Having a Facebook page is one thing and growing it is the other. Growing a Facebook page means having much when it comes to Facebook presence. This entails; posts likes, page likes, comments and shares through fans engagement. This can be a confusing task to many, especially with the surge in social marketing twists and tricks present currently. Well, below are some of the highlights on how to grow a Facebook page.

 

The Basics Of Growing A Fan Base

Naturally, before starting a Facebook page, it is prudent that anyone defines who or what the target audiences. This is vital in conducting the next step, which is planning a strategy to attract them and engage the targeted community around the Facebook page.

The whole plan culminates in creating and linking the Facebook page to a website that allows your fans to access more information about your page from the website. For sure, loyal and genuine engaged Facebook fans will be netted.

The primary reason for engaging your fans and capturing loyal fans is to grow your page. The more loyal fans you have in your page the more of your posts will be shown in the news feed for more people. If your loyal fans leave a comment, like or share your posts, the said post will appear on their friends’ timeline.

 

Ways To Increase Your Fan Base

There are various intriguing ways of increasing your Facebook’s fan base. However, great caution is advised when implementing these methods, as one wrong move may work negatively to your page.

 

1. Create great and catchy content

Creating a great content definitely tops the lists. Great content means something that brings attention to your audience, which will make them interested and unambiguously get them to like the content and ultimately your page altogether. Without great content your followers will definitely have nothing to follow. You can follow these tips for creating great and catchy content.

Photos get more engagement than videos or text. It is easier to scroll down while viewing photos other than reading text or watching videos; less time is used. It is said a picture speaks a thousand words, but could be wrong. In Facebook, a picture is worth a million likes.

A photo get more likes and shares than texts and definitely drives traffic to your page.

Use humor on your posts because Facebook is social and fun. Facebook audience does not want boring messages they want something than they can engage and re-engage.

 

2. Use your other social platforms

Twitter, Instagram, whatsApp, Google + or LinkedIn can be used to direct your followers to the page. Ask your fans on other social media platforms to follow you on facebook and do not forget to tell them why (they might not know what they are missing out).

• Include your facebook page link on your Instagram profile to channel traffic to your page.
• Tweet your facebook page URL with little exclusive content(less than 140 characters) of the page.
• Link your facebook page and profile to your LinkedIn profile. You can also share your blog posts with your linkedin connections.
• You can also share your facebook page link to your whatsApp contacts and groups. Engage them by letting them know the value of it.

You can check out some of the tips of boosting your social media followers here.

 

3. Include a like box or button to your website

You already have an audience in your website, who perhaps are genuine and are much interested in your products or services. You might want them to follow your facebook page, this can easily happen by adding a like box or button to your website.

With this, people who spend more time at your website will be a click away from liking your page. Time is less spent when clicking the like button other than leaving your website to your facebook page.

The good news about this feature is that the people who liked your page will have their profile pictures shown. If their friends see their friend’s picture they will be subjected to like the page. After all you have a great content on your page.

The benefits of including a like button in your website cannot be ignored. If you don’t know how to accomplish this, follow this guide.

 

4. Add a “HelloBar” to your website

Hellobars come in handy when the need to create an email list isn’t an option. Hellobars are probably the best alternative for those who don’t want to use aggressive methods such as pop-ups to capture emails. You can also integrate a Like button at the top of your website on this bar for enhanced likes. This is very important especially as you start to grow your fan base to hit the first few thousands before an organic growth.

Don’t know how to add one? Learn here

 

5. Engaging your current Audience

Make sure that your current audience knows about your page may it be online or physical. Mention your facebook page on forums, your business card, banner ads, stores, events and link it to your email signature.

Let people know what your page is all about and what kind of information they can get that is useful to them. This way people whom you engage with daily will have a piece of what your facebook page is all about and perhaps become loyal fans to your page.

 

6. Add share button to your blog

It said that it is almost impossible to grow your blog post audience without a share button. Various visitors to share their favorite posts to their friends on social media use share buttons. Every blogger needs it if they need to drive traffic to their website.

By use of plugins you can add these buttons wherever you prefer; at the top, bottom or through-out your content. These positions work for different bloggers, try different placing and see which works best for your audience.

Benefits of The Like/Share Button

Anytime a reader finds something worth sharing from your Facebook page or website, you need to make the process as simple as possible for them. The best way is by adding a like button, as mentioned above. Some of the benefits of having a like button include;

Increase Post Exposure

Readers without much to gain from sharing your post will find it tedious to log on to their social media accounts and draft a post containing your content. However, with the social media share/like button on your page, the reader just needs to click on the button to accomplish this.

When one individual shares your posts, your content or company gets introduced to a whole new group of people. Continuous sharing results in a fresh social media market for your products and services.

Grow more traffic

The traffic on your page often goes hand in hand with the amount of exposure your posts or website are receiving. The key to succeeding in this is by drafting posts that grabs attention.

Free advertising

When someone shares your posts, they are significantly promoting your products or services to their network. Like any other marketer will tell you, the power of product recommendation supersedes other influencers for clients looking for a given product.

Simply put, when a reader clicks on that like button to share your post, they are directly communicating to their followers that they agree with your services, ideas or products.

 

7. Use of Pop-ups that requests like

When viewing a particular website there is sometimes an annoying message that pop- ups disrupting your viewing. They are called pop-ups. However, as annoying as they are, believe me they can help you grow your fan base. You already have an active audience on your website, use Popup-us to request likes instead of emails.

You can add it when the visitor is about to leave the page, when the page has just opened or when the visitor is on the page. A great content on your page will definitely earn you a like on your facebook page.

 

8. Add your facebook page link to your email signature and community profiles or forums

Communication through emails happens in the day-to-day activities for business and personal purpose. By adding your facebook page link or profile in your email signature will make it easier for your friends and associate to follow your page or add you on facebook.

Adding your facebook page or profile manually is very simple. First you add the link then add a text, ‘follow me on facebook’. WiseStamp tool can help you create something that looks professional. Gmail has enabled its users to customize their email signature using clickable icons.

If you have an email list for your website, do not forget to add the link in the newsletter.

We all belong to one or more community forums online discussions. This is another way of creating a fan base. Do not forget to add links of your facebook page when creating profiles for forums. You may also want to add a link in the signature. The signature is very useful when you are in a community or forum within your niche.

For example if you are in a real estate forum and your page is all about real estate, and you always comment useful thoughts, other readers will rush to your link to learn about you and real estate and most importantly follow you on social platforms. However, the case of you adding a link about fashion on a real estate discussion can be detrimental.

 

9. Connect your personal profile with your pages

This is the base of growing your fan page. Knowing the difference between facebook page and facebook profile will give you an understanding of growing your fan base. The two depend on each other and if you have both you get double publicity. Use your facebook profile to drive your friends to your facebook page.

Doing this is pretty simple.You can follow this procedure here or alternatively, in the “about” section, add the company you work for, which is your facebook page and select “I currently work here.” Doing this will link your Facebook profile and page together.

You will notice that all the traffic on your profile will be driven to your page. This is because your friends, both physical and social media friends can see your page wherever your profile appears.

Try typing your name on the search bar, you will note your name, position of the company and your page name. You can also move your mouse over your profile name either in your News Feed or Timeline, a box pops- up containing your profile and a link of your facebook page.

This method has its benefits on websites that have a facebook commenting platform. In such cases, any time you leave a comment on the website, your page is linked to the comment. Also, when you comment on groups, your facebook page is linked to the comment. This is one of the simplest methods for your targeted audience to discover your page thus leading to the growth of your facebook page.

Another way is by inviting your facebook friends to like your page. Use the “invite friends to like this page’’ link. The link is found on the right side of your page. You can invite friends one by one or the popup box will show you which friends have liked your page and those that you have invited to like your page.

The invitation message will show on their notifications. If your friends haven’t received the notification remind them to like and the reason why.

 

10.Interact as your page

The image above is of Netflix replying to their clients in a Facebook comments section.

Use your facebook page to comment on pages and groups in your niche. It will be wise if you do not attempt commenting on your competitors’ pages. This may bring about bad blood. Facebook users will give you their attention and perhaps visit your page depending on what you are offering. You can also invite people to your event by commenting as your page on pages and groups within your niche. Check the comment area then switch to your page to comment as your page.

Find out how to interact and switch comments to represent your page here.

 

11.Tagging

Once you have created your content, tag your facebook friends who relate with your product. Choose friends who have many active followers and friends. This is because when you tag your friend your post appears in their Timeline or Newsfeed. Earning you exposure to your friend’s friends.

 

12.Guest blogging

Guest blogging drives traffic to your website and your facebook page as well. Guest blogging typically refers to writing content for another blog with an aim of gaining exposure and ultimately drive traffic to your blog.

Before you start guest blogging, you should have a great content on your website. That will make viewers want more and more posts. Great content is a base of a good number of loyal fans. Before reaching out to other bloggers, you must study their way of writing, tone, style and audience to know if you can up the game. Some bloggers have a set of guidelines to assist prospective guest bloggers before them reaching out.

When you are finally accepted to share your content please include your links to your social profiles and pages when creating your bio. Some blogs have a like button for your facebook page with your author bio.

Have you tried guest blogging, especially for blogs dealing with products or services similar to what you offer? If you have not what are you waiting for?

13.Use a special hidden feature

Most people do not know about this; the hidden feature can get you 20- 50 more followers from your interaction. Well, how do you go about it?

First go to your page, move your mouse to the number of likes and click. A small popup box will appear the box shows people who have liked and reacted to your chosen post. The box will allow you to invite people to like your page. However, the bad news about this method is that it will stop working once you reach 100,000 page followers.

 

14.Engage your followers

When fans post a comment on your content, it is prudent to interact with them. People will want to get noticed on social media platform. Mention their user name when commenting and follow them too; this makes them feel they belong to that platform. Do not be rude you might cause a heated argument that will damage your brand and reputation. And if rude comments are posted you can delete the comment and to avoid all these. You will also need to set up a clear social media policy.

Pick up topics commented by your fans for your next posts. Your fans will feel that they are valued. It also motivates people who are inactive to be active. This boosts your facebook fan page interactivity.

 

15.Balance your posts

You should not post too much on your fans timeline and the same time you should not let your page look like a ghost town. One strategy is to click on insights to find out when your fans are mostly online, then find a schedule to posts your content based on the data shown. Most importantly consider the peak hours when your fans are online.

 

16.Trending topics

Consider the trending topic and how it can fit the content you want to display. Pose a question on your facebook page to engage your fans. Use trending topics to ask your fans’ opinions. And lastly leave open-ended questions or rhetoric question at the end of your posts to capture reactions from your audience.

Finding trending topics is an important tool of keeping your brand products ahead of competitors. It gives you a better understanding of audience as well as allows you to create more interesting, catchy and relevant content. Initially, keeping tabs with the latest topics was pretty simple. It basically involved reading a daily newspaper or watching the evening news.

However, with explosion in information channels, it is important that you find modern methods of identifying trending topics. Outlined below are some of the methods of identifying trending topics.

Twitter

Twitter currently needs no introduction. Twitter currently lists the trending topics on their home and profile pages. Still, it is the best way of finding out present political and cultural trends and moods of the nation at large. For those with a budget, consider using the “promoted trends” in twitter. Hashtags in this section shows up at the top of the list in the homepage of your potential or target region. For better impact, consider including your brand name in the hashtag.

 

Google Trends

Google Trends is one of the popular analytics services offered by Google. You can search any topic from this platform and check the traffic volume it is receiving. Like Twitter, you can make this search country-specific or sector-specific to get more precise results.

 

Social Mention

This smart tool analyses content from several websites. This does not only limit itself to major networks such as Facebook and Twitter but also checks thoroughly through more than 100 sites including YouTube, Digg and FriendFeed.

 

Keyhole

Keyhole is yet another intriguing tool that allows you to track hashtags across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with much ease. It works like Google alerts, but only for social media. This tool allows you to set an alert for a certain topic and observe it in real time.

 

Buzzsummo

Buzzsumo tool is crucial in discovering popular and trending content, backlinks and influencers. In this tool, stories are organized according to their categories with a trending score that tells you how quickly the content is being shared. Using this tool doesn’t need one to sign up. However, it is better to sign up to get unlimited results and unlimited number of searches.

 

Agorapulse

This tool creates contests and marketing campaigns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. It also lets you to create customized queries suiting specific keywords on Twitter as well as identify the buzz around the same.

Other interesting tools to use in identifying trending topics include;

• Buzzfeed
• Reddit
• Topsy

 

17.Use of Hashtag#

The growth of your tweet depends on the hashtag you use on the available trending tropics. You can also use this method on facebook to make your page visible once you use Hashtag# on key topics or trending topics. When you use a particular hashtag topic and it happens that social media users search that particular hash tag, your post will appear.

 

18.Hold a contest

People love to win contests especially when there are free gifts involved. Offer something related to your page. For instance, if you own and marketing a shoe line page, offer the latest designer shoe to any follower who gathers the highest likes or shares. Note that every social media has its own contest rules.

For this case, check facebook contest rules so as not to end up in legal distress. You can use likes, comments or shares to determine the winner. The benefit of running a contest is that your page will gain exposure and more interactivity on your page hence an increase to your page likes.

 

19.Be active on facebook groups.

Facebook groups have a better organic reach than facebook pages. Facebook groups bring people with common interest together and form a lengthy discussion through a single post thus building a community. People tend to me more active in facebook groups than pages; they participate more with the content being posted on groups. That is why you see the most engaging content appears on top of the group’s timeline.

The other benefit of facebook groups is that they have notifications set by default. If someone wants to join the group, somebody posted or somebody comments it will be shown on their news feed.

It is a good idea to join facebook groups in your niche. Make useful comments and a good content to gain exposure. Once they notice you, they will visit your profile and your page. Afterwards after gaining their confidence you can redirect them to a group you created that focuses on your services and products or a wider perspective. These facebook fan pages are one way to create free traffic on your website. In each case be actively involved and do not spam groups. Some groups have a special file where members can add their pages.

 

 

In Conclusion

Outlined above are some of the genuine ways of growing your facebook page. Your facebook page will be of no use if you have fake followers and likes because no one is paying attention to it. Create good content, interact with your followers and build your audience to create influential marketing tool for your products and services.