Remember: Social Media is hard work, takes time, and diligence to succeed!
• Deliver Value
• Useful Info
• Free/Discount Offers
• Be Inspiring
• Entertain
• Inside scoop
• Be Friendly; Be “social”
• Use the first person (spoken language) rather than written language
• Be live and spontaneous
• Be informal rather than “official”
• Facebook must be in sync with your business/brand’s goals, visions, & values.
• Don’t worry so much about SM policies, figuring your ROI, trying to get people to “Like you”
• Think about a physical existence (Business After Hours). Do you like talking to the person who is SELLING something to you? Or do you take the time to continue to talk to the person who sits in the corner and when you engage them they just ignore you or look at your like you are interrupting them? People “Like” PEOPLE who are fun and interesting! That includes businesses. Be fun and interesting. CARE about those you are talking with/to. Be interested in what they are doing. Be present!
• Easiest way to create a page (that I have found) is to go to ANY Page, Scroll to the bottom of the left column, choose “Create a Page”
• Facebook Page creation tools are very simple now. https://www.facebook.com/FacebookPages
TO DO’S TO BEST UTILIZE THE NEW FB PAGES
• Opt-in to the new Page format (it will be mandatory by March 1st)
• If you are the administrator for more than one page you can upgrade one at a time. After clicking “upgrade” go to the list of your pages to click “upgrade” again on each one or “all” to upgrade all.
• Check the category and subcategory setting. [>Edit Page > Basic Information]
• Choose to post as yourself or your page. This is a huge new option! Be sure to click the box in >Edit Page>Your Settings “Always comment and post on your page as XXXPageName even when using Facebook as YYYPersonalPage. Even if you are an administrator you can toggle between your accounts. Here are two different ways to get there:
1. Go to >Account >Use Facebook as Page or
2. Choose your Page (or the Page you are Administrator for) by typing the Page name in the search bar. Once on the Page you can simply use the link in the right-hand column choosing between “Use Facebook as XXXPageName or Use Facebook as YYYPersonalPage
• Email notifications for fan comments. [>Edit Page > Your Settings]
• If you have lots of interactions and/or are the admin for many pages, you might not want to receive that many emails.
• Check where your page lands. Decide whether you want your default landing page to be your Page wall with just your company postings, or “Everyone” or some other landing page (just be careful to make it EASY to use within FB don’t send me on a wild goose chase. There are companies who have landing pages. [GOOD - Disney: http://www.facebook.com/Disney] or [BAD - General Motors: http://www.facebook.com/generalmotors?sk=app_168057139889036]
• Moderation Blocklist & Profanity Blocklist [>Edit Page >Manage Permissions] *Here is where you can help block spammers. IF there is a company who continues to post on your Page (i.e. Target keeps posting on Walmart’s Page that “Target is the best” or “’Target’ your needs” you can block the word “Target” or The Chamber of Commerce might not find “ManchVegas” as endearing as I do!)
• Page Tabs are more customizable. Now to the left, rather than along the top, and name them to help your fans understand what they are better. Again KISS… Be careful not over produce! [>Edit Page >Apps >Go to App]
• Feature your Page “Owners” and/or “Administrators”. This is where you as a person can stay separate from your page(s) and/or you can choose who gets seen or not seen. I think it is a good idea to show your featured Admins it makes it personal. [>Edit Page >Featured]
• Like Pages to interact with others, participate in conversation, be sociable, promote specific pages.
• Featured “Likes”. If you want, you can feature your Liked Pages. [>Edit Page >Featured]
• This would be interesting if you had multiple pages for one company (like Disney)
• Or if you are an artist and want to promote where your paintings are on display
• Or if you sell something and want to promote where your items are sold (maybe online at NH Made)
• Or IF your Page is an INFLUENCER you may be able to get people to pay you to FEATURE there Page.
• Add a FB Like button (social plug-in: http://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins) to your website (when someone clicks the “Like” button from your website an average of 40 of their friends see it. Also try: Comments, Recommendations, Like Box, Activity Feed, and Registration plug-ins.
• Post daily. Every business is different do some testing to see what works best. Utilize Facebook Insights as you do your testing to see its impact.
• Do some research on when the best time of day is to post for your particular audience. [Are you leisure? Is your market on the West Coast, in another Country? Seniors, Students, Mommy Bloggers?] When are “they” on Facebook? Watch your chat lists. Experiment by keeping a log by ½ hour on the numbers. Check various times a day and various days of the week.
• Don’t get stuck in a rut… Be relevant. Have a schedule, but don’t be mechanical!
• STOP, THINK, IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU – IT’S ABOUT ME! Think about how your postings might look in paper.li for instance. What do your links say about you to me. Why should I care about you? What makes you an expert in your field? Your postings have to be a good fit for your band, for your reputation, and for your business.
• KISS – Don’t over think, don’t over produce, don’t oversell, be easy. Posting on FB and within Social Media shouldn’t be the sole responsibility of the Marketing Department.
• Photos, Video, Links, and a little text (again think Flipbook or paper.li or what YOU “click” on for more info)
• Use @ to help inform others you care! It also helps bring those people/businesses into your FB inner circle. – PAGES CAN NOW TAG OTHER PAGES!!! Also remember to tag photos when appropriate.
• Target by location or language http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/09/21/how-to-target-facebook-wall-posts-to-specific-fans/
• 95 percent of desktop users use the Top News filter to see their Facebook updates while the 200 million active mobile device users access Facebook via app for iPhone & Android see the Most Recent (Live Feed).
• Make sure to set your “Most Recent” feed to show ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND PAGES (FB tends to default to “Friends and pages you interact with most)
• Open ended discussion. Questions, pictures, posts, suggestions, ask for advice, run campaigns, promotions, etc. helps people to easily interact with your posts
• Take a poll. This will help you identify what your fans are looking for. POLL: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=20678178440
• Watch (some of the) the big guys or find the companies you want to emulate. See what they are doing and adapt your own goals through ideas generated from their campaigns. Here is a list of the top Facebook Brand Pages: http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/facebook-marketing/top-50-branded-facebook-pages/
• Make sure your photograph, video, tag, your LIVE events. People love to see themselves with the in crowd. Be respectful of your attendees. Make sure you tag pictures that are complementary.
• Monitor you site. Be sure to read all comments and posts. Thank those interacting and delete those who are disruptive to your “community”. Be sure to set your settings to which ever suites your company best. I like my wall to be just may companies posting with the ability to read “everyone” if chosen (just not as the default).
• My Page’s Favorites – Be generous.
• Security: HTTPS option on Facebook. From your personal page [>Account Settings >Account Security -select change- Under “Secure Browsing (https) click “Browse Facebook on a secure connection (https) whenever possible” click SAVE]
