6 Ways to Engage Your Facebook Fans

Are you actively and consistently engaging your community on Facebook?

Once you have your page set up and a landing tab to generate leads, then what? Do you have a strategy for your business page?

When I set up the Blog Squad page a couple of years ago, I simply syndicated my blog posts and forgot about the whole thing. Obviously that's not going to work for long and I've changed my ways.

My goal is to be a go-to resource for info on business blogging and boosting visibility on the web. I view the page as a way to connect, engage and move people to my primary content sources - my hub - my blog - where they can get a lot more info from me. I also use the page as a lead generator by offering two freebies: 5 videos on business blogging and 7 tips for boosting online visibility.

But engagement is key because without that, most people won't opt in to the free stuff or click on a link to check out a blog post or special offer. To get a sense of where you're currently getting the best results, review your stats (Insights) to see which posts get the most action.

Check out how much higher the percentage of activity is on the "Brag About Your Blog Day" post! Second to that is a quote I posted on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

So how do you engage? I've found a few ways that usually elicit "likes" and comments, which is the holy grail for connection and visibility on Facebook:

1. Post quotes related to your subject or what's going on for you personally. Ask for similar quotes or what the quote means to them.

2. Post links to other people's articles that will help your audience. Don't make it all about you.

3. Ask questions (this is a great way to do research on a topic). I've written several blog posts based on the fantastic info shared by the community.

4. Answer questions. Make it known that you respond to questions about your topic/niche, products and services, or host a Q&A day (Social Media Examiner does this brilliantly every Friday, featuring an expert in social marketing).

5. Invite your fans to share links to their site/blog/fan page/twitter. My monthly Brag About Your Blog Day has become quite popular. Recently over 200 people bragged about and posted links to their blog. It was an awesome way to learn about what people are doing, what their interests are find potential JV partners and guest posting opportunities.  Mari Smith hosts Fan Page Friday and I noticed that Adam Urbanski has started Marketing Monday on his page.

6. Host a video chat. I haven't done this though there are Facebook apps that will make this easy. There's also an app to host live text chats - I think it's called Clobby.

Now, I'd like to hear from you. What specifically do you do to engage your Facebook community? How do you encourage interaction?

I love to learn new ways to connect so post your tips in the comments below, please!

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Related Post:

No Facebook Page? FanPageEngine is a Good Solution for Non-Designers

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Comments

[Neil Ferree]

The 6 engagement tactics you mention all make sense. I am looking into how best to add BTR (blog talk radio) as a mechanism to engage ones fans/followers on FB and Twitter to build a loyal BTR listening audience.

[Lauren McMullen]

Thanks for the great tips Denise. I especially like the Brag about your Blog Day idea. Would you mind if I used it. Of course I will change the name.
Lets Keep It Social,
Lauren

[Susan Liddy]

Great advice, Denise!

"Build it and they will come" doesn't exactly work here. A FaceBook Fan page must be marketed and cared for, just as a blog does.

It's not hard to create raving fans with a FB page. I probably spend a total of 30 minutes a day on mine. Yet, one does need to check in, post relevant status updates, provide value and engage.

:) Susan

[Nick]

Some good advises to try out. At the moment I try to post links to related videos on youtube. Hoping some people klick the like button and my fanpage becomes known to their friends.

[nicole]

thank you for all of this very good and clear advice.... could use some for facebook fans pages.

Very helpful information

Thanks for all the helpful information....

[web designing]

these are great ideas, i definitely love the brag about your blog day, i definitely would want to brag about my blog. :D

[Greet Verellen]

You have described nice details about engaging our facebook fans. Thanks for sharing such a nice post.

[reverseengineering]

Video chat is key for any business nowadays!

[Business Insurance Kirkland]

Thanks for the tips Denise. Sounds like you know your marketing!

[Steffen]

thanks for your article, it's a good overview how to engage the fb community. I've also got some information about the technical 'how to' in social media, but right now only in german language on http://blog.nemag.de