Chances are that most of your customers use Facebook. With a half billion users world-wide it’s become the place to promote your business with a Fan page.
Back to Basics: You need a personal profile first. If you’re a sole practitioner, you may want to stick with a profile and use the “List” feature we’ve written about to separate clients from friends.
Once you’re on-line here’s how to promote yourself on the most engaged website ever.
1. Fill in the blanks: Be complete.
Tell people who you are. Be creative. Write a description on the sidebar of your Wall and fill in information on all the tabs. There’s nothing worse than leaving something blank.
2. Let people know: Ask friends to like your fan page.
Your first goal is 25 fans. Once you hit that number you can apply for a vanity URL to plaster on business cards, t-shirts, websites, blogs and more.
3. Treat it like it matters: Keep current.
There’s nothing worse than visiting a fan page only to find it hasn’t been used for months or that it has very few fans and little or no interaction. Don’t let that be your business.
4. Be engaging: Customers want to feel connected to your business.
Post photos of your business. Link to new information on your website and/or blog. Ask fans for their opinion using open-ended questions. Discuss deals, promotions, and events. Tell fans about your company and its people.
5. Stay unique: Don’t replicate content from elsewhere.
Consider a personalized landing page for first time visitors. Find competitors in your industry for ideas. If you’re sharing a blog post on Facebook, add a status update to make it unique.
6. Consider Facebook advertising: Set you own budget.
Target your advertising using relevant demographics to your company. Used effectively this can be a way to drive people to your fan page when you’re just starting. It’s cost effective too as you set your own budget. I recently purchased a $5 advertisement and that resulted in 6 new fans.