Let’s face it: Mark Zuckerberg has pretty much taken over the world
and transformed it into a much smaller one through his social media
site. Suddenly, larger-than-life celebrities seem not so untouchable
anymore, and it’s forced large corporations to listen to the little
people. On Facebook, everyone has a say. And if you’re starting a
business, you’d better have a stake.
How do business owners go about gaining fans? Here are five tips to ramp up your audience numbers.
1. Advertising: It might seem obvious, but
advertising is a great way to get noticed. Creating an ad on Facebook
takes only a few minutes by following step-by-step instructions. An
eye-catching image is paramount to attracting Facebook users to click on
the ad. Have the link lead to the Facebook page or to a webpage with
more information about the business.
2. Barricade: When a new potential fan visits your
Facebook page, put up a blocker that forces the user to “like” the page
before gaining access or any information. There are a lot of apps that
can accomplish this, including Woobox. This custom tab can be created to
explain what the person will gain if they “like” the page. An example:
Click “Like” to enter our free giveaway for airline tickets.
3. Contest: Speaking of giveaways, everyone loves
anything that’s free. Think about what your company can offer. For
instance, a restaurant can hold a contest for a free appetizer.
Sometimes, a piece of intellectual information can be given away; for
example, a bed and breakfast can present the top ten must-have vacation
items.
4. Update, Update, Update: Ever hear the saying “Out
of sight, out of mind?” Unfortunately, a lot of businesses don’t update
their page enough. Obviously, businesses have plenty of other things to
do, and social networking isn’t at the top of that list. However, this
isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it phenomenon. A live person should be posting
at least one update a day. Beware: Not every update should be about the
business. It will sound too much like an advertisement, and no one
wants to read that every time he or she logs onto the site. On the other
hand, posting too many updates will cram your company down the
audience’s throat and they will respond by unliking your page.
5. Content: Behind every good Facebook page (and business) is
great content. A business’s Facebook site can’t be a fluff page. The
audience will know and will respond accordingly. When a customer posts
negative feedback on your wall, which can happen, don’t shirk away.
Engage the customer publicly, and fix the issue in the fastest, most
cost-effective manner. This proves to other fans that you are listening.
Entrepreneurship can be a scary endeavor, but using social media is just one more tool in your toolbox to help spread the word.
Laura Burkey is a freelancer who writes about different topics ranging from social media to gardening.
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