Before you can start engaging fans, you have to get them there. Once you grow Facebook followers, you will split your time between continuing to grow your fan base and engaging with those already there.
How to Help People Find Your NEW Facebook Page
- Start at the basic level and make sure everyone at your organization knows you have a fan page. Everyone at your company (whether an admin of the page or not) is an evangelist for your fan page. Provide them with a link to the page, and tell them exactly how you’d like them to like the page.
- Invite all of your connections (friends on Facebook) to like the page who would have an interest in the page. Sometimes it’s a geographical area, and other times it’s that they are (or could be) an ideal customer.
- Make sure everyone at your company has a link to your Facebook page in their email signature. This is easy to do, and is a simple way of communicating your page each and every time you email people. Add text like “We are now on Facebook!” or “Like us on Facebook”
- Add a Facebook icon and link to your website and any other pages you have. Because Facebook’s search feature often fails to produce the desired search results for finding a specific Facebook page, people will often turn to Google and your website to find a link to your Facebook page. Make it as easy as possible for them to find you!
- If you have other pages like a parent company, branch offices, or multiple locations, create a social post with links to post there and let people know.
- If you have a front counter, delivery driver, or some other place that a flyer can be posted or a hand-out included, make sure you tell people you have a new Facebook page and provide the URL, or even better – create a QR code for customers to scan with their phone.
- If you have a waiting room, host events or attend tradeshows, consider having a computer/Internet available so people can instantly “Like” your page while being prompted. If you give out a WiFi password, be sure to invite people to “Like” your Facebook page.
- Update your Chamber member listing to include your Facebook page or other places you have a listing online.
- Writing guest posts for other websites or blogs is a wonderful opportunity to link to your Facebook page in your writer’s bio. Share with people what they can expect to get out of liking your page.
- Almost everything you do on Facebook is tracked and potentially seen by others. When you use Facebook as a page and interact with vertical fan pages (those that compliment yours but not in direct competition) such as liking their page, posting helpful information, commenting on their pages, tagging their pages, and sharing their information to your own page, it will often attract people who otherwise didn’t know about your page. If you’re a non-profit, check out fan pages of sponsors, donors, and geographical areas. Businesses should connect with dealers, suppliers, parent companies, vendors, chambers, etc.
- Consider a paid Facebook ad that can grow your fan base in a number of ways. Facebook offers many new social sharing options, as well as very specific target marketing. You don’t have to have a large budget to use some paid Facebook ads, as long as you spend time refining the goals of your ad and measuring.
- E-newsletters and email blasts should all link to your Facebook page at the very least, and to amp it up, consider a specific incentive to “Like” your page. If you have new products to premiere or news to announce that always generates interest, encourage people to “Like” your fan page to get the news first. Be consistent and over time, news will spread if people feel the pull toward your page and the excitement builds.
- Get your vanity URL, so it’s easier to tell people the link to your fan page. Rather than a long and general Facebook generated URL, you decide the URL of your page.
- Depending on your customers and prospects, Facebook contests and giveaways can create buzz to increase visibility and likes.
- All print materials must have a Facebook icon and address added (Example: Facebook.com/VividImageInc) Since print materials aren’t clickable, people need to know how to find your fan page. Don’t assume they can find you with Facebook’s search bar. It’s notably not very advanced and often returns no results, even when you know the name of the fan page. Print materials include receipts, business cards, brochures, newspaper ads, flyers, direct mailers, etc.
- Some small businesses and organizations have a unique opportunity to find ambassadors (the trendier term is influencers) who are willing to help you promote your brand or cause. Spend some time identifying who these people may be, how you can approach them, what specifically you’ll ask them to do to help spread the word, and if you will compensate in some way.
- Don’t forget to add a quick message on your voice mail letting callers know that they can find you on Facebook and if applicable, let them know they are welcome to connect with you there.
If you’re starting over with a new page because your account was hacked, and you couldn’t get it back, make sure you make your accounts as secure as possible BEFORE spending time to grow the page. Also, be aware of spam tactics that lead to account vulnerability.
With a growing number of “Likes/Followers” on your fan page, you’ll want to start focusing on engagement. It is always more important to have fewer fans who are more engaged, than tons of fans who aren’t. We can help you with social media management!
