Facebook. It’s not just for teenage selfies and pictures of your delectable desserts; it can actually be a powerful promotional tool for businesses. That is, as long as it’s used effectively. Fortunately, Facebook is designed to be easy-to-use, no matter what your objectives. Here are five tips for optimizing Facebook as part of your company’s marketing strategy.
1. Create a Facebook page for your business and link to your website
Treat your Facebook page as an extension of your company website. What we mean by that is to keep it consistent to your professional image. Put thought into your Facebook landing page and be sure to include all relevant information about your business. This should contain a link to your company website, a phone number, opening hours if applicable, and any upcoming events. Once you start your Facebook page, commit to keeping it active. If a business doesn’t update its facebook page for months, the followers are likely to fall away.
2. Post regularly
Create a posting schedule and stick to it. Maybe you want to post six times a week, or twice daily. It may take some time to figure out what works best for you. Avoid inundating your followers with information; more is not always better in the social media world. Keeping to a regular posting schedule allows you to maintain contact with your Facebook followers and increase your visibility.
3. Post a mix of images and text
People love pictures, whether they’re photographs, infographics, or images with quotes overlaid on them. These visually engaging posts are more likely to be shared, because they satisfy the growing need for instant gratification online. Don’t just post the images, however – add meaningful text to the post. This lets your business’s ‘personality’ shine through and build a rapport with customers. You don’t have to post an image every time, either. Information about your business, thought-provoking content, or positive words can attract customers as well.
4. Ask questions with easy answers
How can you get users to engage with your page? Ask them! If you’ve added a seasonal pumpkin bagel to your lineup, post a question asking about favorite bagel flavors. If you invite someone to interact with you, chances are that they will. The easier it is to do so, the more likely they are to do it. Offer up your own insights as well. Start the discussion by saying that your favorite bagel flavor is cinnamon raisin, or sundried tomato. Show that there are people behind the business.
5. Use Facebook advertising to your advantage
With over one billion Facebook users, the potential for reach is tremendous. Facebook ads can make sure that your content gets out to a targeted demographic that otherwise might never have seen it. You can choose a type of ad based on what you hope to achieve, whether it’s increased page likes, promoting a particular post, or get new users for a digital technology. You can even choose your audience and get a good idea of how many people you will reach. Then you can assess the success and adjust your ad campaign accordingly.
There are endless strategies for using Facebook; don’t get caught up in trying to figure them all out before you get started. It’s okay to figure it out as you go, so the sooner you bring your business to Facebook, the sooner you can start reaching more people.
