Tech Features

Last week we gave you some tips on setting up a Facebook page for your business. The logical next step is to get the most of out it once it's up and running. Here’s 11 tips to get things rocking.

By Irina Adashkevich

1. Be engaging, helpful and fun

Facebook is first and foremost a social platform. For marketers it is easy sometimes to forget that, but do your best to wear a consumer hat when communicating with your FB fans. Sales pitches are not for Facebook, so ensure to offer fun and helpful content that is easy to digest and makes people want to share it.

2. Be quick

The Internet has sped up our world, but also shortened our patience. Especially when it comes to social media, people expect almost immediate response. Make sure you have Facebook alerts going into your inbox or mobile phone, if that prompts you to respond straight away.

3. Have a landing page

It just makes sense to greet your first time visitors with clear and concise message about who you are, and if the landing page has a wow factor – even better! You will need to be familiar with HTML to create one, but otherwise the steps are simple to follow.

4. Promote your content

Facebook is the gateway to the internet for many people. Many these days use Facebook search over Google search. Because Facebook has become such an online home for people, it is important your valuable content, like videos, webinars and interesting pieces of research, doesn’t just stay on your website waiting to be found.

5. Embed your videos

If you went into an effort to create your own videos, there is no reason why you should send people to YouTube to watch them. A playable video also takes up more space and definitely will attract more views, than a link to YouTube. You will need to download it first though (I go with the MP4 format), and then upload through Photo upload option.

6. Introduce new products on Facebook first

People who sign up to be fans of your Facebook page are likely your most loyal evangelists and customers. Reward them by giving them information about a new product/service/feature before everyone else. If you do it right, they will help you promote it to others. Special offers just for your Facebook community.

7. Run a Facebook competition

Competitions are a great way to build up your fan base fast. If you are giving away something make sure it is a product or service that would appeal to your target audience. If you are a car dealer, there’s no point offering a romantic trip to Paris. Many people will like your page just to put their name into the hat, but will never read your posts and most probably will “unlike” your page after a while.

8. Connect Facebook campaign and the real world

The best Facebook competitions are the ones with a feel-good factor and create a sense of community. In general, Facebook campaigns that unite real world with online have tremendous response. See the article about the Danish chocolateer we published over on our Digital Marketing Institute blog this week.

9. Add the Facebook logo to your promotional materials

The Facebook icon/logo is well known. Add it to your print ads to promote your Facebook presence. Another good idea is to use traditional ads to promote contests that encourage people to sign up on your fan page.

10. Use Facebook to grow your email list, and vice versa

Use your email newsletter to boost awareness of your Facebook page. In addition, promote your email newsletter to your existing Facebook fans. The end result will be growth in your email list and your Facebook fan base.

11. Obey the Terms & Conditions

Follow the rules when it comes to competitions and uploading copyright content to your Facebook page. As with videos, you can share content, but unless you, a friend or a business partner created a piece of content you are not allowed to upload it. Facebook competition rules have plenty of restrictions, too, so familiarise yourself with them first.

Irina Adashkevich is the Digital Marketing Manager of Digital Marketing Institute. If you’d like to learn more about using Facebook and other social media platforms for your business, get in touch with the Digital Marketing Institute.

Main picture via GOIABA/Flickr Creative Commons