Building Your Facebook Following

No matter what kind of business you have, building a strong Facebook following can be helpful in keeping yourself top-of-mind with existing or potential clients. Yet that can seem easier said than done! You’ve set up a Page, added some photos, and told your friends. Now what do you do? Read on for facts & tips!

• Quality Facebook followers are actually interested in you, your product or services, or the things you post/share from your page.
• No one wants to be “sold to” all the time. Think of some of the pages you like best… chances are they don’t only post about “their own stuff,” but they also post funny things, interesting articles, or other content you enjoy. Remember to do the same.
• When your existing followers enjoy the things you post, they will “like” or “share.” Then, the people who follow them will also be exposed to your stuff, and may also “like” your Page.
• Think about who your ideal audience is. Think outside the box! For example, since I am an author, my ideal Facebook followers are people who might enjoy my books. I have several books: A nonfiction about dog training and two novels that are contemporary women’s fiction. So, do I only market to “readers?” No! I additionally market to women, moms, dog lovers, animal rescue groups, etc.
• Where do you find those people? Via other Facebook Pages, blogs, and websites. For example, let’s say you sell handmade wine glass charms. You can search for wine lover groups, moms who love to drink or party, craft-related Pages, foodies, etc. Follow their Page and send them a personal message saying “I’m following you and think you might be interested in my page too! Please consider liking www.Facebook.com/LoriTheAuthor. Hope to see you there!”
• Ease of use: Make sure your Page has an actual, easy address. When you first open your page, it will have a long, crazy address. Make sure you go into Settings and create an easy-to-remember, easy-to-tell about address. (Such as www.Facebook.com/LoriTheAuthor). Choose carefully… once you name your Page you may not be able to change it!
• Integration: Make sure your website, blog, Twitter account, Pinterest, etc, all integrate with your Facebook Page. (Ideally, the names should match, too.) If someone is on your blog, it should not be difficult for them to figure out how to follow you on Facebook or to share your posts. I’m often amazed at how many blogs I visit that don’t have simple sharing buttons at the bottom of each post (like those you see at the bottom of this one)!
• Focused giveaways. This is a great way to find Facebook followers by working with others in your field or on your own. Notice I said focused giveaways… not just giveaways. Make sure your giveaways are related to your product and will attract your ideal audience… not just “people who want to win something.” This is why when I host a giveaway event, I don’t show on their graphic that the grand prize is $100 Amazon Gift Card. Instead, I put a graphic of books or dogs—I’m looking to attract readers, moms, and dog people—not just people hoping to win a hundred bucks!
• Promoted posts/Facebook advertising: Facebook has changed and your posts are no longer going to show up in everyone’s feed, even if they follow you. I have found that it’s worth the occasional $10 – $20 (or sometimes more) to pay to promote a post that I want to be sure everyone sees. Likewise, you can inexpensively promote your page so that it shows up on your followers’ friends’ pages (So and so likes this page. Has a “like” button so their friends may like you too.)
• One hand washes the other. When you “like,” “share,” or help promote other Pages’ events or news, their Page owner will notice and be far more likely to reciprocate. Remember to share quality stuff with your audience and others will do the same for you.
• Remember that Facebook is not a miracle. It’s great to have a large following but if you don’t interact with people and provide content they’re interested in, it is not going to make one iota of difference to your bottom line.

I hope you enjoyed some of these tips. Have some of your own? Or any other comments? Please feel free to comment below!
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