Facebook Marketing: 8-Step Checklist to Getting Started
When it comes to Facebook marketing, there are a few steps that need to be taken when getting started.
You have a company, you have a page and you are ready to get started with your Facebook marketing program – all great things!
But in order to find success with your Facebook marketing, there are a few things you need to do right at the outset.
Below is an 8-step marketing checklist for getting started on Facebook (in order).
1. Pick a Page Name (if possible, with a keyword)
If you are John Smith and you own a steakhouse, try and name your page ‘John Smith Steakhouse’. Keywords in the page name are among the few areas on Facebook where they can benefit SEO, so try and get it in there when you choose your name.
2. Create a Vanity URL
A long Facebook URL with a bunch of numbers at the end of it is not very nice to look at. Go to https://www.facebook.com/username and create a vanity URL for your page to maintain professionalism.
3. Optimize Your Sections for SEO
Your About section and your mission statement should have links and keywords close to the front in order to optimize your page for SEO. Do not leave any sections blank. It simply does not look good when people come by.
4. Add Photos and Videos
This includes your profile picture (Hint: 180X180px) your cover photo (Hint: 851X315px) and your page photos (Hint: They fit into 400X400px space on your Timeline). Get content up quickly so you do not have an empty company page.
5. Add Tabs to Your Page
A ‘Like’ box and a selection of photos is not impressive. People want to see that you pay attention to your Facebook page the same way you would pay attention to your customers. Add some custom tabs to your page and make it look great! (Note: Tabs should highlight your goals and expertise.)
6. Promote Your Page
It may sound silly, but people are generally a little hesitant to ‘Like’ a page that has no activity. Reach out to friends and existing clients and invite them to ‘Like’ your page in order to get the ball rolling. You might also want to create a promotion of some of your content for a few bucks to a targeted audience and build your audience that way as well.
7. Familiarize Yourself with Insights
Facebook recently updated their Insights, and there is a lot to learn. As a page owner, you should know what Insights are available, what they mean and how you can use them to increase the business you drive from your page.
8. Start Engaging!
Ask questions, share updates and encourage conversation on your page. Though the average engagement rate on pages falls somewhere in the 0.5%-1.5% range, you should be aiming to shatter that number with your page!
These 8 steps are crucial to getting started with Facebook marketing. However, once they have been taken, it is time to start watching business grow with the help of Facebook!
Which step do you think is the most important? Do you have any others? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
