Everyone and their mother is promising the newest Facebook tips n’ tricks to give social media marketers a competitive edge. But the truth is, there is no social shortcut nor are there ways around having to make stellar content and remain engaged with your audience.
Nope social media marketing is hard work, plain and simple. There are however a few proven-successful Facebook gimmicks that can build on the foundation created by your hard work. So instead of searching for new ways (that don’t exist) to trick the Facebook public—instead use the results-oriented gimmicks that have been successful time and time again.
The following 5 Facebook gimmicks are proven successful and WILL improve your social media marketing strategy:
- Digital Discounts People like exclusivity. Hence why yacht clubs, country clubs and high-school-cool-kid cliques still exist. Create an exclusive deal for your social network/page’s members. Members-only deals get attention and at the same time act as a reward for your users. To create a Facebook-style member’s only deal you need to create a Facebook-fan-only deal solely for your page’s Facebook fans. Think: your own private Groupon for Facebook.
- Referral Program A referral program is a great way to quickly expand your network and drive integration with your current fans. A referral program is a gimmick in which people get something for referring your page/product/application to their friends. Your referral reward can be access to deals and discounts, free credits for your game/application, entrance into a contest or sweepstakes, etc. Remember though, the better the reward the more they will market on your behalf.
- Contest or Sweepstakes
People love contests (and sweepstakes). We love them because we love winning. We also love getting something for nothing. Facebook contests and sweepstakes are proving one of the most successful Facebook gimmicks around–and are guilt-free for the creator.The difference between a sweepstakes and a contest is that a contest will drive integration as they are generally based on user participation in a campaign like a photo contest. Sweepstakes on the other hand drive network expansion as they generally require people to market you/your services/your page to their network in order to be eligible to win the prize. For more on Facebook Contests, including a How-To, click here. - Reward your Network’s Social Butterflies Every social network has highly-integrated users who have a lot of pull with others. You need to use your social metrics tool, or a tool like Klout, to identify your top users and reward them. The reward should be personal and exceptional—think free services or an incredibly steep discount along with a personal note thanking them (thank-yous can go a long way). Remember, your top 5% of users create more buzz and brand promotion than your bottom 95% combined.
- Add an Application with a Forced Invite Apps are all the rage—just look at the success of Farmville and Angry Birds—so capitalize on the craze. Create an application that in order to use forces the public into the desired effect you are looking for, for example they may have to sign up 5 friends, or submit their email address (for email marketing purposes), or ‘Like’ your page, etc. The forced activity you include will drive your intended result: if they invite 5 friends you grow your network breadth, if they ‘Like’ your page then you can drive participation and integration, etc.If you are thinking to yourself “but I don’t want to have to force people”, the truth is that you aren’t—they don’t have to sign up, it is their choice, and you would be surprised how many people do sign up. This gimmick can help expand your network but it will only get your foot in the door. Immediately after you have to work your butt off to get all these new fans participating in your social community. After a forced invite you may want to include one of the other gimmicks above that drive participation.
Using the above gimmicks will help to both expand your network and drive further integration. Be sure to alternate network-expansion gimmicks with integration gimmicks so you don’t lose the users you just earned. Also, don’t go overboard and only use one gimmick at a time—otherwise your brand can come across as desperate, cheesy and/or salesy.
Robin Wilding is a professionally trained Canadian journalist striving to bring journalistic-era intergity to online media. She has a second degree in Political Science--with a focus on International Relations and the developing world. Currently Robin is a contributor to several technology publications, including Brajeshwar.com, SocialTechnologyReview.com, HostingIndustryWatch.com, AnimationCareerReview.com and CompareBusinessProducts.com. She also works for several web developers; and does ghost writing for several high level executives within the technology sector. Robin's work is showcased in her portfolio: http://shownd.com/robinwilding
