As a marketer focused on social media in 2023, you know the importance of an engaged audience on platforms like Facebook. While some trends come and go, the fundamentals of attracting and keeping followers remain essentially the same. If you want to build a loyal base of customers and connections on Facebook this year, focus on creating authentic content, starting conversations, and providing value. Though flashy gimmicks or viral challenges might temporarily boost your numbers, a lasting social following comes from substance.(bestfollowers)
Post photos and updates showcasing you, your products, your mission, and your personality. Offer helpful tips, share industry insights, or highlight your areas of expertise. A personal touch and a willingness to engage in genuine interactions set successful marketers and brands apart on Facebook. Stay on the cutting edge of new features and ad options, but don’t lose sight of the basic principles that have always worked. Give your followers content and conversations worth engaging with, and your Facebook marketing will thrive this year and beyond.
While the tools and trends might evolve, the actual connection never goes out of style. Focus on that, and your followers will stay loyal through any changes on the horizon.
Create Engaging Content to Build Your Audience
To build your audience on Facebook, you must provide content that educates and engages your followers. Posting regularly is vital, so aim for 2-3 times per week.
Share Helpful Tips and How-To’s
Providing helpful information is a great way to build trust and authority. Share step-by-step how-to guides, helpful tips, and product or service advice. For example, if you sell gardening supplies, post about how to plant bulbs properly or protect plants from frost.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Pose questions to spark discussion and engage your audience. For example, ask about their most significant challenges or frustrations in your industry. These types of posts get lots of comments and shares.
Share Curated Industry News and Updates
Stay on top of trends and news in your industry and share with your followers. For example, if there are new technologies, methods, or tools that would interest your target audience. Link to 2-3 of the most essential highlights with a summary in your own words for each.
Post Visually Appealing Content
Images, infographics, slideshows, and short video clips are eye-catching and help to convey information quickly. For example, create an infographic with tips or statistics. The visual components make the content more engaging and shareable.
Use Hashtags Strategically
Include relevant hashtags, especially branded hashtags, at the end of your post to make the content more discoverable. For example, if you sell skincare products, use #skincaretips or #naturalskincare. But don’t go overboard; aim for a maximum of 2 to 3 hashtags per post.
Run Promoted Posts to Increase Followers
To increase your Facebook follower base, promoted posts are one of the most effective tools in your arsenal. Promoted posts allow you to boost the visibility of your posts to new potential followers beyond your current organic reach. When creating a promoted post, choose your objective – to gain more page likes (followers) or increase post engagement. Then set your audience, budget, and duration. For the audience, choose broad targetings to start, such as location, age range, and interests. You can then refine and optimize your targeting over time based on performance.
Once your promoted post is live, check the results daily. Look at metrics like page likes, post reach, post engagements, and cost per page. Make adjustments to your targeting and creativity to improve performance. For example, you may find certain ages, locations or interests perform better, allowing you to narrow your targeting. Or you may find an eye-catching visual with enthusiastic call-to-action garners more likes.
Optimizing Your Promoted Posts
Optimizing your promoted posts is critical to success. Here are a few tips:
- Choose high-quality and eye-catching visuals like photos or videos. Static posts with text only typically see lower results.
- Write an engaging call-to-action that invites people to like your page, such as “Like our page for more!”
- Refine your audience by location, age, gender, interests and behaviour. Look for overlaps between your followers and your promoted posts’ audience.
- Adjust your budget up or down based on performance to maximize results.
- Run A/B tests of different creatives and audiences to determine the optimal combination.
- Optimizing your promoted posts will allow you to gain hundreds of new, targeted followers each week and grow your community on Facebook.
Host Live Videos to Engage Your Followers
Hosting live videos on Facebook is an excellent way to engage with your followers in real-time. When done right, live streaming can effectively build brand awareness, foster community, and drive traffic to your website.
Plan Your Content
Before going live:
- Determine the topic or theme of your video and prepare any visual components, such as slides or graphics, in advance.
- Outline a few talking points but avoid a scripted feel.
- Keep your content concise and focused to fit within 15 to 30 minutes.
- Promote your live video ahead of time on Facebook and other social channels to encourage viewer participation.
Be an Engaging Host
As the host, you start discussions, share insights, and make genuine connections with viewers. Greet people as they join, ask open-ended questions, read and respond to comments, and thank people for watching. Smile, make eye contact with the camera, and speak conversationally as if talking with friends. Your passion and enthusiasm will shine through, helping to build rapport and foster community.
Optimize for Discovery
Choose a thumbnail image, title, and video description that accurately captures the topic or experience you aim to provide viewers. Be sure to include relevant hashtags, tags of other Facebook pages or influencers, and location tagging, which can help optimize your video for discovery on Facebook. Keep your camera steady, speak clearly, and ensure good lighting and minimal background noise for the best viewing experience.
Extend the Conversation
The live video may end, but the conversation doesn’t have to. Follow up with a summary or highlights reel to allow more people to watch and engage. Post the full replay of your live video to your Facebook page, where viewers can continue to comment, like, and share. This also allows you to start planning your next live-streaming event. With regular live videos, you can build a dedicated viewership and position yourself as an industry expert. In summary, hosting live videos is a powerful way to engage and interact with your Facebook followers. With some planning and practice, you can create memorable experiences that foster community and help achieve your business goals. Consistency is vital, so start live streaming today to build your audience for tomorrow.
Running contests and giveaways
Running contests and giveaways is an effective strategy to increase engagement and gain more followers on Facebook. By offering prizes and rewards, you incentivise your audience to like your page, share your posts, and participate in the community you’re building.
Choose High-Value Prizes
Select prizes your target audience will find appealing and valuable. For example, offer a free photo shoot or prints if you’re a photography business. Give away gift cards or free products if you’re a clothing brand. The more valuable and relevant the prize is to your followers, the more interest and shares your contest will receive.
Keep the Entry Simple
Require easy actions to enter, such as liking your page, sharing a post, or tagging a friend. Avoid complicated multi-step entries, which can deter participation. The easier you make it to join the contest, the more entries you’ll gain.
Promote Heavily
Advertise your contest across all social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and email marketing. Create eye-catching graphics and videos to spread the word. Engage with those who share about the contest and thank them for participating. The more people see it, the more they will enter.
Announce the Winners Publicly
Once the contest closes, announce the winners on your Facebook page. Tag the winners in your post and the comments to maximize visibility and show appreciation for their participation. Thank all who entered as well. This transparency and gratitude will make your followers eager to join your next contest. You can gain new followers quickly by leveraging the popularity of contests and giveaways on Facebook. With an appealing prize, simple entry, heavy promotion, and public announcement of winners, your Facebook marketing contest will be a success. Stay engaged with your followers and keep the momentum to turn them into loyal customers and brand advocates.
Conclusion
As we approach 2023, it’s clear that social media marketing will continue to evolve. However, by focusing on authentic engagement, quality content, and building genuine connections, you’ll set your business up for success on Facebook. Though new features or algorithms may change, people will always be attracted to brands that provide value, start meaningful conversations, and foster community. If you make a real impact and lasting relationships your top priority, your followers will remain loyal and help propel your business into the future. The key is simply keeping the human touch.
