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Facebook Business Pages Q&A

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After a previous post I wrote concerning Facebook business pages, I was approached by a writer for Amex Open Forum and asked further questions about ways to maintain these types of pages. The article turned out great, so I thought I would share just a few more additional insights that may help improve your efforts.

Facebook Business Pages1. What’s the biggest piece of advice you have for a small business looking to create or amp up their Facebook fan page?

  • The very first thing is to clearly define your objectives in having your business on Facebook in the first place.
  • Second, don’t settle for a plain vanilla look. Make your branding clear and unmistakable, and customize it as much as possible.
  • Third, remember that content is the most important factor of all, and is what draws readers in. Make sure the individual that will be running your page really does know how, what, and how often to post to grow your “likes,” and achieve those objectives. If it’s an option for you, working with a social media marketing company can save time and money in the long run, and get better and faster results. Also remember that achieving those objectives is not likely to happen overnight, but do visit your page often to monitor the posts and the progress being made.
     
    2. What’s the biggest mistake businesses tend to make on their Facebook page?

    • It’s easy for a small business new to Facebook to think of it as just another way to “get their message out,” or as an advertising vehicle, rather than as a way to creatively engage and interact with their customers and clients.

     
    3. How can businesses improve interaction with customers using their Facebook fan pages?

    • When writing content, think, “does this content provide enough value?” or “is it interesting enough to draw my target audience here to read it?” Here are a few specific ideas:
      • Provide interesting information that relates in some way to your business.
      • Share humor that relates to your business.
      • Be creative with fun specials and promotions offered exclusively to your Facebook fans. Post fun ways to give them discounts at your online store or your brick-and-mortar store. They’ll love being “in the know” and will share it with their friends.
      • Occasionally give away hot prizes through fun and simple contests designed to generate “likes.”
      • Display cool pictures of your products, services, or anything else related to your business that others would find interesting or helpful.
    • The idea is to give; to provide value to fans that visit the page, not try to sell them a product or service. That’s what your website is for. Facebook is strictly social media, and should be geared toward engagement with your fan base. When providing fun or interesting information, ask questions about it that will draw readers into a conversation.
    • Respond to every comment and keep the conversation going. This will make it show up again and again on the Facebook page of every respondent, as well as many of their friends, giving your business more exposure. This practice can also help you identify and quickly resolve any negative comments that show up.
    • Have an active blog page on your website, and post links to your blog articles on your Facebook page. Make it even easier for fans to find them by having a Facebook blog page displaying snippets of, and links to all the blog posts from your website included in your Facebook business pages, too. This provides a way to share more in-depth information than you can in a short post.
    • “Like” other businesses that are complementary to yours, and comment on their posts. If they “like” you back, your posts will show up in their news feed, and may help bring you new business.

     
    4. What can businesses do to improve the “look” of a Facebook fan page?

    • Brand it, brand it, and brand it. No plain vanilla, here. Check out Skittles, Coca Cola, Disney, Cabela’s, Harley Davidson, Porsche, and other top brands with significant numbers of Facebook fans for ideas. Those numbers did not get there by accident.

     
    For additional tips, you can check out my previous post that outlines some excellent insights about creating and maintaining an effective Facebook business page.

    About the author

    Marilyn Buckner
    Marilyn Buckner

    Marilyn thrives on the dynamic duo of order and organization. She is the Mary Poppins of operations; pulling from her purse of expertise, Marilyn has countless capabilities ranging from setting up and implementing accounting software to technical writing. A detail-oriented problem solver with experience in HR administration, taxes and business management, Marilyn is well equipped to keep whatever she touches running smoothly. Her hobbies include oil painting, landscape design and gardening, photography, interior decorating and anything involving travel. At the top of her bucket list is scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

    • Posted on February 22, 2012 by Marilyn Buckner in blog

    One Response to Facebook Business Pages Q&A

    1. Avi Kayw February 27, 2012

      Excellent points here. I’d add, just to make sure, that you need to remember to claim your URL after you create your business page, as part of the branding.
      Another option is to add your business website as PART of your Facebook page – with the MyWebees app (http://bit.ly/mywebees_app). MyWebees basically adds your entire, and fully functional, site as a new tab to your Facebook page.

       

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