So, you’ve launched your new Facebook business page. All your friends, relatives and even a couple of strangers have ‘liked’ it. What now? How do you continue drawing new fans to your page, giving it enough exposure to turn it into a useful business tool?
One way is to use other social media sites in order to promote it and drive traffic to your page. Of course, any time you post an item to your Facebook page – be it news item, poll, special offer or information — you should post a link on Twitter. Hopefully, some of the visitors will decide to follow your Facebook page permanently.
Many people, however, do not realise that LinkedIn is an equally useful source of potential fans for your Facebook page. At the very least, there should be a link to your Facebook page on your profile. But more specifically, you should utilise the LinkedIn Groups to find fans who are interested in your niche area – exactly the type you need!
LinkedIn allows you to join online ‘networking’ groups of fellow professionals, work colleagues and alumni in order to make vital new business contacts. You should actively search out groups that fall into your area of business, and cater for businesses in your geographical area; there are also useful groups for small businesses. Avoid those that are inactive and concentrate on the groups that have large numbers of members and recent activity.
Once you have joined, don’t be shy. Introduce yourself and link to your Facebook page. You can even ask members directly to "like" — and therefore follow — it. Reciprocity is key here. Make sure you "like’ the Facebook pages of other members of the group, and alert them to the fact you have done so. Whenever someone from the group "likes" your page, do drop them a line thanking them so that they know that you have noticed, and returning the favour if possible. By joining other businesses’ Facebook pages you will be giving yourself another forum in which to promote your own business — if done judiciously.
Stay active in the group’s discussions: this an opportunity to make yourself known to the other members of the group, display your expertise, and use your Facebook page as part of your signature. If the group is a good one, you will hopefully also pick up some good tips and contacts for yourself (as you may from the Facebook pages you "like").
This is not a one-day or even one-week project. Building up your Facebook page "likes" and cultivating good contacts through LinkedIn should be an ongoing mission. Just don’t forget to make your Facebook page one worth visiting, often!
