In the early days, businesses had it much easier on Facebook sine the social network was not as saturated as it is today. Presently, many businesses have “caught on” to the trend and the industry is much more competitive than ever.
The average Facebook user is connected to dozens of company pages so essentially you are competing with other businesses to attract the attention of your fans. It is vital that you know how to engage and get a response from your fans so you can grow and expand your brand.
Here are some tips to creating a more exciting, engaging Facebook page for your fans that will outperform your competition:
Be Dynamic and Current
Stand out from your competition by publishing content that is fresh and new. Many businesses do not put the extra effort into fresh content, even though this minor tweak can make a huge difference, especially if you work in a fast-moving industry.
It can be quite time-consuming to research the latest news on a daily basis. I use a free service called Netvibes which organizes all of my news feeds into one interface. I submit active blogs in my industry and visit it to gather the most valuable content. You can also use Google Alerts to send you an email when news is posted on a specific topic.
Another great site I use which lists the top news for many industries is Alltop.
Talk to Your Audience
Whom are you talking to? One common mistake I see many businesses make is posting information that is not directly related to their audience. This random type of posting, though meant to fill up empty space, can do more harm than good.
Excessive Advertising
Facebook fan pages are meant to be so much more than a place to post your product or company information. Social networks were created for the sole intent of connecting people together to share information and interact.
Avoid posting content that showcases your brand only. Your audience expects to read and experience valuable content on your page and also to interact with you. Advertising posts should be sprinkled in periodically.
Alternate Posts with Images
Image posts tend to garner a more positive response with fans and also show up in users’ news feeds more often. Text posts are easy to miss and Facebook rates images higher in the EdgeRank score which means they will enjoy more visibility by your fans.
For more tips on image posting and ways to acquire more shares on your posts, Mari Smith created this helpful blog post: Craft your Facebook Posts for Maximum Shares
Free Information
If you really want to grow, you should consider giving away free resources. This type of sharing will help you reach fans that otherwise wouldn’t know about your Facebook page. It can be something as small as a report, an interview with an expert, a Q&A session, or any other information that would be valuable to your fans.
Use Professional Graphics
I know that money is tight for some businesses, but it is important to display a high level of professionalism with your graphics. Your graphics should embody your brand message and be creative and eye-catching as well. If you are just starting out and you need some graphics made, you can use a site like Fiverr to acquire some low-cost services for as low as $5. Sort the providers by highest rating and read reviews before you hire anyone.
Thank your Fans
Don’t forget to thank your fans on a regular basis, especially when you are starting out. Offer free services or coupons or some other content to accompany your gratitude.
VALUE
Above all, remember to be unique and give your audience what they want: VALUE. The more you focus on meeting the needs of your fans, the more you will grow your brand and your following.
Do you have any other Facebook marketing tips? Please share!
