With more than 2 billion daily active users, Facebook is the perfect platform to grow your business. But with over 88% of companies already using social media for marketing, it’s vital that you know how to stand out from the crowd. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 ways you can boost your business’s fan base, just by making some simple changes to your company page.
- Show Yourself Off
Your profile picture and cover image are the first things a potential customer will see when they land on your company’s Facebook page. So, it’s imperative that your branding is strong and consistent. However, research also shows that people are more likely to follow businesses that are relatable.
You can tick both these boxes by displaying your branding/logo clearly in your profile picture and using your cover image to showcase your business’s personality. Try depicting your team or another feel-good, humanistic image that ties in with your mission statement. Take a look at this company’s Facebook page for inspiration.
- Use Visuals
Humans are predominately visual creatures. When we’re scrolling through a crowded Facebook newsfeed, it’s videos or imagery that is going to catch our attention, with images accounting for a staggering 75-90% of Facebook advertising performance.
Infographics are a great way to attract your audience’s attention while simultaneously letting them know something about your brand. They’re also liked and shared up to 3 times more than any other type of content. The more you engage your audience, the more fans you’ll amass.
- Keep It Engaging
One of the top reasons that Facebook users unfollow brands on social media is because their posts are uninteresting. Although your company page can be used for promotion, it should not be loaded with too many blatant sales pitches.
Instead, post images that encourage your fans to offer input and collaborate with your brand. For example, rather than posting “here’s out latest product, click here to buy it,” try “have you tried out our latest product? Tell us what you thought in the comments!” Creating opportunities to engage with your fans fosters a positive feeling and brand loyalty.
- Get Personal
It might seem strange, but giving your Facebook fans a taste of your company’s personal or playful side improves customer loyalty and helps set your brand aside from competitors. While staying professional and true to your brand voice, try adding a human face to your page by posting pictures of your sales team or a charity event you recently sponsored. If brand image appropriate, you might even consider throwing in a joke or two, as humour can an effective tool for attracting followers.
- Post Frequently
While there is no magic number of posts you should make on your company Facebook page a day, failing to post at least three or four times a week will give the appearance that your brand doesn’t take its social media presence seriously. Additionally, Facebook’s algorithms now require you to post frequently in order to appear on your fans’ newsfeeds. For the greatest exposure, publish three different types of posts per day: one photo or video, one text link and one text update.
- Incentivize Following
Another way to both get and keep Facebook fans is to incentivize liking your company page. Most users who like a company page expect to receive exclusive discounts and early access to new products. By offering incentives like this, you’re providing value to potential customers and giving them a reason to stay subscribed to your content. Other effective incentives include competitions and giveaways, which also encourage fans to share your posts with their followers, expanding your field of reach.
- Cross-Promote Yourself
If you’re active on several different social media platforms, make sure to link them all up. Not only will this improve your search engine ranking, but it will also remind fans that they can keep in touch with you in several different places.
- Keep Track of Metrics
To maximize the engagement your company page gets, it’s important that you understand what types of posts your audience enjoys most. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most simple is to utilize Facebook’s inbuilt “Insights” tool. This tool will let you see which posts have received the most likes, shares and reach. Once you’ve determined what kind of posts inspire the highest level of engagement, you can create more of them. For more in-depth metrics, consider tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social.
- Respond to Posts
Whether they’re happy or disappointed with your product or service, you can expect fans to let you know on your Facebook page. Even when making complaints, surveys show that approximately 83% of people were pleased to receive a response from the company. Resist the urge to delete negative comments and instead respond to them in a helpful and empathetic way that reinforces brand loyalty and shows potential customers that you believe in top-notch service.
- Post at Optimum Times
If you’re posting relevant content and still not seeing an increase in engagement or Facebook fans, you may be posting at the wrong time of day to reach your customers. Using tools like Facebook Insights, you can see what time of day your fans are most active and post accordingly. Don’t just follow the data, though. Experiment a little. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, posting late at night when fewer people are online can be beneficial, as you’re competing with fewer calls for attention.
Running a successful Facebook company page is no walk in the park, but by simply tweaking your social media strategy to follow these 10 simple tips, you’ll quickly improve your engagement levels and gain some new fans.
