WebMarCom Blog: Focus on Web Marketing Communications

Social Networking: 7 Tips to Build Facebook Business Page "Likes"

  

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Social networking can refer to networking online or in real life.  Either way, many of the ways you'd network at a Chamber event can also be applicable to building your online network presence.

Building a social network can be tricky... 

if you have created a Business Page on Facebook and are not sure why it's not gaining a following, there are some things you may want to do to encourage prospects and clients to click that 'like' button.  

Here are 7 tips to get you started with building a dynamite Facebook business page:

1. Engage, ask questions, respond to people who post. One of the worst things to do is to create the page, then leave it hanging with no one monitoring the posts.  By being responsive, you reward those brave souls who made a comment or posted. You have the added benefit of catching negative posts as they occur and responding to them appropriately.
2. Schedule an online chat or seminar. If you have an in-house expert or can bring someone to answer questions, you can schedule a specific time to host the Facebook chat.  This shows up in the streams of your followers, and especially if they post and it's a lively conversation, it has the added value of attracting new followers.
3. Offer an incentive to "like" the page.  This can be a downloadable guide, an ebook or opportunity to get savings.  
4. Enable your followers to get special savings.  As a Facebook fan, give them Facebook only offers, VIP specials and special discounts.
5. Create a feeling of community.  Highlight new members and thank them for joining your page community.  Ask for and highlight success stories.  It's not about you, its about them, the fans!
6. Contests rule.  Offering a facebook contest has become very popular.  Be sure that the entry is not too onerous or intimidating and can be done quickly and easily.  Also, reassure the contest entrant that their information will not be used later to spam or otherwise solicit them.  No one wants to have their inbox filled with junk!
7. Consider Facebook ads to increase your following.  Ad are highly targeted and can reach a specific demographic or geographic audience.  Dependent upon how targeted you get, they can be an inexpensive way to build impressions among your prospective customer base.

Facebook is still the giant within social media, even though Google+ is gaining ground.  Make the effort to engage with your customers through Facebook. 
Do you have other tips you'd recommend?  We'd love to hear what you've done to encourage participation on your Facebook business page!