My best ideas to get MORE Followers on Facebook. Facebook is an often overlooked resource for driving traffic to your posts and growing your sales. I’m sure you’ve seen Facebook Business Pages that just seem to gather dust because the owner got overwhelmed or too busy managing other parts of their business to keep up with posting interesting and engaging items on their page. Even if they are the biggest and brightest expert in their field, having a social media profile that lacks information will lead prospects to question why they aren’t more active.
So consistency is a big deal. How many times a day you post is your choice and some quick market research will tell you when your target audience is most likely to be online but the key to success is to consistently post every single day.
Get More Followers on Facebook by Optimizing Your Personal Profile
I spend a lot of time in Facebook groups where my ideal clients hang out. But you have to be careful about posting links or PMing people because that’s disrespectful to the group owner, who likely started the group to grow their own traffic. But simply by showing up consistently in groups and being friendly and helpful, people will naturally want to see who you are. But if your profile is all just personal information, that isn’t very helpful. So, in order to grab their attention, be sure you fill out ALL the space on your personal profile page as completely as possible.
- Add a bio – describe to your potential Followers what makes you tick and how you’re unique
- Add featured photos – a nice, visual way to grab attention with photos from conferences, workshops, speaking engagements, etc.
- Add your workplace information – link to your website, Facebook Group, and Facebook Business Page
- Link other social media profiles – under the About >> Contact & Basic Info section
Check out my post on How to Show up in Facebook Groups.
Even though Facebook frowns on posting actual sales info on your personal profile, you can still post a few very general business info on there, such as you can certainly announce the launch of your book, post photos of your recent trip to a mastermind retreat, or talk about the convention you attended and met your favorite mentor. While these are business-related, you’re not purposefully promoting your business via your personal profile, so it’s a fine line to walk, that might still bring your some Followers.
Don’t be Shy – Get More Followers on Facebook by Telling Your Message to the World
When was the last time you actually talked about your business and what you do for people on Facebook? Do the followers of your personal profile have any idea what you do for a living? Or are you on Facebook keeping up with college buddies and parent friends from your kids’ school? I get it. It’s a little awkward to mix your business and your personal lives, but how would you know if any of your friends might need your help or know someone who does.
I’m not talking full on promo, but at least sharing a few little tidbits can be a good idea. I know you know this but it bears repeating: If you don’t toot your own horn once in a while, nobody else will do it for you. Don’t sit back and wait for people to find you. Be proactive and step out from behind your computer and TELL people what your business is all about.
True, you don’t want every single post to be self-promotion (and NEVER be pushy or tiresome) because that definitely gets old and could turn Followers away from you. Instead, develop a social media plan so your posts are a good balance between personal, business, and fun.
Facebook allows at least three different ways to reach your audience and if you’re on Facebook for business, you should utilize all three because not everyone will see every single post you publish. Using three different avenues raises your odds that the people in your target market will see something of interest.
- Your Personal Profile
- Your Business Page
- Facebook Groups (both yours and others)
Create a Business Page on Facebook and be Consistent in Posting to it
The standard rule of Facebook is you use a business page to promote your business while your personal profile is meant for personal communication. So, to stay in good standing with Facebook, create that business page and optimize it in the same manner as you did your personal profile. So like I said, be consistent. Post at least once a day or even more frequently if you can. Using the native scheduler is a good idea, but there are lots of third party schedulers like SmarterQueue, Later, or Hootsuite, although I believe their use does hinder your reach.
Tip: I use SmarterQueue on my pages. I post about 4 times per day – a mix of links to my posts, inspirational quotes, little funny memes, and links to various products and services.
Business pages have come under fire recently because users complain that they never see page posts in their news feeds, even though they have liked the page. While this is aggravating, don’t give up yet. If for nothing else, you can add your website link and other contact information here and, since it’s a business page, you can talk about your business and promote your products every single day, even multiple times a day, without penalty.
You can also run contests from your business page as well as add an opt-in offer to one of the tabs. Consider this a quick overview of your business where your followers can decide if they want to move forward with a consultation. Put a “Send Message” button on your business page to make that appointment booking even easier.
You can always boost a post to a specific audience if you want to spend the money for traffic. Check out my post on Grow Your Traffic with Boosted Posts.
Planning Your Social Media Posts to Get More Followers on Facebook
Instead of staring blankly at your empty Business Page, take out a calendar instead – or create a color-coded Google Calendar – and mark down weekly themes or seasonal holidays so you have an idea every month what you’ll post about. What will make your followers engage with your posts? What information do they need during the week? What will make them loyal followers and build that know, like, trust cycle. A mixture of educational, inspirational, and entertaining posts will mix it up for them but also don’t be afraid to share your products or services.
Pro Tip: Don’t rely on subtle hints; tell your audience in your loud outdoor voice exactly what you have to offer.
Build Consistent Growth by Using the Facebook Scheduling Feature
Running a Facebook page is WORK, but you can’t just neglect it or post whenever you happen to feel like it. Instead of sitting down every day to write your FB posts, become friends with the scheduling feature that’s now available on Facebook Business Pages. I usually do this once a week or so to block off some time and schedule a week’s worth of posts at a time (batching). There’s still work involved with the writing and finding a photo to accompany your posts but by dedicating a block of time each week and referencing your calendar for themed ideas, social media posting will become much more enjoyable.
If you want to cross promote your business across multiple platforms, try using third-party scheduling software such as SmarterQueue, HootSuite or Meet Edgar. You can manage all your social profiles in one place as well as schedule all your posts. To avoid being labeled a “spammer,” switch up the words in each post while keeping the same overall theme.
Toot Your Own Horn with Testimonials on Facebook
If you’re in business to make money, then you need to market your business and actually tell people what you do. If you do your job well, you need to tell prospective clients in an effort to win their business. And what better way to do that then with social proof. It’s not bragging; it’s smart marketing. So why are so many business owners afraid to ask their happy clients and customers for glowing testimonials or reviews? Sure, don’t ask a client for a review if their experience was less than stellar but for all of those who you know are happy, why not ask?
Facebook allows happy users to leave written reviews and 5-star ratings on Business Pages. You can find those reviews on a page either with the link in the left sidebar or by scrolling down the page itself. However, for the average user, knowing where to find the link to leave a review or a rating may not be obvious, which is why you should get in the habit of asking and directing people to that link. When people leave ratings, other prospective clients who visit your page will see them and may be swayed enough to call you to get more information.
If people email you testimonials, you can add those to your Facebook Business Page as a regular post as opposed to a Review. Facebook has recently changed their Review section so you can’t just copy and paste the review without it appearing to be posted by you, which wouldn’t appear authentic. So, simply publish the emailed review as a post.
Also use reviews across all your social platforms, including your website, your personal profile, and your prospect group, if you have one. Try scheduling one day a week to post testimonials on social media. Create an email campaign touting your reviews but also giving your customers the direct links to leave a Facebook Review. Take some simple screenshots to make the process even easier for your customers. That’s a terrific way to grow your Facebook Followers.
Keep Your Reviews and Testimonials Current on Your Facebook Page
One reason to make it a habit to ask for reviews is to keep them up to date. For instance, if I’m looking for a party planner but your last Facebook review is from 2014, I’ll wonder two things: first, are you still in business; and second, are you any good at your job? This explanation could simply be that you’re not asking for the reviews but prospects don’t know that; they will likely jump to the wrong conclusion about why your testimonials are old.
Current reviews also show prospects that you’ve taken steps to rectify past problems. For instance, if someone wrote that you were difficult to reach and didn’t follow up with her properly, you can make changes to your follow up process and then ask more recent clients to address their happiness with that issue. Your willingness to accept client feedback and make changes will endear you to many prospects.
Make a change today and ask for reviews and testimonials from recent clients. Ask for an email or send direct links to your Facebook Business Page review section and to Yelp or Google so they can write online. Not only will glowing reviews validate the work you’re doing but will also convince new prospects that you are capable and knowledgeable.
Don’t Be Afraid to Show Your Personality on Facebook
There’s so much more to life than working, don’t you agree? So if you do nothing but post about your business and become a pushy salesperson, you’re not doing yourself justice and your followers will soon get bored and abandon you. Instead, show them what a well-rounded life you lead and pique their interest with other “lifestyle” type photos and posts. Sharing parts of your life is just one way to develop a relationship where your audience will get to know, like, and trust you enough to make a purchase.
Here are just a few fun ways to lighten up the mood on Facebook and to increase your engagement with your followers:
- Share Your Humor – Did your preschooler tell a funny story at breakfast? Feel free to share it. Did you have a funny conversation with your bestie, teenager, or grandparent? Share it. Everybody needs a little pick me up during the day and laughing also releases stress.
- What are Your Weekend Plans? – Do you have a favorite hangout on Friday nights? Or do your Saturdays find you on the soccer field? Supporting your favorite local charity by attending their running race or annual gala? I guarantee you’ll get some other soccer moms commiserating with you and you’ll bring awareness to a local business and/or charity.
- Love to Travel? Share Your Favorite Tips and Locations – Whether you travel for business or strictly for pleasure, sharing your notes of your favorite locations will help others planning a business retreat or conference. These types of posts are also great for starting conversations about vision boards and bucket lists. Even if your customers don’t travel, they can still live vicariously through you!
- Share Your Lunchtime View – Almost everyone enjoys leaving the office for lunch so why not settle in at a park, by the water, or on the beach and share your view on Facebook. Even if you’re stuck inside during bad weather, your view can stir up fun conversations.
- Show Them Your Favorite Hobbies – How do you relax after a long day’s work? What pulls at your heart strings and really motivates you to push through your work load so you can enjoy your free time? Hobbies are a wonderful way to engage people in your posts. Show pictures of your workspace, your finished project, or simply share how you discovered this hobby.
These are just a few ideas of what to share online that still shows you’re a real person with a real life outside of work. These types of lists are really unlimited in length because you are so uniquely different from every other person in the world. Showcase what makes you YOU; show us your talents outside of your work. Sharing these glimpses into your personality and your life will attract your audience. BUT, don’t forget to post your products and services as well. It’s not all about the fun and games!
How to Get More Followers on Facebook by Using Events
Getting back to business basics: You must market your business to your target audience or they won’t know you exist. And when it comes to marketing, why not use every tool available to you? When marketing on Facebook, one tool that is often overlooked is the Facebook Events tool. It’s a great way to get extra publicity for your business; however, it takes some planning to get it just right. So grab your calendar and your brainstorming notebook and let’s get creative for new ways to get more Followers on Facebook – there’s so many options to choose from to get more Followers on Facebook.
Begin with your reasons for holding an event.
What is the goal of the event? If you’re just opening your coaching doors, then a “Grand Opening” makes sense. Even if you’ve been coaching for a while, host a “Client Appreciation” event for your current clients or a “Celebrating 10 Years in Business” event where you reintroduce yourself to the public in hopes of attracting prospects. Did you just write a book? Host a “Book Launch” event.
Want to start networking with local business owners in your community? Host a “Get to Know You” event via Facebook Live. Or just hold a brief Webinar or a multi-day Challenge Event. I’ve seen these done well and I’ve send them done poorly. Don’t rely on just one round of invitations. Plan out a whole stream of Invitations, Reminders, and Nudges via your page, PM’s, or Emails. People are busy and there is a lot on their agenda.
Before publishing you event, design a nice graphic that accurately portrays your event and that grabs people’s attention. Facebook event photos should be 1920×1080 pixels. Publish your event and then ask your graphic designer or VA to resize your photo for other social media platforms so you can start cross promoting.
Use Lives or Videos – LIBERALLY
Video is HOT when it comes to reaching your audience and developing a relationship quickly so take advantage of using Facebook Live. Plan out what you want to talk about (consider an overview of your business; or a sneak peek at your book or signature class; or the Top 10 reasons why you need a coach). Create some buzz and let your followers know the day and time of the Live event and encourage them to share the day/time with their friends.
In this scenario, your video should offer useful tips or information for your target market. If they like what they hear and they are attracted to your style of presenting, they will search quickly become followers. Be creative when it comes to finding new Followers on Facebook and remember to nurture the relationship with these new friends.
Get New Followers on Facebook by Being Social – Reach Out and Make Friends
So many business owners forget about the “social” part of social media. A huge component of what makes social media work for you is actually being social. It’s simply not enough to create your personal profile and business page and then disappear, waiting for people to find you and buy from you. There’s a cool option called a Niche Neighborhood you can set up. You know how you Like a page and then other Suggested Pages show up? Niche Neighborhoods are a way to make that happen.
Find other people in your same space, particularly people who have a smaller Following than you do. Comment on their posts, Like their page, share a few of their posts (making sure to give them full credit). If you make it clear it is a shout-out and not stealing their content, they are likely to reciprocate. When this happens consistently, your site may start to show up next to theirs.
Leave Comments to Start a Conversation
Instead of just “liking” a post on someone’s page, try leaving a comment or asking a question to start a conversation. This can occur in a group, page, or personal profile. Be authentic when choosing your words and if a conversation ensues, consider sending a Friend Request, but only if you want to actually have a relationship with that person. Don’t be that guy who just makes new Friends to then shamelessly pitch your products.
Pay Attention to Who Leaves Comments and Likes Your Posts
When someone leaves a comment or likes one of your posts, click into their personal profile and determine if this person is a part of your target audience. If so, consider inviting them to Like your page.
Share Some Free Advice to get more Followers on Facebook
This is especially true in groups when other members ask a question or need help solving a problem. If you know the answer, give it freely instead of adding a link to your product (check the group rules first). You don’t have to give away all your trade secrets, or be an annoying know-it-all, but this is a simple way to show others in the group that you know what you’re talking about and you care about helping others. This may encourage them to visit your profile or your page.
Do you Need to Create a Facebook Group to Get New Followers on Facebook?
This is a terrific question. Facebook Groups are super helpful for building relationships and driving sales. However, one caveat – they are a LOT of work. I’ve had two different Facebook groups that were not successful. It’s definitely a daily commitment and you need to be able to be very active in your group in order to get Facebook to share your posts with your existing members as well as potential new members.
Facebook Groups are very easy to set up but ask yourself if you really need and enjoy this type of social mingling. Keeping groups active and interesting takes work – on a daily basis – and if you forget to post even once, your engagement will start to lag and people may lose interest. So be sure you love social media and you love to help your target audience.
If you want to interact more personally with potential clients, offer a Facebook group where you’ll get into deeper discussions related to your area of expertise. Consider this part of your funnel: after they follow your Facebook Business Page, send them an invite to your group. Getting these prospects into a group gives you a new level of intimacy where you can get to know them better and understand their challenges.
Choosing the Correct Privacy Settings for Your Group
Facebook allows two different privacy settings for groups: Public or Private. The setting you choose is dependent upon your goals for the group.
Public groups are rather self-explanatory: everyone on Facebook can find your group, see the group’s name, description, and the member list. While members still need to request to join a Public group, there’s no expectation of privacy and viewers can see all the published posts when they scan the group page. Consider this one step above a Business Page, where you can interact with people who have already expressed an interest in what you do. This type of page would not be good for groups where people would want to share information of a private or sensitive nature.
I usually will not post in a public group because my answers are visible to just about everyone who Follows me, personal and business associates alike.
Private groups allow a bit more privacy in that only group members can see what is posted. Anyone can still find the group name and see the description but postings and the member list will be private and only group members can see that info. This type of group also attracts people who are interested in your products or services but offers more privacy so they can post frequently or share details of their lives without making it available to the entire world of Facebook.
Use Your Facebook Groups (your own and others) to Woo Prospects and get New Followers on Facebook
Facebook groups can be another great resource to chat directly with prospective clients. I use my Facebook groups every day to interact with like-minded business owners, promote my products and services, and also to ask all sorts of questions. Any time I have a question about blogging, marketing, or social media issues, I go straight to my groups and I normally have an answer within an hour or so. I also participate in various daily share threads where I’m able to share my social media accounts, my new posts, or my products. This can bring a lot of traffic – IF you do it right. I see a lot of people doing this wrong.
Check out my post on Brilliant Facebook Groups for New Bloggers.
Pro tip: finding clients is all about building relationships and that doesn’t happen overnight. Don’t be pushy and all salesy – no one likes that! Talk about your business, showcase your expertise, reach out to other group members with helpful tips, and when the time is right, they will remember your name because you dared to talk about what you do.
Free Up More Time: Hire a Social Media Manager to Get More Followers on Facebook
As a VA, I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest that you look into hiring a social media manager. You probably don’t need one if you are just in the starting out phase of life, but once you start getting really busy, you’ve got bigger fish to fry! And there are plenty of very helpful professionals in this area who will do a great job. Unfortunately, there are also a few clunkers who will do an awful job! I should know, I’ve had to clean up behind plenty of VA’s like that. Feel free to ask for several different references and referrals prior to hiring someone!
I know it’s hard to give up control of business tasks but if you really want to grow your social following, it’s time to hire a social media manager. The benefits are plentiful: you eliminate stress by delegating to an expert; social media managers can offer posting strategies for growing your audience; you can now focus on money-making tasks. Not only will social media managers strategize with you, they can take over the actual content creation as well as engage with your followers. Of course, you personally need to also interact with your audience but your manager can help while you’re working on your book or preparing your next presentation.
If your budget right now doesn’t allow outsourcing, don’t despair. Plan your posts, schedule them according to plan, and remember to engage with anyone who comments or asks questions. You’ll get more Followers on Facebook, it just might take a while.
Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start Your Own Profitable VA Business
Social Media Scheduling – Times, Tips and Tools
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