Big Teeth Productions Blog

Facebook Fan Page: A Beginners Guide

I talk with a lot of local, independent businesses about their marketing efforts, and it’s clear most feel it’s time to explore social media, but they don’t know how or even why. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge but have little to no time or money to do it, I have one word for you: Facebook.

In fact, forget the social media part of the equation. If you have little to no time or money to spend on marketing – period – the first place you should turn is Facebook.

Here’s why. While consumers must seek out your website, which usually remains static, a Facebook fan page allows you to communicate with current and future customers on their home turf. It’s essentially a soft sell – an interactive, ever-changing gateway to your website that allows consumers to get to know you in a casual environment. If they know you, they’ll turn to you when needs inevitably arise. 

So, for you social media beginners, here are a few quick and easy steps to Facebook success.

1. Set up your fan page. Add contact information, a link to your website, photos (at least one profile photo is vital), video if you have access to it – make it as vibrant, engaging and rich with information as possible. It’s free and it doesn’t take long.

2. Build up your base. Start inviting people you know who already appreciate you and your business – friends, family, customers, co-workers – to become fans. Also seek out other businesses that you support or have worked with in the past and add them to your “favorite pages” list and ask them to do the same for you in return. The more fans and other businesses that add you to their network, the more new fans you can reach. 

3. Post items to your wall. Good ideas for posts include links to relevant news articles, brief updates about you and your business, promotional offers, contests, polls or even just random thoughts. Remember, you’re trying to show some personality here. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun; it doesn’t all have to be directly related to your business.

Since every wall post you make will show up on each of your fans’ homepages, the idea is to post stuff they would not only want to read themselves but would be compelled to comment on. When a fan comments on one of your posts, every Facebook friend of theirs will be exposed to that comment and potentially click on it and arrive at your page. And that’s how you gain new fans, who will, in turn, attract more fans.

Once your page is up and running, it’s pretty much all about keeping people involved by consistently posting new items to your wall. Try to post at a minimum of once a week and as much as once a day. This will keep you in your fans’ minds but not annoyingly so.

And there you have the basic formula. There are always new lessons for advanced students, but this should suffice for you beginners. A Facebook fan page costs zero money to start, and upkeep is quick and painless.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get started. And, as always, if you have any questions, feel free to write me at dan@bigteeth.tv. Also, if you want to see how we practice this, check out the Big Teeth Fan Page.

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