There is no doubt that Facebook is a powerhouse. It has more than 750 million active users and is growing rapidly every second of every day. With Facebook going head-to-head with Google when it comes to search engine options, you will undoubtedly see that very soon, if not already, Facebook members look to their friends' patterns when making purchasing decisions. If you're not on Facebook yet, you're missing the boat. It's time to start a page!
However, setting up a page is not the only step in the process to have an effective Facebook marketing campaign. Aside from needing to get your "followers" or "likes" in the first place, you then need to learn how to constantly communicate and provide value to the small community you've built, as well as attract new friends. Below are some tips to help you navigate Facebook Page marketing.
Ask questions
Social media is all about interaction. You will need to engage your fans, not just promote, promote, promote. You too can be creative with the questions! Don't just ask questions that are a means to the end of your business. This isn't a customer satisfaction survey we're doing here, we're trying to start a conversation with your true fans.
Choose manual automation
Because social media can take time, automation has become popular. You now have the ability to automatically publish your Twitter feed, blog feed, and other people's feeds as well. Your fans will know you're automating and it can feel impersonal and "spammy". Try to post as much real and engaging content as possible.
Don't be a promoter
While your "friends" may be there for your company, they certainly don't want to hang out at the party and be "sold" all evening. Don't make every post about you and your business. Provide value. For every 4 posts you publish, create 3 of them with content that may be interesting or valuable to your readers.
Get references and feedback
Where better to get feedback? You can ask people about positive experiences at your company and you can even post new product trailers to see what people think. There is a lot of marketing information to be gained from your "likes", but do it strategically and without over promoting.
Be personal
You don't sound like a stuffy corporate machine! We are here to be social, so let's be social! Have a sense of humor, make a joke and show emotion. This is what people want to see when they interact with companies today.
Mix it up
Don't always post the same types of comments, the same links, etc. Try to include videos, photos, surveys, polls, links to other articles in your field, online contests, and the like. Be creative!
