This is a public service announcement! Facebook is here to stay...not going anywhere...nope...at least no time soon. So if 
you are still running away from this social media behemoth, putting your head under the pillow wishing it will just go away...this is one last ditch effort to get you to understand the benefits Facebook can have on your business and why if you don't man up, your competition is going to leave you in the dust.
This post is not to hype you up on the power of what a social media marketing campaign on Facebook can do for you, but to give you a realistic and thorough view of how Facebook can enhance your connections, customer engagement and cash flow to your brand or business. This post is to educate those who are still on the fence about social media, Facebook in particular, but are looking for real business building strategies that can get you results with less effort.
WARNING! This post is super long. So if you don't have more than 15 minutes you may want to bookmark this page so you can come back and finish it up later.
I was thinking about creating a multi-part blog series or even a mini ebook, but I thought what the heck...why not just give you the Facebook strategy you want, right now, so that you can begin to learn, implement, share and teach others on how to effectively launch a social media marketing campaign on Facebook for your small business. No hoops, no opt-ins, no links to download. Lucky you!
Here is what I am going to do though:
I am going to lay out for you 15 Steps To Launching A Successful Social Media Marketing Campaign On Facebook
So if you are ready to go, let's get started.
Oh, but hold on, before I give you the 15 Steps To A Killer Facebook Launch, Why Facebook?
Facebook is the KING of the internet with over 800 millions users. Yes, it reigns supreme as the #1 website on the net and it isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon. 80% of all Americans use a social network and Americans spend more time on Facebook than any other U.S. website (Nielsen). Your customers are there.
Are you using Facebook to the best of your ability and do you really know how to market your products and services on it?
If you don’t do anything else, get your business on Facebook. It should be an important part of your marketing mix. It helps with branding, connecting with potential customers on a personal level, and differentiates your business from competitors who aren’t using Facebook. The result: Driving more traffic, increasing sales, and a number of other benefits. You may be one connection or "like" away from your business breakthrough.
Now there are a million and one guides, manuals, reports, videos, workbooks, and ebooks on Facebook marketing for small business but if you are reading this post and are not having success of Facebook or still trying to figure out how to attack this social media giant, then I promise you this. Go through each of these 15 strategies, get in the game, and starting playing ball. I'd be absolutely floored if you didn't see a significant improvement in your connections, your customer engagement, your social media clout and your sales.
Step #1 - Listen To Your Target Market
To be successful on Facebook (or any social media platform for that matter) you have to know where your target market is hanging out. Where are they from? What do they look like? What are their interests? What groups are they active in? Are they influencers?
Good thing for you that Facebook, actually tracks all of this information for you. (learn more about Facebook insights here)
If you are listening, you'll know where your audience is...and only when you know where your ideal customer is can you effectively begin to engage and connect with them in a way that cultivates relationships and puts your brand and business in a position to be seen and heard by the right people.
Strategy #2 - Find The People With The Most Clout
Who are your influencers. A research report from Meteor Solutions found that the type of people who follow or friend you are more important than the numbers. Influencers are the people who create viral action, who share content that drives a flurry of activity. Influencers create value in the social media space, because you can measure your success based on their activity.
An influencer can post a status update and immediately create buzz by the number of comments, shares, likes and reactions it gets. How does this help you? This helps you know what topics are hot. It helps you determine what people are interested in. And it gives you the opportunity to know exactly who you need to get in front of on the social media scene.
Facebook has a number of influencers that just by association can increase your brand's clout and credibility. When you can strategically place yourself in front of these influencers, the potential to develop life changing relationships with them exponentially increases. So take advantage of their social media cred to help boost your own.
Amy Porterfield, suggests creating a list of 25 key influencers and connecting with 5 of them daily. You can go to Twellow, Listorious or do targeted searches on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to find out who's making waves in your industry. Make comments, share their links, answer their questions...
New Breed Entreprenuer Tip: Never, ever, ever insert a self serving link back to you in someone else's comment feed. It's tacky. You want to provide value in a way that does not impose on the influencer or make it's fans feel uncomfortable. Take the time to go to their blog and comment there as well. Be consistent and you will eventually raise a few eyebrows.
Strategy #3 - Find Your Blueprint For Success
Everyone needs someone to model their success after. You've created a list of 25 influencers. Now pick one or two that you can model your social media strategy after and stick to what they do until you get results. Success breeds success and if you learn and apply you'll cut your learning curve in half and start seeing significant results faster. Trial and error is for people who have time to waste...and I don't know anyone who can afford to waste time, so stay in the loop on what your chosen influencers are doing on a daily, weekly, yearly basis to build their business online. Read their posts, subscribe to their RSS feeds, opt in to their newsletters, watch their videos, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social network they participate in. Become a student of success. Don't over analyze, don't doubt the strategy, or make things more complicated than they need to be. Just go for it. Take massive action, master your game plan and stick it out.
Strategy #4 - Have A Strong Social Media Image
Presentation is everything online and in the increasingly noisy world of social media, you have to stand out on Facebook. And you do this by looking the part of a professional that can deliver quality content, services and products while building down-to-earth, authentic relationships with potential prospects and business partners.
Get a Facebook profile page that people can connect with: If you are a personal brand or solo-entrepreneur, please no pictures of your dog, cat, or car as your profile pic...that's for both your personal and fan page. FYI...Anybody can upload a picture of a hot, exotic luxury car...doesn't mean you're an industry leader, doesn't mean your products don't suck, doesn't mean you know what you're talking about or that you can create solutions for others. For all we know you're still living in the basement of your parents apartment pretending to be a guru instead of living the guru lifestyle - which is helping and empowering others to live better lives.
Exotic Cars + Facebook Fan Page Pic = You're So Lame!
Here are an example of Social Media Examiner's Facebook Fan Page...They are definitely getting it right (as they do with everything to do with social media):
Here is a really great tool that my good friend Donna Valdes turned me on to. It's called PageModo and it allows you to create a custom business Facebook Page for FREE. You don't need any special skills, no html code and the pages are beautiful!!
Next!
Strategy #5 - Upload Images That Put The Spotlight On Your Products & Services
This is an extension of Strategy # 4. There are 5 photos that appear right at the top of your profile pages. Use them wisely. The pictures you place in these 5 prime spots should showcase your products, services and skills. It should paint a story of who you are, what your brand is about and the value you bring.
Make sure your photos are captivating, eye-catching and fun! Images are powerful in increasing social media engagement and bright, colorful, fun pictures is what catches people's attention and moves them to increased engagement.
Also, always make sure you include descriptions to each photo you upload including a link to your blog, company bio or product page. You can also add a link that directs people to your lead capture page or opt in page (which I highly highly suggest you do). I recommend you create multiple lead capture pages or info pages (keep them in a notepad file for easy reference) that you can direct fans to.
Pictures give your Facebook friends a peek into your life as an entrepreneur and a person. The pictures you post convey a message about who you are and the type of lifestyle you live. Strategically share images that paint the story of what you are all about.
While we are on the subject of creating stories with pictures...Make sure to check out the new Facebook Timeline feature. It's finally released and a really great way to tell your life story through your profile.http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline
Strategy #6 - Tag, You're It
Yes tagging is good when done strategically and tactfully. When you upload photos to your Facebook Fan Page, tag each photo with your page name. The next step is to get the attention of an influencer. Do this by tagging your photo with the influencer's name using "@name". You are essentially giving them a social media shout out. You want to let them know in your description why you are tagging them. Please make sure it is relevant to their message, perhaps the photo is in response to a challenge or comment made in their status update.
You are taking the time to tag an influencer not only to increase your chances of getting their attention, but to let them know you support them, that you are listening, and that they are important to you. Be genuine. Just because they have social media clout doesn't mean you have to like them. So if that is the case, don't tag 'em.
Tagging when done right is a win-win for you and the influencer.
Here is a simple example of how to utilize tagging the right way:
Say you just launched your very first training program and you want to promote it on Facebook. Use this strategy here...
- Upload a picture of your new training program. You could use a logo, banner, or a screenshot.
- Add your description of the photo and include a link to the new training program.
- Tag the picture with your own name, your fan page name or business page for your new product, then tag your influencer with their fanpage name (@influencersfanpagename).
- Next you'll want to make sure you include a link to the picture in your status update to the influencer's Facebook fan page, where they are promoting their services or products.
"I am really excited about the launch of my new training program "name of your product" which you can get a sneak peek at here "http://yourlink". I want to thank "@influencersname" for inspiring me to move my butt and giving me the blueprint to follow with her program/book/training.etc @influencersfanpagename.
Quick Tip: Make sure you like the influencer's page first. This way the tagging strategy is done properly and the influencer's fan page will populate in the drop down list when you go to tag them.
Strategy #7 - SEO Your About Me
Yes, your info page is not just where your Facebook fans come if they want to learn more about you, it's a tab that Google needs so they can know more about you....and while no ones else may care too much about what you have to say about yourself, Google cares.
Go to your Facebook Fan or Business Page, click "edit profile" button, click basic information and in your "About" section, insert your blog or website url, along with the most relevant keyword(s) situated toward the beginning of your about me blurb. This way your fans can see it on your profile page...Here is an example of my blurb.
[twocol_one]About Section
[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]About Section Extended
[/twocol_one_last]
Notice the keywords social media marketing are the very first words I start my description with...then I sprinkle other important target keywords throughout the rest of the description. Also notice, I've added my blog url toward the beginning and end of my description.
Social media marketing tips at http://andreabolder.com. How can I serve you? Ask me anything about social media, entrepreneurial mindset or making money online to get in depth answers on how you can up your business game! http://andreabolder.com
Strategy #8 Optimize Your Facebook Bio
Next you'll want to create a more robust description of who you are and what you do by optimizing your biography. Be real, be authentic and entertain. Don't be silly or write stuff that you "think people want to read", but create copy that will draw fans in and keep them wanting to read more about you and your business.
[highlight]Keep the tone conversational, keep it light as if you were talking to a friend over a cup of coffee. When you can create content that actually resonates with others in a language they understand and can relate to, not only are you building rapport you are establishing a connection that can lead to conversation, communication and conversion.[/highlight]
Include links throughout your bio that direct fans to learn more about you outside of Facebook. The more engaging your bio the more traffic you'll drive to your external sites, so take time to think about what you are writing.
Also, make sure to sprinkle your target keywords in your bio and in the "Personal Interests" section.
Take a peek at mine...
Notice that the very first thing I placed in my biography section is a live link to my about me page on my blog: http://andreabolder.com/about (Please don't bore your readers with a long, drawn out dissertation of your life story on your Facebook Info Page... prime them with a short, juicy, mini-bio that is straight-to-the-point and makes a good impression...leading them to click on your about me link to learn more about you!
New Breed Entrepreneur Tip: Don't be afraid to brag on yourself a little bit. It shows you are confident in your skills...just make sure you can back it up!
Strategy #9 - SEO your Status Updates
You have to know the keywords and trends that are going to get people talking about your business and brand. Do your research! Identify the topics and keywords that are important to your business. This means paying attention to the lingo, terms and conversations floating around within your target market or niche. When you continuously see and hear the same words, phrases, or terms, this should be a hint to you that you may want to start talking to your audience using the language that will get their attention.
For example, If you’re in the real estate industry, you would investigate forclosure, loan modification, property value and so forth. Keywords should reflect what’s important to your business and what your potential customers are actually searching for.
When you are consistently searching for new keywords and staying informed on new trends you'll find you are better equipped to reach and help your target audience.
Strategy #10 - Offer Conversational Status Updates
If you are serious about building your online clout and presence, a big part of being social is opening up conversation to others. Ask people questions that prompt simple answers? You should be posting 2 -3 updates a day that encourage communication and comments. You don't need to get too deep, just ask questions that will get the social media party started. Think ice breaker...
If you are trying to get the attention of an influencer, make sure to tag them in your update.
Strategy #11 - Create Your Bribe
Social media is very much an "I'll show you mine if you show me yours!" type of culture. If you want to increase engagement you have to be willing to give up the goods. Have a free ebook, report or guide? What about a free video course, webinar or audio?
I personally believe you should format your page in a way where the viewers must "like your page first" before they get access to your free content. While you don't necessarily need them to hand over their name and email address (called a double opt-in) to get access to your freebie, I do suggest that at the minimum you have them click like before getting access.
New Breed Entrepreneur Tip: Monetize Your Freebie. Strategically and tactfully sprinkle affiliate links or links to your own info-products throughout your free report or guide. Use a number of different call to actions that get your reader to move to the next step of the process, which could be getting them to your blog, or on to an email list or to a sales page.
[box style="rounded"]Example: For more tips and strategies that will double your results in half the time, visit me at blog at "insert your link here".[/box]
Always, always, always give away your best content. You want your fans to feel like they got the best end of the deal. Nothing is more annoying than liking, opting in, or purchasing something then feeling like it was a total waste of time.
Create content that is hypnotic, packed with value, and will not only keep them coming back for more, but have them raving to their friends and peers on how great your information was.
Strategy #12 - Use Paid Facebook Advertising
Be proactive and get a little aggressive with your engagement by creating a Facebook Ads campaign. Create an Ad that has a hypnotic headline, an eye-catching picture (bright colors, images outlined in red, hot girls - all tested to increase clicks!) and a simple but compelling call to action.
Since you are paying for advertising time, make sure you stay on top of your Facebook campaigns to see how they are performing. Any campaign doing poorly, snatch immediately. You don't want to waste money because it can add up quickly.
Perform split tests to see which campaigns give you a better return on your investment. Take screenshots of ads that you would click on, that catch your eye or have garnered a lot of likes. Keep them in a folder called "Facebook Ad Samples" so you can use them as models for when you create your own Facebook Ad campaign.
Strategy #13 - Integrate Twitter With Facebook...Or NOT!
It is my personal opinion that you should not use any application that feeds ALL of your Tweets to your Facebook page. I'm a fan of Twitter, not a Fan of feeding your entire tweetstream onto your Facebook wall.
Some people send a tweet out every 5 minutes. Can you imagine how utterly ANNOYED your Facebook fans would be if they were getting notifications from you every 5 minutes 24/7? How about Super ANNOYED!
So unless you don't tweet very often I recommend you using this really cool app that Facebook guru, Mari Smith, turned me on to called Selective Tweets.
Selective Tweets lets you update your Facebook status from Twitter - BUT you can choose which tweets you want - just end a tweet with #fb when you want to post it as your Facebook status - simple!
If you want your fans to have access to your entire tweetstream from Facebook, you can also pull in all your tweets onto a tab using an app like Involver.
Strategy #14 - Integrate Video Into Your Facebook Marketing Strategy
I probably don't have to tell you how powerful video marketing is, but when you combine video on your Facebook landing page it can boost your traffic and increase conversions.
Video Marketing is one of the fastest ways to build an online presence and create viral exposure for your business.
One of the fastest growing marketing mediums being used by online marketers today, video marketing offers incredible potential when you pair it with Facebook. Video marketing can take your business to “celebrity status” helping you to build brand awareness and creating rapport with your viewers.
Although you can post your YouTube videos directly to Facebook, I suggest using Facebook's video uploader.
Why?
If you post your YouTube videos to Facebook by cutting and pasting the embed code straight from YouTube you'll find that if your viewers click twice they will be promptly swept away from your Facebook page landing on your YouTube channel.
Unless your goal is to build your YouTube subscribers on Facebook you NEVER want to take your fans away from your Facebook page or blog. They may never come back.
The ultimate goal with social media is to always drive traffic to you, not away, with the final destination place being your BLOG! So let's get in the Strategy # 15
Strategy# 15 - Tie Your Blog To Facebook
So speaking of blogs...as an entrepreneur and business owner looking to build up your online presence, a Wordpress blog should be a top priority. Google loves blogs. They are interactive, constantly changing and a great way to create a community of loyal followers....and your Facebook marketing tactics should include ways to get your fans back to your playground...your blog.
Your blog is your prime piece of internet real estate. It's the one place where you can showcase your message. It's your house and it's where people will get to truly know and understand you and the the value you provide.
So you may be thinking, that sounds good but I don't have time to blog...
Don't think you have what it takes to maintain a blog? There's a ton of PLR (private label rights) content that is already written for you. No more writer's block. No more struggling to create content. Simply tweak the pre-written content to give it your personal voice and hit publish. With PLR content, it will free up your time so you can focus more on your business while putting out content that will build your credibility and establishing you as the expert!
My favorite PLR content for network marketers, internet marketers and affiliate marketers is Nicole S. Coopers MLM PLR Store. High quality content (alot of PLR is junk), affordable and there's only 200 licenses available for each piece of content released. So you should have no excuses when it comes to having a blog.
So once you got your blog up and running, how do you attach your blog to your Facebook page?
- Use the Facebook app Networked Blogs to tie your blog feed. Takes less than 5 minutes to set up and will help you build your brand across the social networks.
- Placing a Facebook Like Box In Your Sidebar: Get the code here
- Adding Facebook Comments To Your Site. Here's a post I did not too long ago on installing Facebook Comments Plugin To Wordpress
- Having Facebook Like and or Share Buttons: There are a ton of plugins, like Facebook Social Plugins, you can use to add Facebook buttons to your site. I recommend having a plugin that allows Facebook shares toward the beginning and end of a post.
So you've read the entire post! Woohoo! Good for you. Now all you have to do is start applying what you've learned. Building a brand on Facebook is not about setting up a Fan Page or Business Page and hoping fans will come to you. The whole "build it and they will come" philosophy doesn't work too well with Facebook. You have to be strategic, you have to have a focused message (if you are a social media marketer, don't talk about how to fix cars) and you have to constantly be adding value to your community.
Success on Facebook is possible. People are creating more connections, more customers, and more cash flow on Facebook than on any other social network. Release the overload...find strategies that work and stick to them. Take these 15 Steps To Launching A Successful Social Media Marketing Campaign on Facebook and make it happen for you and your business!
Did you find this post helpful? Maybe you have a Facebook strategy that you think is worth sharing? Leave a comment and let us know what's working for you?
Cheers!
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