So you have some Facebook fans, now what? Maintenance requires just as much work as achieving a goal. Imagine if Tom Cruise stopped working after acting in his first movie. I doubt he would be the icon he is now. Talk to a business that received a #1 ranking spot for a keyword in Google. Chances are they had to work just as hard to maintain that position.
The end goal for Facebook marketers should be to create relationships and promote engagement, not acquire a large number of followers. Let’s be real. You are on Facebook to grow your business which will bring you more PROFIT. Facebook followers won’t help you grow your business unless relationships and connections are forged. A large follower count doesn’t translate into dollar signs unless those followers feel a connection to your brand.
Maintenance is crucial to establishing a forward momentum and attracting more leads and prospects to your brand.
Here are a few tips to keep your Facebook fan count moving in the right direction:
1. Talk Back
If you ask a question or post a comment and receive responses, talk back to your followers even when you think the comment doesn’t necessitate a response. Unless you are Britney Spears or President Obama, you must respond to comments.
If a comment is not open-ended, respond with a question to encourage continued engagement.
People love to share their opinions when asked. To boost engagement on a post or within comments ask your followers for advice and watch the comments start rolling in.
Tip: The more engagement on your posts, the higher your Facebook EdgeRank score which means your posts will show up in more followers’ news feeds.
2. Personalize it
Facebook added the @username feature to Pages so businesses can now reply to individuals in comments. Once a follower asks a question or offers a great comment, acknowledge the person by highlighting their username in your comment and personally drawing attention to them. Your followers will feel special and more connected to you and your brand.
3. Post Scheduling
You can post to your heart’s delight but if your followers do not see the posts they will not notice your desire to connect. Examine your social media metrics and determine what time of the day garners the most user interaction. Start with a time period between 9 am and 3 pm in your time zone and test it. Next, try 3 pm – 7 pm and compare results. Third, compare results based on days of the week as well.
Though some similarities exist, every business will need to assess the most successful times to post content. Once the comment “sweet spot” is found, consistent posting and engaging is crucial.
4. Gratitude
Everyone knows that one of the secrets to a great relationship is appreciation. Take the time to thank your followers and express your gratitude. Your customers and prospects are the lifeblood of your business. Their support should mean a lot to you.
What strategies have helped you keep your Facebook fans from “un-liking” your page?
Jenna Scaglione is a content writer, internet marketer, and a lover of family, friends and life. Jenna enjoys learning, growing and discovering the newest and latest trends on the internet. Known as "Lady Content", she lives in sunny Socal where she helps her clients around the world increase brand awareness on the internet through content writing and social media.
