy the Server URL
- Navigate back to your CommentSold tab and paste the key in the Server URL field under Shop Name [Group].
- Select Go Live at the bottom of CommentSold.
- Navigate back to each of your Facebook tabs and select Go Live on the pages.
- You're all set! You can now switch back to CommentSold to manage your sale from the live overview.
Note: Facebook tabs must remain open while you're live in order to stream to your page and group. Closing Facebook will end your live sale on Facebook.
End Your Live Sale
When it's time to end your live sale, complete the following steps in order:
- Select End Live Sale in the top-left corner of the Live Overview in CommentSold.
- End your broadcast stream on your CS Broadcast app.
- Select End live video in the bottom-left corner of your Facebook live dashboard (pictured above). Confirm this action by selecting End on the following pop-up.
Don’t forget processing times. Once a live sale ends, CommentSold will need to process the video before you can add it as a Live Replay. Processing times average out to half the length of the live sale. For example, if your live sale was 60 minutes, then the video would take 30 minutes to process. You can view video processing statuses here.
Learn More
- Going Live as Your Facebook Page. Learn about the benefits of hosting a live sale on Facebook as your page.
- Analyzing Live History. Learn how to access and manage in-depth analytics for past live sales.
- Automatic Product Videos from Live Sales. Learn how to automatically create individual product videos from products featured in live sales.
