One of the questions I hear quite frequently from small business owners is, “How do I get my Facebook friends to be fans of my new page?”
I wish I could tell you there was an easy way, but alas, there isn’t. However, there are several strategies that you can implement to encourage your friends to become Facebook fans.
#1 – Invite them!
I don’t mean call them on phone. (Although you could do that, I suppose!) I’m actually referring to the “Invite Your Friends” link that appears on the upper right hand corner of your Facebook page. When you click on that link, a new window opens up. If you click on the tab in the upper left-hand corner, a drop down menu appears with a list of different categories including friends you’ve recently interacted with, locations, groups you belong to, and friend lists.
#2 – Tell your Facebook fans
When you first set up your business page, you will be prompted to let your current customers and subscribers know about your new Page via email. You can do this in two ways. First, import email addresses from Outlook, Constant Contact, etc. that you have saved into a .csv file. Second, search email contacts on Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. by typing in your email address and password. Facebook says it will NOT store your password.
If you already set up your Facebook page, but didn’t do this step, it’s not too late. Edit your page, and select the “Resources” link.
#3 – Share your Facebook Page with Others
Another way to increase Facebook fans is to share your page on a friend’s wall, in a group, on another page, or “in a private message.” An easy way to do this is to click on the “Share” link that is found on the left-hand side of your page, underneath the pictures of the other pages you like, and the Page Owner.
After you click “share,” a new window will appear, with a drop-down menu to give you the option of sharing your page on your own personal profile wall, on a friend’s wall, in a group, on your own page (or any other you manage), and in a private message. Once you select who you plan to share the page with, include a message telling them WHY you’d like them to become fans of your page.
#4 – Tease your content
Social media expert Cindy W. Morrison suggested a clever strategy during the recent Spark & Hustle conference in Atlanta that I attended. She recommended teasing your content on your personal wall, and then inviting your friends to “like” your Facebook page to read the rest of the post.
What other strategies have you used to encourage your Facebook friends to become fans? Please share them below.
© Copyright 2011 Gloria Rand
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Gloria Rand is an Entrepreneur, Speaker, Copywriter & Marketing Consultant who works with entrepreneurs and small business owners to implement SEO strategies and social media marketing for online visibility, profits and success. Leveraging her background as a writer and producer for the award-winning PBS news program, “Nightly Business Report,” with her own experience as a small business owner, Gloria helps professionals turn great ideas into cash cows. Link up with Gloria at www.gloriarand.com or www.fb.com/gloriarandcopywriter.