Now that you’ve created a Facebook page and a Twitter account to promote your business, you’re probably wondering what the next step is. You’ll definitely want to get some content on your Facebook page and post a few “tweets” on Twitter, but you’ll also want to start building up the number of Facebook users who like your page and the number of Twitter users who follow you. You could have the best product on the market and the most exciting content on the Web, but if you don’t have fans and followers to view the content, it’s basically useless.
Increasing Your Facebook Likes
In the past, if you liked a page on Facebook, you became a fan of that page, which meant that the page’s posts would show up on your wall. While they’ve changed the terminology and you know “Like” a page rather than fan it, the concept is still the same. Facebook users must choose to like your business’s page to have your posts appear on their wall. To increase the number of people who like your page, post informative content that is not always self-promotional in nature on a regular basis, but be sure not to inundate people with information. Add a link to your Facebook page on your e-mail signature as well as on your Web site and any promotional materials or advertisements you produce.
Additional ways to increase the number of users who like you on Facebook include running contests that require users to like your page to participate, embedding a Facebook like button on your Web site and incorporating Facebook comments into your Web site, which allows your Web site’s viewers to like things and comment on posts through your site.
Increasing Your Twitter Followers
Gaining followers on Twitter is very similar to gaining likes on Facebook. Twitter users must choose to follow you and can also stop following you any time they want. Make sure every time you tweet you’re posting useful information or helpful or informative links, not random comments like “I just had a PB&J for lunch!” Follow people who are posting about your industry because chances are at least some of them will follow you back.
Add your Twitter account information to your Web site and e-mail signature along with your Facebook info so people can find you easily on either platform. If you have a blog, you’ll also want to include links to Twitter and Facebook there so anyone who stumbles upon your blog can like you on Facebook and follow you on Twitter.
In addition to the above tips, participate in Follow Friday, designated by the hash tag #FF, as often as possible. On Fridays, use that hash tag and then recommend Twitter users you feel are informative and helpful. Oftentimes, they’re reciprocate or at least thank you for the #FF mention, which makes your Twitter username visible to their followers, some of whom may choose to follow you as well.
