|
Pundits in all walks of life debate over whether or not social media is here to stay. Our advice to you, as the debate continues, is to leverage your business on Facebook while it’s here. Facebook has incredible power in its ability to attract and retain clients, which will ultimately do wonders for your business. One important thing to remember is that the number of “likes” you gather will be based on your businesses’ overall customer base. Only a fraction of your customers will have Facebook profiles, and only a fraction of those will want to connect with your brand on Facebook.
Here are a few tips on how to increase your businesses’ Facebook fan base:
#1: Content
This cannot be stressed enough- content, content, content- is the key to building a solid fan base. As you offer innovative and informative content, the fan base will ultimately begin to build, as your message will be something worth “liking.” As the business page (previously called fan page) starts gaining traction, the number of “likes” should spread on its own. Be mindful and take care of your audience. If you do not engage your audience regularly, they will get bored and move on to something else.
#2: Embed widgets on your Web site
You will find all of the following options under the “marketing” tab located under “account settings,” for instance:
First and foremost, you should have a “Like Us” box on your Web site. This button allows your visitors to become connected to you instantly. Make it easy for them. The fewer clicks your customer makes to reach you the better.
You should also have “Share This” buttons throughout your site. These buttons allow people to publish that they like a particular thing about your site over multiple platforms without being forced to become fans. This is very useful as people can actively participate on their own terms.
You might also consider the “Live Stream” widget. The Live Stream widget allows Facebook users to add their comments to a live event, for example, and that activity pushes out onto their stream. This option is advised for very active pages only.
You might instead want to integrate the “Facebook Comment” feature onto your Web site; however this option can be a double-edged sword. Remember that the social media world is not always filled with positive comments, so when you receive a negative post, make sure you deal with the issue quickly and graciously. Keep in mind that not leaving a comment can be just as worse as leaving a bad comment.
#3: Invite your newsletter subscribers
Assuming that you have an email database of your clientele, you should definitely send out an invitation to your subscribers via email (several times, over time) letting them know about your business page and encouraging them to join. Ideally, provide them with a description of the page and an incentive to join.
Be sure to have the clickable Facebook logo/badge appear in your HTML newsletters. Use the “Suggest to Friends” feature to promote your business page to your own friends. Use this option with caution as you don’t want to annoy any of your clients by being too pushy.
#4: Place Facebook ads
Even with a small weekly/monthly budget, you should be able to boost your fan count using Facebook’s advertising feature. It’s one of the most targeted traffic platforms currently offered that your money can buy. Your ad can include a “Like” button that instantly lets the user become a fan of a page without moving away from his/her profile. Additionally, Facebook can display several of their friends who have already liked you, thus creating social proof.
#5: Run a contest
Find a creative way to engage and reward your audience for their participation. It’s easy, fun, and usually well worth your time.
#6: Link to Twitter
Link your Twitter account to your Facebook business page, allowing posts to automatically sync to both mediums. You can edit what gets posted, choosing from Status Updates, Photos, Links, Notes and Events. You should also be promoting your Facebook business page on your custom Twitter background in addition to your Twitter bio/URL field.
#7: Use print media
Look at every piece of print media that is currently promoting your business. Your Facebook business page (as well as any other social sites you’re active on) should be clearly displayed. Put your Facebook business page link (and the logo) on your business cards, letterhead, brochure, print newsletter, magazine ads, products, etc. Social media has to be a comprehensive program throughout your company and should be integrated throughout your business.
#8: Display at your store/business
Promote your business page at your own retail premises, letting your customers know you’re on Facebook. Also, give an incentive to your customers to join right away via their mobile devices.
#9: Use the @ tag
The “@” tag on Facebook provides your page with a clickable link in order for your page to be shared easily. It’s the same as what you type in when you’re replying to a Twitter post. As long as you’re a fan of your own business page, you can “@” tag it on your own personal profile wall or when you write on your friends’ profile. Simply start typing the “@” symbol and the first few letters of your business page name and it will appear from a drop-down menu to select.
#10: Create a customized landing page
The customized landing page is the first thing your potential fans will see, therefore it’s very important to make this visually appealing and user friendly. The good news about creating a customized landing page is that you can create it yourself and it only requires minimal knowledge of HTML. The only time this becomes complicated is when you prefer to have a custom design created, which more experienced Facebook users can assist you with. A good landing page suggests that you care about your customers’ experience while they are visiting your business page, in hopes that they will keep coming back and start to bring their friends.
It has been our experience that by implementing the above tips, your efforts will soon be rewarded. If you don’t see a significant increase within three months, don’t despair as it usually takes time to build a reputation. Like anything, be persistent in your efforts and don’t forget to carve out time to manage your business page. After all, Facebook is a key component of your business businesses’ success and most likely is here to stay.
|
