I recently wrote a post providing four tips to help you use Facebook as a marketing tool. By popular demand…here’s three more!
Grammar, spelling and punctuation DO count!
Whether you’re posting vacation pictures on your personal Profile or a link to an interesting article on your Page, you always want readers to know that you’re a professional. There is a huge difference between your and you’re; too, to and two; there, they’re and their…and you get the idea.
I follow a friend’s Page (he’s in the financial world) and in a post, he used the word “are” when he meant “our” THREE times! Unfortunately, his posts often have errors. I wouldn’t trust him with my finances and I wouldn’t recommend him to my friends. Harsh? Yes, but my impression of him is not a positive one.
None of us are perfect and mistakes do happen. However, if the error is big, delete the post. You can also make light of errors…as long as they are few and far between.
Be responsive AND say thank you!
As I’ve said, social media success is about having conversations with your followers. If someone posts a question on your Page, answer it in a timely manner. Don’t give someone the opportunity to go elsewhere for their answer…or find someplace else to spend their money!
Even more importantly, say “Thank you” to your followers. When someone takes the time to post on your Page or comment on one of your posts, respond to them and thank them when applicable.
It’s really, really important to thank someone who provided a compliment! Again don’t give them a reason to go elsewhere.
Do not lie, swear, tell bad jokes and so on
It’s important that your posts are always professional. Don’t lie (or embellish) about your products or services—unless you also make it very clear what you were doing and why. And, you have to do this in the same post, not in a comment later on. Not every reader will scroll through the comments.
Personally, I believe there’s never an excuse to use profanity on a business Page.
We’ve all seen a public speaker try to lighten the mood by telling a joke. Sometimes it goes well and other times, it goes very wrong. Funny to one person can be offensive to another.
Mind you, I’m not saying you can’t have fun with your posts. It’s great to see Pages that post items that help to show their “personality.” We’ve seen this in TV ads—for example, GEICO often features funny or cute commercials that have nothing to do with insurance, but they definitely get our attention and we remember the company because of their ads.
What other tips and techniques do you have for a successful Facebook Page? I’d love to add them to my list!
Great tips. Might I also suggest adding not getting into a political and/or religious conversation. You never know how the reader might feel and who that reader might know; meaning a future gig, job, etc. If you want to have such conversation, go off line, send a private message or just pick up the phone. 🙂
Great point! I always find it a bit odd when a “business” starts posting about a political or religious issue (unless of course, that is their business!). It complicates things when the Page is just for one person, like mine is, but there are plenty of other opportunities to have discussions without having them on a business Page.