7 MUST HAVE TIPS FOR A WINNING FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
Facebook fan pages are rapidly growing in popularity and it isn’t surprising considering the failure of many websites’ to accommodate conversations with customers. As a result of the inflexibility of many corporate sites, some brands have even begun pushing their Facebook pages over their own website.
But now that everyone’s on the Facebook fan page bandwagon, how can you ensure your page stands apart from the fluff? Here’s 5 must-do’s for your Facebook fan page.
#1. Offer Fan Exclusives
Make it a priority to offer exclusive coupons, deals only to your Facebook fans. Your fans will appreciate these deals and also eagerly stay tuned for future updates.
#2. Respond to Every Single Comment
This shows that you are listening to what your customers are saying. When companies ignore their wall, or worse yet, deny fans the ability to comment altogether, they’re openly declaring their only interested in a one-way conversation, which couldn’t be more opposed to the nature of Facebook. Fans feel honored when someone takes the time to respond. Why short yourself on such an easy way to build brand loyalty?
#3. Optimize your Profile Picture
Facebook doesn’t allow for much customizable real estate, so the space allowed for your profile image should be fully utilized. Unlike regular profiles, fan pages allow you to utilize much more vertical space. (see Web Design Labs’ skyscraper style image for a great example.) Make sure to get the most of this real estate by including branding or a call to action.
#4. Customize your Profile
Out of the box, Facebook fan pages don’t come with too many bells and whistles. But as the saying goes for another popular gadget, “there’s an app for that.” Customizing your page doesn’t require a lot of programing experience either. If you’re willing to invest a bit more time, custom apps open another world of possibilities. Best buy created an easy to use app that lets fans get advice from their network of friends on a purchase. It’s viral marketing and product research all in one.
#5. Cross Promote from Other Channels
Growing a fan page only through Facebook is nearly impossible since fans will rarely go looking for you. If you really want to kick-start your growth, you’ll need to funnel traffic from other sources. A tiny Facebook icon buried in your website footer isn’t enough. Go all out and promote your page in prime real-estate, including on the homepage, in emails, and even in-store.
#6. Leverage your Fans to Attract More Fans
Your existing fans are the key to acquiring new fans. Every time someone becomes a fan, their action shows up in the news feeds of their friends. So the more fans you get, the more fans you get. Here’s a tactic I’ve used with much success: Try asking your fans to click “Suggest to Friends” link on your page. Set a goal for reaching a certain number of fans by a certain day, and get everyone involved in helping. Offer a significant, one-time coupon as a reward if you hit the goal.
#7. Sync with your Twitter Account
Having your fan page synced with your Twitter account will ensure maximum exposure to your page. This is sort of a “kill two birds with one stone” and not only are you helping your fan page, you are also potentially getting more followers on your Twitter account.
