Facebook is currently the leader in social-networking engagement, attracting over 800 million users to date. With this being said, it is important to be not only where your customers are, but also where your competitors are. When creating a Facebook business page, you are given the opportunity to create your own custom URL. Being a public URL, it is easier to rise to the top of search engines without having the need to engage in optimization practices.
The new Facebook ‘Timeline’ interface is great for businesses, especially those in the food industry. Companies are given the option to upload an eye-catching cover photo, in addition to the standard profile picture. The profile picture is best suited for logo placement due to its small stature. Because it is the most recognizable feature associated with your business, profile pictures should not be changed and swapped too often.
While you can no longer feature a distinct Facebook ‘landing page,’ Timeline gives businesses the option to create a number of ‘apps,’ which are displayed in tabs directly below the cover photo. Each of these apps contains its own custom URL, allowing outside traffic to be driven to any desired ‘app’ or page. Each app can be administered its own distinct thumbnail image, adding an increased level of branding or call to action. Apps are a great way to boost reader involvement and tie blogs and social media sites together.
Heartfelt ‘Milestones’ can be added to any given year, highlighting the birth and growth of the family business. Adding these milestones (in a timely fashion) will create greater visibility and engagement by blasting onto the new feed of current fans.
Images play a vital role in improving the success rate of business pages. High quality product images should be added and refreshed often. Features such as post highlighting will provide customers greater insight into the high level of execution and flawless presentation of your products.
Tips on gaining a fast following:
• Write in a way that appeals to your audience
• Suggest current friends to ‘Like’ your page
• Provide a Facebook link on the blog and website
• Offer possible incentives for people to ‘Like’ your page
• Update often (daily)
• Connect the page to Twitter
• Install a Comment Tab to promote conversation
• Include a Facebook link on email signatures
• Add a Facebook icon to printed fliers/business cards
• Comment on blog sites to increase traffic
• 'Fan of the Month' promotion
• ‘Like’ other Facebook pages (spread visibility)
• Post Facebook filers around current workspace
• Ask your audience questions
• Feature all new blog posts
• Provide strong visuals and graphics
• Encourage readers to share your posts
• Appear less like a ‘business’ and more like a ‘person’
• Have fun
