by Sydney Stone
So you’ve created a Facebook page for your small business. Good for you! That’s a huge step and a very important part of your marketing plan. Or, perhaps you’ve had a Facebook business page for a while, but you don’t have very many followers and you don’t have a clue as to how to get people to “like” you.
No worries. Here are three easy steps you can take that will put you on the road to Facebook popularity.
Step #1: Shout it from the rooftops!
The first thing you need to do is tell everyone you know about your page, starting with Facebook friends and connections. Facebook makes this easy to do with the “invite your friends to like this page” feature. This quick step is guaranteed to get you several likes. (And be sure to ask your friends to share your page with all of their connections as well. The more networks you reach, the more likes you’ll receive.)
Next, be sure to promote your page on other social media sites, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram. Include a link to your Facebook page and ask people to make sure they click on the “like” button. Offer some type of promotion, discount or exclusive content. Give people an incentive to take action and tell them what type of benefit they will receive by following your brand on Facebook.
Finally, make sure to include a link to your Facebook page on your website. If your site is built on WordPress, you can install a widget that allows visitors to click the “like” button directly from your homepage. You should also include a link to your Facebook page from your email signature. If you use printed business cards, it’s a good idea to list your Facebook URL address on the card as well.
Basically, think of all the ways you communicate with your customers or potential customers, and then find a way to promote your Facebook page within those communications.
Step #2: To have friends, be a friend.
When I first started my fashion blog Stylaphile, I did a lot of research on other fashion bloggers. I followed them on social media, read their blogs, and interacted with them. In doing so, I developed friendships not only with the bloggers themselves, but with their followers as well. By being an active participant within the fashion blogging community, I was able to make real connections with people who, in turn, promoted my blog and “liked” my Facebook page.
Think about your ideal customer. What blogs do they follow? What are their interests? Where do they “hang out” online? Find these communities and then become an active part of those communities. Be genuine and not just self-promoting. Connect with these people in a real way and they will support you in return.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to popular bloggers that blog about your type of product. If you’re a restaurant, reach out to foodie bloggers and offer them a free meal at your restaurant. If you’re a salon, offer a fashion blogger a gift certificate to give away to her followers as part of a contest. The key is to build rapport with industry influencers and their followers.
Step #3: Spend a little, get a lot!
To get the most amount of likes in the shortest amount of time, consider spending some of your marketing budget on Facebook Ads. The greatest thing about Facebook Ads is that you can target your specific buyer persona through demographic and behavioral segmentation. Not only will you gain a lot of likes and followers, but they will be the exact types of people that are most interested in and most likely to buy your product or service.
Facebook Ads allow you to determine your budget, including the maximum amount you want to spend each day and how long you want your ad to run. Facebook will show you an approximate number of likes you can expect to receive based on that specific budget and timeline. You can pause or cancel your ad at any time.
In addition to running a campaign to raise awareness of your page and get more likes, you can also promote specific Facebook posts through Facebook Ads. If you’re a doggie day spa and you’re offering a 20% off coupon, you can advertise that promotion to a targeted group of dog owners on Facebook.
The bottom line is that the best way to promote your Facebook page is through Facebook ads. It’s easy, affordable, and it works.
So there you have it! Try these three simple steps and you’ll have 500 adoring Facebook fans in no time. And don’t stop at 500! Continue to follow this advice and you’ll be celebrating the 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 milestones very soon!
Sydney Stone | freelance writer & editor 