Today, I asked people at the Indie Business FaceBook Fan Page to share their Fan Page links, along with their questions and tips about how to use them. My goal was to share easy to implement tips everyone could use to enhance interaction and conversation at their Fan Pages. I got a chance to join lots of Fan Pages I didn't know about before today, and I had fun sharing my tips and insights. Dozens of fun conversations were sparked, and you can see them all here.
As I went from page to page, I noticed a few things that almost everyone could do to maximize the presence of their brand on FaceBook. Here are three of the tips I shared.
- The Reviews Tab: Use It Or Lose It. One of the default tabs FaceBook provides when you set up your Fan Page is a Reviews tab. This makes it easy for your fans to share testimonials about the products and services you offer. Reviews pages are great, but only if they actually display reviews.
A Reviews tab with no reviews looks pretty bad, so If there are no reviews at your Reviews tab, remove the tab. In the alternative, ask some of your customers to add their reviews. Their feedback provides tangible proof of the value of your offerings.
You can see my Reviews tab here, and if you'd like, please feel free to leave a review. Many thanks to IBN members and business colleagues who took the time to share their feedback.
- Maximize Your “About” Box. Many FaceBook Pages I visited did not maximize use of the About box in the left column under the avatar. Since FaceBook limits the number of characters you can use there, you must be brief and concise. Many people included a link to their website, but did not include the “http://” that creates a hyperlink to the domain. This is an important step since no one will take the time to cut and paste your website address into their browser. Make it easy for your fans to click and go.
Another suggestion is to include a link to your Twitter page and/or blog in the About box so those of your fans who like connecting at those sites can easily find you there. If you run out of space in the About box, use a URL shortener like Bit.ly or TinyURL free up a few characters.
- A Picture Is Worth A Thousand FaceBook Fans. You must use photos at your FaceBook Page. If you don't, every update you post will be a bunch of text and the same old avatar photo, over and over and over again. Boring!
There are lots of ways to add photos. First, change your avatar now and then to keep things fresh and prevent people's eyes from becoming bored. Also, when you share a blog post, either use the upload link to upload a photo with it, or allow the photo to automatically import from your blog to the page. (This is another good reason to include photos in your blog posts!) This adds interest and texture and makes your page come alive.
If you have a mobile device (and you should!) use it to add photos to your page from wherever you are in your busy life. For example, when you buy a new book at the bookstore, use your iPhone, Blackberry (or whatever) to share a photo and let your fans know why you are buying the book. Ask if they've read the book or others by the author.
While you're at a trade show, chamber of commerce networking meeting or whatever, take a picture and share it. Your fans will reward you with comments, questions and the ever popular “thumbs up.”
These are just a few of the tips I and others shared today. If you want to see them all, be sure to visit the Fan Page and read today's updates with my tips. Also, check this update page to see the Fan Pages of some of my fans and see their questions and tips. While you're there, be sure to read Tamarie Dean's update where she shares how she got 400 new fans from one FaceBook campaign!
Remember, setting up an effective FaceBook Fan Page is not a one-time deal. It's a process that never ends and which takes consistency, pruning and dedication. Don't be afraid to visit the FaceBook Pages of the people who participated today and see what they are doing that's working. Don't be afraid to try new things. Some will work, and some won't, but that's all a part of it. Show your fans that you enjoy connecting with them. Let them know they are worth the effort. When you do, they will reward you with comments, kudos and orders!
Question: What easy to implement FaceBook Fan Page tips can you share?
