Skip links

How To: Get Likes, Promote, and Create Customers on Your Facebook Business Page

Social media marketing is a great way to gain traffic or attention to your business, and as it is closely related to SEO, it can help new users find or “discover” your content. Through social connections, these new discoveries can impact the relevancy of search results for both social media networks and search engines. Social media is an important aspect of your internet marketing strategy, and today we’ll focus on one social media network that represents 71.2% of U.S. internet users— Facebook.

Compared to other social media sites, Facebook is a full-blown social networking site that allows users to share updates, photos, join events, and a variety of other activities. Facebook is a social media powerhouse that business owners shouldn’t ignore. The statistics alone are mind-blowing enough to motivate someone to start engaging potential customers and users. With over 1.35 billion monthly active Facebook users worldwide, this social media platform continues to grow across genders and many generations, including the prime target demographic for many businesses– age 25-34. Basically, these numbers are saying, “If you don’t already have a Facebook business page, get one now.” Once your page is up and running, it’s time to start tapping into the booming market of 864 million users who log into Facebook on a daily basis. (Statistics source: Facebook as of 10/28/14)

Once your Facebook business page is in place and loaded with basic content and pertinent images, it’s time to focus on attracting new customers and obtaining their “likes.” Getting people to like your page or content may sound easy, but it actually involves more work than you might think. If you want to attract new followers and engage potential customers outside of your friends and family, it’s going to take a bit more effort than simply suggesting someone like your page or shared content. With the following Facebook strategies in mind, you’ll be on your way to collecting fans, engaging users, and building a strong customer base:

  1. What you’re sharing should be likeable. Be it hilarious, sad, beautiful, interesting, inspiring, or informative, your target audience needs a reason to engage with you and your business. Get creative during holidays, busy times of the year, or during events. Whatever you share, it should somehow connect with your business, products, services, etc.
  2. Make it personal. We don’t mean fill your timeline with details about your home life or family. Instead, share the images and details that make your business unique. For instance: behind the scenes work, before and afters pictures, new products and services, events or shows, or community involvement. Show users why they should fall in love with your business as a whole.
  3. Offer a promotion! Whether it’s for a gift certificate, a percentage off purchases, or drawing a winner for a free item, users will offer likes, comments, and shares in exchange for your promotion. People LOVE free or discount opportunities, especially if it’s a new experience. Sometimes it takes a promotion to engage users and have them try your product or service. The trick is then keeping them engaged.
  4. Post updates and images when Facebook traffic volumes are at their highest to increase your potential of reaching more consumers. For Facebook, the highest traffic occurs mid-week between 1-3 pm, while on Thursdays and Fridays engagement is 18% higher than the other days of the week. Keep in mind that many users check Facebook first thing in the morning, and your target market may be using Facebook at unique times.
  5. Invite your Facebook friends to like your business page. This important step will provide a starting point for your fan base. However, don’t be pushy or needy by sending private messages or posting on their wall to like your page. Just send the invite and let the rest happen.
  6. Develop relationships with local or similar businesses. While competition in certain business worlds may not foster support between similar businesses, there are many business sectors that do reciprocate support and send referrals. To initiate support, like their page and/or leave a warm comment, but don’t ask for reciprocation.
  7. Keep your page up-to-date with current shows, activities, work, and contact information.
  8. Provide a link to your website and to other sites and social media of interest, if applicable. This will allow users to find and engage with you more easily.
  9. Respond to customer comments and private messages. Whether your fans post questions about products and services or leave complaints, responding to their comments is an opportunity to provide excellent customer service.
  10. Share your blog posts. Sharing a blog post on Facebook not only gives users a chance to read and see other work you’ve been doing, but it also provides a sharable way for new users to find your website.
  11. Promote your page with Facebook. This creates an ad that reaches beyond your current fan base. This ad will show in the News Feed and on the right side of Facebook.
  12. Make your page mobile-ready. With 1.12 billion mobile active users (as of 10/28/14), and a 29% increase from last year, mobile capabilities are more important than ever.
  13. Share your Facebook page on your traditional marketing techniques. Advertise your business Facebook page on business cards, in-store signs, emails, or any other marketing materials you produce.
  14. Encourage users to “check-in” or write reviews. Visiting and happy customers will attract other potential customers, and this word-of-mouth method helps support your credibility in the community.

A good Facebook page involves more than just having one. You really need to maintain a presence to engage fans and therefore, grow your business on the web. If you have any questions or would like help maintaining your Facebook page or other social media, contact us!