Facebook was created to be an outlet for like-minded individuals to come together and share thoughts, ideas, opinions, reviews, etc. without being influenced or pressured by corporations. Yet, many people assume that since Facebook is a social media giant that it is the best place to plaster your sales pitches on every wall possible. We frequently see this mistake being made by new businesses and even well-established ones that are just not using what little time they have effectively.
Should you do it just because everyone else is doing it? Not. There is a delicate balance required in reaching and engaging with your target audience while showing them what all you offer, instead of selling to them (relentlessly) what you offer. More importantly, rather than dropping ads just anywhere and hoping for a lead, here are three simple ways to get better results on Facebook.
#1: Stop Trying to Sell, Sell, Sell
We know that times may be tough, and it might be crunch time, but believe us when we say that selling your heart and soul out on Facebook is not going to get you anywhere (it may even negatively impact your business!). Instead, set time aside each day to actively engage your target audience by liking some exciting posts on your feed, replying to comments, asking questions, and possibly even helping people for free if the opportunity presents itself! I know it sounds crazy because nothing is ever really free. I mean….what’s the catch? The point is that if someone on your newsfeed is requesting a recommendation or needs help in some other way that you can step in and help out, they will remember your company through your good deed. By doing something beautiful for them without expecting anything in return, you are humanizing your business and leaving a positive impression with a potential future consumer. The point is, you can spend all your time trying to have a million static followers, but it doesn’t do you any good unless you have built genuine relationships with your followers to make them want to care about what you have to offer.
#2: Don’t Let Your Content Get Stale
We sometimes get so wrapped up in professionalism that we forget to have a little fun. You need to share content that is already getting attention and create original content that is interesting enough that people will choose to follow you for more. For example, a big hit right now on social media is motivational/inspirational photos captioned by quotes. Research has shown that pictures, in general, receive far more attention than text-only posts. With that said, sometimes people need a break from the monotonous business-related posts and want to see something like a funny picture or .gif to brighten their day. Likewise, while stock photos are sometimes a necessity, don’t be afraid to snap a photo of someone around your office being goofy. Again, this lends a human element that businesses on Facebook so desperately require to not be passed over as just another business fishing for sales.
#3: Start-Up Some Competition
There are so many various ways to run a competition on Facebook. Consider the following example, and if your company sells t-shirts, you can tell your followers that every person that sends in a photo of themselves adorned in your company’s t-shirt will be automatically entered in to win some sort of prize. Even if the prize is simply more merchandise with your company’s logo on it, people love to receive free items, and it doesn’t hurt that they are advertising your company in the process!
Now that you have learned these simple ways to engage your audience and build up your business to customer relationships, log on to Facebook and try them out!
Do you have more Facebook tips that have led to better customer relations in your personal experience?
