When I started my Pet Sitting business back in late 2010 I didn’t really realise the power of having a strong social media presence. I enjoyed Facebook and I liked chatting to our customers but I didn’t really have a strategy around how I was going to promote our business and grow our Facebook Fans.
Over the years I have learnt a lot about Facebook and how to use it to really reach your ideal customers, so much so that we have a very healthy and active page.
Why Would You Want A Strong Social Media Following?
I am a huge believer in social proof. We see it all the time with ‘social influencers’ being paid to promote products for brands. Brands want to work with those influencers because a lot of people know, like and trust them.
It’s the same for a business in my opinion. If you want to stand out as the leader you want to have an active presence on social media. Maybe you don’t need thousands of fans but what you do need is relevant fans that love what you do, want to chat to you and are eager to share your content.
If you have expansion plans for your business in the future having a strong presence online will give you the credibility that you need to do that.
My Top Tips For Building Your Facebook Page
Be yourself. Don’t get someone else to post on your behalf. People want to know that you care about them and that you are interacting with them. There is nothing wrong with scheduling posts as this will free you up to interact with your followers, but don’t outsource being you! If you really don’t have time (and I am talking 10 minutes 3 times a day) as a business owner, then find a passionate employee that loves your business as much as you do.
There is no-one who is ever going to know your business as well as you do and this will shine through in your content.
Brand your page. This took me a while to get right but now pretty much everything I post aligns with our brand. I try to keep images all in the same style and share our blogs in the same way.
Note – if you have content that is working well that isn’t branded exactly the way you want then don’t get rid of it. If it works there is no need to re invent it.
Be consistent. Don’t post like a ninja one day and then be silent the next. People like to have consistent content and will come to expect it from you. An abandoned page, even for a day, can be a turn off for people. I know if I see a page that hasn’t been updated in weeks I will definitely look for another alternative for the product or service I want to purchase.
Have balanced content. If you are talking about yourself all of the time then no-one is going to want to listen to you. Sell Sell Sell does not work! Trust me!
Instead be useful, be funny, be engaging and care about your followers. They will reward you with likes and shares when you need them.
Don’t be afraid of Facebook Ads. It’s ok to spend money on Facebook Ads! They work! Make sure you get really targeted with them and find out what works to boost. Boosting a funny images will make you feel good with all the likes it will get but what is it doing to drive traffic to your website?
I’m not saying there is never a time to boost that type of content, but be carefully you are not just seeking vanity numbers. Brand awareness is key – but eye balls on your website is vital.
How Can You Learn More About Growing Your Page
If you follow the tips above you will see a huge improvement in your interaction. Don’t be scared to try new things and experiment with a new approach. Facebook should never be a chore.
Get yourself a good scheduling tool for your content and then free up 30 minutes of your day to interact with your fans.
