5 Tips for Your Facebook Page
Posted by Jenise Fryatt on Tue, Aug 02, 2011 @ 05:57 PM
The following is a guest blog article by Maria Rainier. If you are interested in guest blogging for Sound n' Sight, please read my guest blogging guidelines . And if you have any thoughts, please comment below. Maria and I both would love to hear what you have to say!
Social media is a powerful marketing tool for your business, no matter what kind of business you own. However, simply starting a fan page or a group and posting some content is not all you have to do. In order to really drive traffic to your site and help increase sales or profits for your business, you have to learn some best practices. Here are five best practices you should keep in mind for your business when you start using Facebook:
Choose the Proper Format
Businesses should choose to have a Facebook page, not a profile. Profiles are meant for individuals, while pages are designed specifically for businesses, with options for dynamic content. A fan page is designed with businesses in mind and allows you to do things that a profile will not, such as adding polls, a salesroom, and other custom widgets. Pages are also catalogued by category for easier searchability by fans.
Once you create your page, be sure to choose a vanity url so that fans can more easily link to your page. A vanity url allows you to choose a name like www.facebook.com/yourbusiness, rather than a /12131345645. You must have at least 25 fans before you can apply for a vanity url.
Use Keyword-Rich Descriptors
The fan page allows you to include a lot of detailed information about your business, including an "about" section, information about your company's history, awards, and much more. Be sure to fully fill in all of this information, keeping in mind relevant keywords that you want to use to promote your business. Facebook pages do contribute to search engine ranking, so you should use the same practices when creating pages for your business.
Add Dynamic Content
Don't be content to fill in the default information and add a few links to your Facebook page. There are many widgets and dynamic html pages available to add to your page to make it stand out and really engage users. Some possibilities include a Facebook salesroom, a box for making donations if you are a non-profit, polls, videos, slideshows, and much more. Be sure to add photos to your page, even if your business focuses on offering a service. Possibilities include company events, trade shows, ads, and more. Don't let your page become too text heavy.
Don't Spam Your Users
While Facebook pages allow you many new opportunities to connect with clients, do not get too carried away with sending updates and creating posts. "Updates" send a direct message to your fans' inboxes, which can become quite a nuisance if they are sent too often or are not particularly relevant. Save updates for really exciting news or special promotions. Likewise, be sure that you are only sharing interesting or relevant comment when you post status updates. You don't want to alienate your fans by boring them or annoying them.
Promote Your Page
Now that you've created your page, don't let it languish. Promote it through your company web site and other social-media outlets. Conduct internal promotion by offering special deals or news only through your Facebook page, and find ways to engage your fans by posting polls or other questions eliciting feedback.
What other best practices have you discovered for your business on Facebook? How have these tips worked for your business?
Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blogger for First in Education where she’s recently written about aerospace engineering jobs along with a guide to LPN jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and working with origami.
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