Small businesses can support their online marketing activities by creating a Facebook business page. Once you create your page and begin to build a following, you can use it to promote your business on a daily basis. But, growing your page can be challenging, especially as more and more business pages are being created and the competition for "likes" is increasing.
Here are 18 ways to grow your Facebook community once you have created and customized your Facebook business page.
1. Build a Custom Welcome Page
A custom welcome page or tab is a great way to introduce your page and your brand to your fans and guide their interaction. You can encourage them to like your page, clickthrough to your website, share your page and more.
2. Add Photos and Videos
Use the photo and video upload function to show off your business, products, services and more. Adding headshots or introduction videos of yourself and your staff can also be a great way to connect to your fans.
3. Ask a Question
Use the status updates function to ask your fans questions. Try fill in the blanks or true/false questions that are easy to answer, and give your fans a quick way to participate. You can also encourage more interaction with the apps provided by engagement tools like Involver.
4. Create a Contact Form
Creating a contact form on your Facebook page with an app like ContactMe provides your fans with a quick and easy way to contact you.
5. Add a Blog Feed
Use an app such as NetworkedBlogs or RSS Graffiti to import blog posts from your blog right to your Facebook page as they as published. You can also add an RSS feed from someone else's blog.
6. Organize an Event
Organize an event, or sponsor an event, and use the Facebook event features to share it through your page.
7. Add a "Like Gate"
You can grow your community by creating a "like gate," or hidden content on your page that is only revealed after someone has liked your page.
8. Monitor Your Page
Keep track of activity on your page through email notifications so you can respond to comments or feedback, delete spam and continue to interact with your fans in a timely manner.
9. Run a Contest
Use an app like Wildfire to develop a contest that rewards active members of your Facebook community.
10. Keep it Relevant
It's good to add in some personality by posting a bit off-topic occasionally, but most of your posts should be links to timely, useful and relevant content for your audience.
