4 Mistakes Business Owners Make with Facebook Fan Pages – Social Media
Do you want to use your Fan page to get more exposure, more visibility, and more customers? If so, make sure to avoid the 4 common mistakes listed below.
- Not Creating Customized Apps. With the new Timeline, Fan pages no longer have default landing tabs, but you can showcase up to 3 apps (Note: Tabs are now referred to as apps). These apps are located below your cover photo. They can be used to showcase a product, service, event, testimonials, ebook, video training, e-newsletter, homes for sales, etc.The 1st app will always be “photos”. You can’t change that. However, next to “photos”, you can showcase 3 apps. In order to create a custom designed app page, you can go to: http://pagemodo.com, http://woobox.com, or http://shortstack.com. Most of these sites will allow you to create 1 custom app page for free.
You can change the name & image for an app by clicking the down arrow to the right of the apps (below the cover photo). Then, put your cursor in the upper right hand corner of the app, & click the “pencil.” Click “edit settings.” Click “change” to change the app image and/or type in the new name in order to change the name of the app.
NOTE: In either the app name or the app image, you want to include “Calls to Action” like: SIGN UP, ENROLL NOW, WATCH, FOLLOW US. By including “Calls to Action,” there’s a better chance that someone will click on the app.
- Not Creating a Fan Page Username. When you create a Username, instead of having a long ugly URL, you’ll have a shorter one like: http://Facebook.com/__________. This is a great way to brand yourself and to make it easier to share your link with others and easier for fans to locate your page.In order to create your username simply visit: Facebook.com/username.
- Not Using your Business Name (or your own name) as your Fan Page Name. When naming your Fan page, I recommend that you use your Business Name or your own name (if you have multiple businesses). You want to keep things as simple as possible. If you have 2 Fan pages, it will be double work for you, and it will very time consuming. You can incorporate 2 businesses into 1 Fan page by creating customized apps (as mentioned above). When creating these apps, create 1 that showcases your 1st business and create another one that showcases your 2nd business.Your Fan page is your business page, and it will contain more information on your business, products, and services.
One of the most important reasons for using your Business Name (or your own name) is that at the very top of your personal profile, below your cover photo, it shows your work info, and if you’ll notice, it is a clickable link. So, people can click and go directly to your Fan page.
For example, if you work at ABC Company, and that’s the name of your Fan page, then ABC Company will be listed at the very top of your personal profile. It will be the 1st thing that people see when they come to your personal profile. Since it’s a clickable link, they’ll be able to click & go directly to your Fan page. That’s a great way to get more fans for your page, more exposure, more visibility.If you use your own name, then at top of your personal profile, it may say something like: Founder at John Doe Biz.NOTE: To get ABC Company or John Doe Biz to show up at the top of your personal profile, click “Update Info”, then edit your Work & Education. Where it says “Where have you worked”, make sure to put in the Name of your Fan page and select your Fan page, then type in your position/job title (and select that you currently work there). This way, your employment information will show up at the very top of your personal profile page (and it will include a link directly to your Fan page).
- Not Inviting your “Target Market” to become a Fan of your Page. A big mistake that many marketers make is that they set up social media accounts and only connect with their family and personal friends. Then they wonder why they’re not getting more clients or sales. Instead, I recommend that you connect with people who are in your target market – potential clients (people who are interested in your products and services).For example, if you teach yoga, connect with people who love yoga. If you are a weight loss coach, connect with people who want to lose weight. If you are real estate broker, connect with people who are interested in buying or selling a home in your area.
There are over 600 million people on Facebook, so your target market is definitely using Facebook. The benefit of connecting with your Target Market is that everytime you post something to your social media profiles, your posts are now going out to people who are interested in your products and services. Your posts are going out to POTENTIAL CLIENTS. This will significantly increase the traffic to your website, increase your clients, and increase your sales!
Another benefit of connecting with your Target Market is that you can invite them to join your Fan page. Since they’re potential clients who are already interested in your products & services, they are more likely to become a fan of your page. However, it’s very important that you build a relationship with them prior to inviting them to join your Fan page. Make a true connection first.
Always remember that social media is about building relationships. So, when you connect with your target market, make sure to make a genuine connection with them and provide them with alot of value. Provide them with guidance, helpful tips, and support. Show them that you care.
