Checked your Facebook Page tabs lately?

Many Facebook tabs have content that has gone missing recently.

This is particularly possible when users are not using a Facebook Tab App Provider to host the content like TabSite, but are iframing their own website into a tab.

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This issue has to do with browser changes so be sure to check your tabs in the latest versions of Firefox, IE, and Chrome. If your content is gone, here’s why, and what the solution is:

 What Happened to my iframed Tab on Facebook?

Facebook has moved to HTTPS security as the default for all users.  If your added URL you are iframing doesn’t have the “S,” (like https://mikegingerich.com) that means it doesn’t have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), an added protection that encrypts your content to make it secure.

The latest version of Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome will the not display HTTP content with the Facebook Tab.  Why is this?

Facebook, now being secure by default, always uses a  URL starting with HTTPS.  So, if you have HTTP url iframed in an HTTPS main page, it’s now “mixed content,” (secure content and non-secure web page content) and it won’t be read properly.

The newer browser versions (Firefox and Chrome, in particular, made updates on this fairly recently) only want to pull data that is fully secure,  HTTPS, on a page.

They view HTTP content as unsafe, and block it to protect you because this type of webpage content can be read or modified by attackers, even though the main parent page is served over HTTPS.  This is because the iframed website page on the tab is technically a web page within a web page, meaning it is a separate web page loading within the Facebook web page.

If you create content in a service like TabSite, like a Photo Contest or a Friend Share Deal offer, this content is all hosted by and provided to Facebook by TabSite securely and is HTTPS  by default so there is no issue.  It's only when using items like the iframe widget or the Website ReSizer App when this can be a concern because those tools allow you to add a web page to be displayed on the tab and so we are at the mercy of that web page. This means that if the web page that you are adding in website resizer or the iframe widget is not setup with SSL security (https) then some new versions of browsers including versions of Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox will not bring in the insecure content within the secure Facebook Page, and thus nothing shows on the Facebook tab.

How to Overcome No Iframe Content Showing

However, if you are pulling in a outside website URL to display on a tab then the tab provider has no control over that outside URL you add. It is necessary that the website have a SSL certificate installed on the domain so that the web content can be delivered/shown securely.  This can be tested on a website by entering the web page URL and pre-appending it with https.  An example is my website, mikegingerich.com which has a SSL certificate installed and so content can be delivered securely by directing users to the secure version, https://mikegingerich.com. This is a browser version specific issue on how they are handling secure and insecure website content. So, in some cases such as with a website shopping cart that already has SSL to ensure encrypted purchases on the site, the user setting up the tab simply needs to ensure they add the secure (https version) of the URL in the iFrame widget or Website ReSizer app when building their tab (see image below).

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In other cases, a web page needs to take the step to get a SSL certificate added to their site.  This is done at the domain level and costs can vary but typically range from $35-$199 a year.    SSL's can be obtained from many domain and web  host providers.  You'll want to check with your internet hosting provider to ensure you can install the certificate on your site. Once complete, your connect will show!

Based on the trends of browsers moving more and more to protect users with updates such as this, it really is a good recommendation to proceed with getting a SSL for your website! As I noted, I have, and here is my tab showing my embedded blog post just fine with my https URL added in the app!

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Final reminder...

Again, any content built and hosted by a app provider like TabSite is already SSL secure so it shows on tabs just fine.  This means that you can run any number of Holiday Deals or even a Instagram Contest on your Facebook Page using a app and you don't need to deal with the SSL issue at all!

Apps like Pin Deal (Pinning a image to Pinterest to access a deal on the Facebook Page), Friend Share Deal Download (sharing to get access to a downloadable coupon deal), and more are all apps that TabSite hosts so the SSL is take care of for you.

So what about you, what browser do you use most often and have you seen this issue?

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Podcast Episode #7 2013 This Halftime Mike Podcast episode looks into the Facebook promotion policy change opening up contest promos to be run in the news feed. In particular, this episode guides marketers on when to use a Timeline Contest and when to use a Tab Contest. Come away with an informed view on advantages of each and how they can both fit within a Facebook Sales Funnel strategy.

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Marketers have been chattering extensively about the recent change by Facebook to allow Pages to run contests on the Timeline. Page Admins now simply need to create a post on their page and push it out to run a contest!

With the new rules, businesses can launch a quick & simple Facebook contest using a normal News Feed post but they can't capture entrant key information such as email addresses.

So which contest should you choose?  Each can work, it depends on your goals!

A Timeline Contest is best if:

Facebook timeline contest will give you fast engagement and can be deployed quickly.

App Contest hosted on your Facebook page Tab is best if:

Facebook contest on a tab will give you greater control and better lead capture.

RESOURCES:

What about you?  Thoughts or questions on which type of contest to use in your Facebook Marketing?  Let me know!

 

 

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The social media world has been chattering extensively about the recent change by Facebook to allow Pages to run contests on the Timeline.

Page Admins now simply need to create a post on their page and push it out to run a contest!  (Well, a few more items are needed but we'll get to that.)

With the new rules, businesses can launch a quick & simple Facebook contest using a normal News Feed post.
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The basic entry options for a Timeline Contest are by:

So, with that backdrop, here are some timeline contest ideas you could run!

5 Facebook Contest Ideas You Can Run on Your Timeline

1. Like to Win

If your business is looking to run a quick Facebook contest to reward fans, the “Like to Win” giveaway is a simple way for fans to participate.

As the name suggest, fans only need to Like a certain post to enter the contest & stand a chance of winning. Photos, status posts, links & videos can all be used to run this contest.

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2. Comment to Enter

A closely related option to the "Like to Win", the difference here is that fans must "comment" to enter. Announce the contest and simply instruct visitors to make a comment on the post to be entered.  Tools like the TabSite Timeline Contest App let Pages download all the comments and generate a winner randomly from those entered.

A benefit of "comment contests" is that by commenting their is greater reach to friends of that commenter than a simple "Like" offers.

3. Trivia! Answer Correctly to Win

 Yes, consider a quick and easy trivia question.  Your post would outline the question and possible answers, entrants have to comment and answer correctly to have a chance to win.  This brings in a bit of game fun to the contest.  See examples below for example ideas.  TabSite's Timeline Contest App at Platinum level allows you to filter a post comments by a keyword (your correct answer)!  So, once again, it's easy to pick a winner.

4. Like and Comment

A combo option of #1 and #2 above is to run a timeline contest where the fan can like for one entry and comment for an additional entry, thus giving them two entries and a greater chance to win.  TabSite's Timeline winner tool allows for (a) keeping each entry separate or (b) merging them so the winner is someone who has Liked or Commented.  Lots of options!

5. Photo Comment Contest

Another creative timeline contest option is to create a post and ask fans to enter by submitting a photo comment.  Since Facebook allows photos as a comment, this works well!  A Page could have fans load a fun image for the Page to (a) judge the winner, or (b) randomly pic a winner from submitted photos.  Ideas could include to have a contest of photos submitted with fans using your product, or why they need your product, or some variation of these.

So those are some of the possibilities for using a Timeline contest!  Want a complete guide? Click below!

 

Let's switch now to specific post messages that can be used for your Facebook Page.

10 Examples You Can Run Now

NOTE: per the Facebook promotion guidelines, it does say that the Facebook release and rules/terms must be included or linked to in the contest post.  At bottom of this first example is a sample rules and disclaimer text.

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Sweepstakes / Giveaway

1. It's GIVEAWAY time!  Click "LIKE" for your chance to win a $20 iTunes Gift Card!
Winners will be randomly selected at 4 p.m. CST this Friday and their names will be posted on our Facebook Page!

Rules/Disclaimer: This promotion is open to those 18 and above in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.  Void where prohibited.  By "Liking" you enter and agree that this promotion is in no way associated with, administered by, or endorsed by Facebook; and acknowledge a complete release of Facebook by your participation.

2. Comment to WIN!  Comment below and complete with "Joe's Pizza has the best….." to enter.

1 winner will be randomly selected at 4 p.m. CST this Friday from all comments as winner of a FREE LARGE PIZZA.  We'll post the winner on our Facebook Page!

3. Comment below for your chance to win a free T-Shirt: The best flavor of ice cream we offer is _____________.  Two entries will be randomly chosen and announced at 4pm EST tomorrow as winners!

4. Who is excited about our upcoming LIVE EVENT in 2 weeks?  Like this for one entry to win a free ticket, and Comment on this post for a second entry!  One winner will be chosen randomly from those entered and announced at 5 pm EST this Friday!

Trivia:

5. Answer correctly to win! What is the name of our newest product launched 2 weeks ago? Simply comment below for your chance to win a $25 off code for use on our website!  1 Winner will be picked from correct entries and announced at 1 p.m. PST on Monday!

6. Answer correctly to win! In what month of 2010 was our company launched? (a) January (b) March, or (c) May?   Comment below with your answer for the month of launch!  2 Winners will be picked from correct entries and announced at 1 p.m. PST on Monday!

7. We're launching a new menu item at our restaurant this weekend!  Answer correctly to win a $30 voucher for dinner.  Winner announced here this Thursday at 3 p.m. EST Is the new menu item (a) fish  (b) chicken (c) steak, or (d) turkey? Comment below!

Photo Contest

8. Enter our Timeline Photo Contest! Enter a photo in the comment area below that shows us what makes you happy!  Deadline to enter is this Friday at 11:59 p.m. EST!  Our team of 3 judges will review all photos and announce a winner next Monday at 9 a.m. EST.  Winner receives a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card!

9.  Post a comment with a Photo of you in one of our stores for a chance to win a 30% off 1 item coupon!  Random winner will be selected and posted Friday at 4:30 p.m. EST

10.  It's cold up north!  Let's head to the beach!  Post a photo comment below of your favorite activity at the beach.  One person will be chosen randomly from those submitting pictures to win a $150 voucher towards a stay at our AllStar Florida Beach Hotel!  Winner announced this Friday at 4 p.m. EST

Feel free to use these or create your own variation!

Any questions on Timeline Contests?

The TabSite Timeline Contest App gives Page Admins free ability to create the post which includes sample rules and disclaimer text.

Why a Contest on Facebook?

Contests are one of the most powerfully simple tools you can use to:

Yes, running a contest on Facebook is a fantastic way to build customer loyalty, build your fan count, begin to engage potential new customers, and collect valuable contact information to further your relationship with potential consumers.

Worried about Facebook's Contest and Promotion Rules?

Here are the basics:

  1. You outline the rules, eligibility, and offer details.
  2. You’re not offering illegal goods as prizes! (pretty basic!)
  3. You have a disclaimer visible that the contest is not authorized by or connected to Facebook
See full Facebook policy and details here: Facebook Page Guidelines – Promotions Policy (Section E).

The Good News....

TabSite’s powerful Contest suite of tools is 100% Facebook-compliant!  Simply use TabSite to run your contest and you're good to go!

TabSite has been powering contests for hundreds of brand this year and our suite of TabSite Contest tools just keeps getting better as we release new features!

Try theTabSite free 14 Day Trial now for your Facebook Page!

Resort Fan Photo Contest on Facebook

Key TIPS for Facebook Contests:

contests.pngRun Photo entry, video entry, or content / essay entry contests with TabSite where users submit entries for fans to vote on.  In addtion, TabSite offers Page Admins the ability to run contests where users do not submit entries but simply vote on the entries that you have loaded.  This is a perfect way to get fan input and voting on potential new products, colors, and styles!

Structure your contest smartly from the get-go with a sound third party app like TabSite and you’ll be able to reap the benefits of engaging folks on Facebook!

Try theTabSite free 14 Day Trial now for your Facebook Page!

Full details on TabSite Contest suite of tools can be viewed here.

Timeline Contest eBook Guide

 

Facebook offers restaurants a great platform to stay in touch with customers and find new ones.

The key is providing the right information at the right time, right on Facebook!

2 Tabs Restaurants MUST HAVE on their Facebook Page

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1. A Menu Tab

It's your KEY information!  Let visitors on your Facebook Page know what you got!

Add a tab and add your menu to the tab. Want to save more time?

Example of Menu Page on a Facebook Tab

Example of Menu Page on a Facebook Tab

Use the TabSite Website ReSizer and simply add your existing menu from your website to a Facebook tab! Why? It saves time! Update your menu on your website and the tab is updated automatically since it's the same page, just on Facebook! Website ReSizer allows the powerful advantage of making any website page fit perfectly in a tab.

Then share updates to your menu via a post on Facebook and link to the tab via a Smart URL (mobile friendly) to take visitors direct to the tab!

2. Incentivized Email Sign-up Tab

By adding a Email sign-up tab to your Facebook page and making users aware of it periodically through posts and tips, restaurants grow their email list and then reach potential buyers and sellers via this means as well. This is critical!  When it gets into the inbox, it gets attention.

Email marketing continues to provide value to those who use it by creating a routine of regular information and education that is in the inbox! With integration’s for tabs from services like MailChimp and Constant Contact among others, having a custom tab for email sign-ups is a snap!

To increase the percentage of users that will sign-up, use a incentive! By offering something of value, such as a coupon, discount, or free dessert this acts as a motivator that increases the desire for fans to opt-in.

See some deal and incentive apps here: Deal Download Offer Tabs >>

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Together these tips implemented and carried out with regular news feed updates on your restaurant fan page can be a valuable method of marketing to grow more customers!

BONUS TIPS:

Bonus #1. Post Inspiring Content, Images, and News Regularly

Statistics from Facebook say that 40% of a users time on Facebook is spent in the News Feed.  So this is the key location to grab their attention and draw them in.  Your posts need to inspire and motivate the fan to click on the post to come to your tabs noted above.

Post on a regular schedule, such as 2-3 times per day at key times and in a way that invites Likes, Shares, and Comments. Use a mix of post types from status updates to photos of food and short videos of life and times at the restaurant.

NOTE: people are visual and the popularity of Facebook and Pinterest prove that people connect with images. If you want to quickly capture the attention of your fans or followers, add images that are eye-catching and pleasing to the eye.

Bonus #2. Add a Reservations Tab

Does Saturday night get packed at your hot spot?

Do you already offer reservations via your website? Then simply bring it into Facebook for use!

Same as the menu tab above, create a tab and use the Website ReSizer app to bring your web reservations page into Facebook for use. Then post about it in the news feed before prime time and get customers used to coming to your page on Facebook to make their reservations!

This adds a great dimension of functionality to your fan page. When people are on Facebook, they want to stay on Facebook, and this allows them to do so by giving them the information and tools right on the Facebook page tab.

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What about your business? Most of these tips can also apply to other industries as well! Do you have these tabs on your Facebook Page?

4 video tools for small business

The use of images and video in digital technology continues to grow.

Why should businesses consider using video more?

Images and video capture attention and help communicate messages faster, better, and with more emotional connection.

With the speed of data networks and Internet service continuing to increase, the barriers to sending, sharing, and posting images and videos online lessens all the time.  Combine that with the simplicity and powerful capabilities for creating and editing video with many online services and mobile apps, and video becomes a great and accessible tool for businesses to use in sales, marketing, and support.

There are at least four software tools for video creation and sharing that can be used by businesses of any size.  These four tools have free versions and offer a way for businesses to create videos that can be added to company websites, shared on the site networks, and which offer easy social media sharing features.

YouTube

YouTube is the granddaddy of the four video tools to be discussed.  Launched in 2005,there are over 4 billion daily YouTube video views.  YouTube offers free uploading, extended video length options, and powerful editing tools.  As a product owned by Google, YouTube offers users a great way to be found online.  By adding a keyword rich title and description, along with tags associated with the video content, videos can rank high in search results.   This means videos produced and then uploaded to YouTube can be another way for companies to be found online.

YouTube also offers HD quality and mobile friendly options.  YouTube videos can be used to give a company overview, introduce a new product, offer a replay of a webinar and to demonstrate setup and use of a tool.

A added benefit of YouTube videos is that Facebook converts them in a news feed post so that the videos play inline right in the Facebook News Feed.  This means less drop-off rate as users do not get bounced somewhere else but view it right away, right where they are.

Videos can also be embedded into websites or shared easily on other social networks via sharing tools in YouTube.

Example YouTube product demo video:

Facebook Video

As the largest and most popular social media network in the world, Facebook has the greatest and most active audience of any social service.

Studies of video use on Facebook confirm that videos can drive very significant "Likes", Comments, and Shares, all of which are important in extending the reach of the video from person-to-person so that "viral sharing" occurs.  This allows others to discover the video and ultimately increases the exposure of the company.

Facebook allows videos to play in the News Feed, offers free video hosting space, and easy social sharing tools.  All of these items make it a great place for companies to add and share their videos.  By uploading videos to a company Facebook Page, companies can tap into the power of Facebook as a social sharing powerhouse for their videos.  Videos uploaded to Facebook also offer an embed option so that these videos can be added to websites and blogs.

Instagram

Instagram recently unveiled a totally new video feature.  With over 130 million users and more being rapidly added daily, this mobile app owned by Facebook offers some great features for quick and easy video creation and sharing.  Instagram Video offers up to 15 seconds of video recording on mobile devices, easy social media sharing, and more.

Instagram videos can be embedded on websites and the key value is that it's a powerful video tool always with you since it's in your mobile phone!  Perfect for capturing events, product setups, and producing quick "ads", Instagram offers small businesses a great way to create short, shareable videos.  Here's a link with guide on businesses uses.

Example Webinar Promotion Video from TabSite's Instagram account:

For more on Instagram uses, consider listening to my Podcast episode on Instagram Video Uses for Business.

Vine

Another mobile app video tool is Vine.  Owned by Twitter, Vine offers businesses  a great way to showcase product introductions, and demonstrations.

Vine offers 6 seconds of video recording and the unique feature is that videos automatically loop.  Great for short snippets of activity from events and tradeshows or showcasing snippets of company culture and product manufacturing, Vine is all about making it short, simple and sweet.

Vine videos also can be embedded on a website and easily shared on Twitter and Facebook.  If your audience is heavy into Twitter, then Vine could be a great tool to use!

Example Basketball Shooting Demo Video snippet used by a Training organization.

Circling Back...Why use video in your business?

Video has the capacity to quickly and more thoroughly educate, inform, inspire, and move viewers to take action.

As well, videos are readily shared via social media and this "viral" sharing effect can greatly extend the reach of a video so that instead of being viewed by hundreds, it can now be viewed by 1000's or millions of people.

Take time to consider ways your company should be creating videos with these powerful, yet simple video software tools.

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How long has it been since you REALLY stopped and reviewed your Facebook Page?

Are you keeping up with the latest Facebook changes and features?  It’s critical that Facebook Page managers take time to regularly audit their Page and ensure that they are not missing out on new features.

This Facebook Page Check-up List outlines 12 key items to review to help maximize your Page’s potential.   VIEW AS INFOGRAPHIC HERE.

Facebook changes often—audit your Page to keep up!

 1. Maximize Use of your Page Cover Image

The latest key change is that the 20% rule for text is gone!  Facebook recently updated its guidelines and loosened the restrictions on the amount of text you can display on your main Page cover image. (View updated Facebook Guidelines.) This prime cover image location now lets you display items such:

Since the 20% max rule is dead, Facebook Page Admins should use the cover image well.  Best practices would be to feature something each week (product, event, news), and to direct fans visually to your key tab apps on the page.

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Great use of Cover image to promote a offer by Mari Smith taking advantage of the freedom to have more than 20% text

 

Be careful, however, to NOT make your page busy with all sorts of combinations of messages.  Rather use the cover image to highlight and focus ONE key message or ONE key item along with your logo for branding.

If designed creatively, cover images now afford Pages a powerful new opportunity to communicate key pieces of information to visitors. Make sure to take advantage of this change.

Here's a FREE Cover image PowerPoint template that's free to download and can help companies easily create custom cover images.

2. Maximize Use of Tab Apps to Increase Page Features

Tab apps are great ways to boost engagement on your Page. They offer interactive and incentive options that can draw visitors to your Page and boost engagement.

A great way to boost traffic, engagement, and leads via Facebook is to use a tab to host a contest or promotion.  In fact, using a third-party app is the only way to run a contest or deal that meets Facebook’s promotion guidelines.  At a minimum, Pages should feature a tab app that lets visitors sign up for the company email newsletter list.

Facebook ideas for Real Estate Professionals and tips for Hotels, Resorts, and Bed and Breakfasts.

 1www_facebook_com_ThomasBeachVacations_app_440942075933019

Read more about how Contests can boost marketing and reach for Facebook Pages.

Another idea is to add a key page from your website to your fan page via a tab.  Using a tool like TabSite’s WebSite ReSizer, it can take less than 10 minutes to add your website listings page to a custom tab and have it fit perfectly!

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This adds a great dimension of functionality to your fan page. When people are on Facebook, they want to stay on Facebook, and this allows them to do so by giving them the featured listing right on the Facebook page tab. Simply share a post about the property and include the Smart (mobile friendly) URL in the description so users can easily access it.

Make sure that your apps stay up to date and that your most important apps are visible in the three slots below the cover image.  More about this in the next item below!

3. Clear and Concise Tab Thumbnails

Your tab thumbnails appear below your cover image and lead to the apps in use on your Page. You have the opportunity to showcase three tab apps that are always visible to visitors on your Page. Make sure these capture attention! 

The best way to do this is to use simple fontsShorten the call-out to a few words and consider using your cover image to point to them via an arrow or other visual means to drive the visitors eye to them.

Here's a great example in use by Hotel Capstone that identifies clearly in simple text what is expected on the tabs.

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4. Use the Short Description

Your Page can show a brief description of approximately 155 characters that displays below the cover image and the profile image at the top of your Page. This is great space to outline a concise statement about your business and list your website URL. Too many people overlook adding a visible URL here!  Don't be one of them!

To update this area, go to Edit Settings in your admin panel, and under Basic Information look for Short Description (see image under #6 below). Amy Porterfield makes excellent use of her Short Description.  NOTE: This area is not available to those who have their page category set to Local Business.  Facebook forces your hours of business and phone if you use the local business category.  See more in next point below.

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This is an example of a Short Description on Amy Porterfield's Facebook page
that is focused, descriptive and includes the URL.

Key Tip: Include your website address in the Short Description so it is always visible to those coming to your Page.

5. Review Your Category, Especially if You’re a Local Business

Facebook offers quite a variety of category options, many of which are similar and some that offer different features for your Page. One of the biggest feature differences that any local business should take advantage of is the Check-in option.

If your business has a physical brick-and-mortar location where you want potential customers to visit, be sure to change your Facebook Page category to Local Business.

This will allow users to check into your location, which is helpful for at least two reasons. First, it can raise awareness of your business and location with friends of the user checking in. Second, check-ins can be part of Graph Search results, so that if a Facebook user is searching for a restaurant in Chicago that friends have visited, check-ins appear in results.  Be aware that there is a trade-off, as businesses categorizing themselves as Local Businesses do not have the Short Description option.  However, the value of the check-in feature for local businesses in my opinion surpasses the short description value.

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To check or change your Page category, go to the Admin Panel and select Edit Settings. Then go to Basic Information, and find Category at the top of the list.

Review and update your Short Description and complete the About section.

 

6. Optimize the 'About' Section for Graph Search

After adding your Short Description, make sure to review and complete the remainder of the About area, which has subsections such as Company Overview, Description, General Information and Mission. The About area is indexed by search engines, so make sure it contains your keywords. The exact subsections you see will vary depending on the Page category you have chosen.

Complete the Company Overview, Mission and Products fields to help optimize your Page for product searches. Include your address, city, state and zip code in General Information to optimize you Page for local search.  Now that Graph Search is rolling out to all users, the About section becomes even more important because it is indexed by Facebook and can return in Graph Search results for user searches on Facebook.  Learn more about Graph Search.

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Graph Search result with check-ins of friends listed.

 tabsite-about

7. Customize Your Facebook Page URL

If your Facebook Page URL still has “pages” and a set of numbers in it, it’s time to move up to a custom URL!

You can customize your Page web address by selecting a unique username that contains letters or numbers but no dashes, etc. Your Facebook URL can be changed only once, after it is originally set, so choose wisely.

Adding a username to your Page makes it easier for people to find your business on Facebook, and your Page’s custom url can be used in marketing communications and more!

Long and Hard to Remember:

Above: Example of a Page that has not set its username.

Above: Example of a Page that has not set its username.

 Simple and Concise Custom URL of TabSite after securing the username:

custom-url

TabSite's custom URL and username for their Facebook Page is simple and easy to remember!

 

8. Activate Replies to Comments

Replies is a newer Facebook feature that was released in March 2013. When the feature is enabled, it allows Pages to offer their community the ability to reply to a specific comment in a thread. This threaded comments feature allows for more specific and richer interaction around a comment.

Previously, adding to a discussion required you to tag someone (using the @ symbol and their name) and hope that other readers understood which of the previous comments it related to.  No need for that now, as each comment will have a "reply" link to reply specifically to that comment.

reply-in-use
The new Replies feature shown in action.

The Replies feature is activated by going to the Admin Panel. Select Edit Settings and then Manage Permissions. Toward the bottom of this section is the Replies area with a checkbox to activate. Be sure to click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

 

Facebook-Replies

Admin area to activate Replies feature for Pages.

9. Update Admins and Roles

An often-overlooked item is ensuring that admins with access to manage your Page are up to date. Are the Page admins who are listed still part of your team or working with you to manage your Page?

There can be frequent staff transition or marketing support changes and this is an important item to check and ensure that only those you trust have access.  Did you find anyone listed that is long gone and shouldn't be a Page Admin?

facebook-admins-and-roles

View of the Page admins and roles in admin panel.

You’ll also want to review the roles of each person listed. Is the role accurate based on their involvement with your Page? Facebook offers multiple roles with varying degrees of power and access, so make sure the permissions are set appropriately for each admin.

Facebook-Admin-Roles

Facebook admin roles for Pages.

10. Check Your Notification Settings

It is definitely recommended that Page managers take the time to go to the Your Settings area and review the notification types that are active. These are specific to you as an admin of the Page.  You want to be sure you are aware of when a visitor comments or messages you!  Studies by SocialBakers found that fans want a response within 30 minutes and often within 10 minutes.  While that may seem unrealistic to respond within 10 minutes every time, the point is that timeliness of responses matter!

Even as I was reviewing the Facebook Pages I manage while writing this article, I discovered one area where I needed to make a change! In order to respond quickly to comments, posts and messages for my Pages, I like to have all notifications on.

I found that I did not have Onsite Notifications active. This is important, as it will send me a notification on Facebook when people post, like, comment or send me a message.

notifications-settings-facebook

Notifications setup area in Page admin panel.

Being aware of visitors’ interactions with your Page is the first step in good customer service. You have to know about interactions to be able to respond to them!

11. Review your Content Posting Type and Frequency

Are fans interacting with your content?  How often are you posting?

Content posting is critical on Facebook!  The majority of time spent on Facebook is users surfing their News Feed.  This is where they scan posts from friends and pages they follow.  So this is the key place where you would capture the attention of a fan, and it comes down to your posting.

Tips for Posting:

 

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Image post with helpful information that sparked interaction

 

12. Evaluate your own Response Engagement

How are you responding and engaging to comments others make?  This is key to loyalty and being someone others want to follow and connect with.  Take time to go through your past few weeks of posts and note your responses against this criteria:

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Now It’s Your Turn!

This is by no means an exhaustive list of items to audit for your Facebook Page. Hopefully these 10 items can help you review your Page to ensure that your information is up to date and that you are utilizing Facebook’s newest features.

What do you think? What would you add to this list?

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Additional Resources:

- Cover Image PowerPoint Template Download

- 12 Ideas for Great Cover images

- Facebook Page Image Dimensions for Cover Image, Posts, and more

 

UPDATE: July 10, Instagram releases new embed feature for the desktop web browser version!

Currently, as of July 7, 2013, Instagram does not have a simple method for users to grab their videos and embed them into a blog post or a web page.

Option 1: Instagram Web Version

Now, when you visit an Instagram user page on your desktop web browser, you’ll see a new share button on the right side of your photo (just under the comments button). Click the button to see the embed code. Copy the block of text it offers and paste it into your blog, website or article. When you hit publish, the photo or video will appear. Nice!

Embedded photo or videos appear with the Instagram username of the owner, and clicking on the Instagram logo will take people to your page on Instagram.com where they can discover more of your photos and videos.

 

For a full breakdown on ways to use Instagram Video for Business, see my Social Media Examiner post, 6 Ways to Use the New Instagram Videos.
Do any of these ideas look like valuable ways for your business to use this new rich media feature to further your marketing?

 

It's a fact! Images and Videos inspire the most engagement on Facebook.

We live in a visually oriented world, and images capture attention.

On social networks, and particularly Facebook, images and visuals inspire engagement actions including “Like”, “Share”, and “Comment” more than other  methods. Facebook, in its own research, found that the most successful posts for capturing the attention of users and inspiring action are visual. Photo albums generated 180 percent more engagement than other types of posts, and individual photos 120 percent more.

"90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and visuals are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text."

 

Since 40 percent of a Facebook user’s time is spent in the news feed, capturing attention to inspire a “Like,” comment or share by using images is critical.  Those "Likes", "comments", and "Shares" help increase affinity to your page so that users then see your posts more often in their own news feed.  Plus, by inspiring action on your visual post, you extend the reach of the post from those interacting with to the friend network of that interacting user.

Here’s a Visual Guide Infographic on How To Post for Maximum Engagement.

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An important part of posting correctly on Facebook, especially with promoting tabs also includes using a mobile friendly Smart URL.  Mobile users cannot by default access tabs.  This is a Facebook reality at this point but by using a Smart URL in posts on your News Feed that direct users to a tab, this is overcome.  See how to get one here: Mobile Smart URL Guide for Facebook Pages.

So continue to make images a priority in your Facebook page posting strategy!  Visuals matter!

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Engagement: In Social Media terms, this is the ability to get your audience to interact with your brand. youlikethis.png

Specifically with a Facebook Page this would mean to interact with the visitor in such a way that they Like, Comment, or Share something related to your Facebook Page.

Statistics show that the majority of a Facebook’s users interactions with a brand is going to be via their News Feed.  So getting the visitor to “Like” your Page is of critical importance because that enables you to have a shot at being in their News Feed.

Facebook uses a algorithm they developed called the EdgeRank Algorithm which basically tries to determine what News Feed content is of most value to each Facebook user.  A number of criteria go into EdgeRank’s formula (learn more about EdgeRank) to determine what a Facebook user sees most frequently in their News Feed.  This means that not all fans see very post your Page makes!  In fact, posts are seen typically by about 11-18% of your fan base each time you post on average.

Facebook EdgeRank definedThe bottom line:  The more users interact with your Facebook page, the greater the affinity score, and the more likely they are to see your Page posts in the future!

Here’s a good, quick summary from InsideFacebook.com on Facebook’s EdgeRank method:

Affinity is the relationship between the user and the page or friend that created an item. Weight is affected by the type of story, for instance, whether it is a photo upload or a comment on another person’s status. Facebook tends to value rich media content and often when it introduces something new like Questions, it temporarily weights activity from that feature higher. The third factor affecting EdgeRank is how recently an action was taken.

These factors are why you might see every check-in and linked shared by your best friend, but only see whole photo albums from someone else. EdgeRank is also the reason most fans don’t see every post from pages they like. 

So how do we help boost user interaction (affinity / News Feed visibility) with your Facebook Page?

Ways a TabSite Contest can help Engagement

 

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2 Stage Contests Offer Even More Engagement Potential

TabSite's 2-Stage Contests (main round, and then finalists voting rounds)  offers another additional means of engagement as entrants and voters need to return to the page for the final round of voting which results in more social sharing and connecting options with your Facebook Page.  The more a fan comes back and interacts on a fan page such as a Like, Share, or Comment, the stronger the connection Facebook sees of the user to your Page.  This results in more of your posts being in their News Feed.

So, the circle of connection between a fan and a Facebook Page grows with use of tools like TabSite’s Contest tool.  For Page Admins this is a way to be building the “EdgeRank Score” of a Facebook user in relation to your Facebook Page, thereby helping to boost visibility of your Timeline News Feed posts in the News Feed of your fans.

In short, the more a Facebook Page can engage a user such as through a contest where there are the potential for multiple “Likes”, Comments, and Links that relate the fan and Page, the EdgeRank score is boosted.  Further boosting occurs as these same fans share their entry vote and their friends engage with your Page.

TabSite Contests, available at Gold and Platinum Plans, offers Facebook Page Admins an engagement tool that ultimately can assist in boosting fan reach via the News Feed.

Facebook's Timeline for Pages offers marketers great opportunities!

[See 2014 Facebook Page Image Dimensions here >>]

Here's a Facebook Page easy image guide for the various components and image sizes in Timeline for fan pages from TabSite, the leader is Facebook Page promotion tools. The TabSite Team has created a revised Timeline Infographic to help you quickly and easily know the Facebook Image sizes for the key visual elements on a Facebook page news feed.

Here's what's covered:

Interested in Facebook Contests or other promotion apps for fan pages?


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Facebook Pages Timeline Infographic - 2013 Edition by TabSite

TabSite offers apps to boost engagement for fan pages including photo contests, deals, coupons, and others social engagement apps.

Easily build engaging Tabs that meet Facebook Promotion Guidelines with TabSite!

Interested in Facebook  or Web Contests or other promotion apps?

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Other Facebook Marketing Posts

How to Post to the Facebook News Feed to Maximize Engagement
Video as a Facebook Marketing News Feed Tool
Pinterest Pin Deal on a Facebook page tab

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Author: Mike Gingerich,  TabSite Co-Founder.  Facebook and Internet Marketer. Part geek, part marketer, total social media junkie. TabSite is a leader in Facebook fan page tools for businesses. TabSite offers brands the power to boost Facebook marketing with apps, contests, and promotion tools.

 

So you’ve set up a Facebook business page because you’ve heard that it’s a "must have" in today's social business climate. After all, with over 1 billion regular users it’s a no brainer to be on Facebook, right? But your plan has hit a snag…Searching for fans

Where IS everyone?

Yes, Facebook is the largest social network in the mainstream world. Users spend more time on Facebook than on any other site per month. However, the "if you build it, they will come" mentality is not accurate! It’s not enough to ‘have a Facebook Page’, and to establish a quality Facebook brand presence requires "ongoing building."

There is not a stop point where you are "done."

Here's 5 things every company should be doing on their Facebook Page to help overcome the Facebook Blues!

1. STOP! FIRST, ASK YOURSELF:

‘What’s In It For Them?’

Before you post, ask yourself...is this update:

Users are on Facebook first and foremost to hangout and catch up with friends news. Yes, they have Liked your Page but you need to "catch their eye" to get them to pay attention to you! They are interested in what their friend sally just posted about their vacation to Florida and you've got to rise above that to attract her to your page! So be sure to go through this simple series of questions when creating your post. It must capture their attention.

Be Human!2. BE HUMAN!

It's a social network dude! Don't be stuffy, "salesy", and business formal. Your brand needs a personality. Be real and personable in your posts. People love tips and helpful information. Give them useful nuggets and timely information via posts on the company page news feed.

Do NOT broadcast tweets from Twitter to your page or push out sales speak 5x a day. People will leave.

Be sure to engage users, and one way to do this is by asking questions when posting. Once fans respond, keep them talking by asking related types of questions to drive conversation deeper.

The more they engage, the better your Facebook Page reach extends going forward with that fan. The key is to ask for input in your posts and listen!

TIP: If you post a news source that everyone else is posting, personalize your message and deliver it differently. Add your own take and insight on the third-party article and post with your own image!

3. BE ACTIVE!

Watch your Page for comments, and answer posts fans make! The fastest way to have a fan ignore you is for them to post and be ignored by you! There is simply no reason for not responding in a timely manner to posts and comments. There are all sorts of monitoring tools and 3rd party tools to alert you to comments and messages on our fan page. Use these and respond! The more timely your response, the more fans will comment and return in the future!

Care = Loyalty.

A study by Indianapolis digital firm ExactTarget identified that the average response time by a Page Admin to a comment was 7 hours, and that 51% of the time another fan jumped in to respond faster than the brand. Do not let this happen to you. Respond to comments and Like's on your Page in a timely manner.

Acknowledging the individual is a way to connect with them.

 

4. SAY "YES" TO IMAGES!

We've all heard the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? On Facebook, a picture is worth much more than that! Images are the #1 driver of engagement on a Page since Timeline launched.

Images drive engagement more than links (which are the most used format of a post), more than video, and more than text only status updates. According to an internal Facebook study, "posts including a photo album or picture can generate 2X more engagement than other post types." Images, both on a PC and on mobile, now show prominently in a Facebook Users News Feed.

So take your content and learn to express it visually in images you post on Facebook!

 

Friend Share Deal Reveal

5. USE TAB PROMO APPS!

Use custom tabs on your Facebook Page to offer something of value to your fans! People love deals! Plus, promotions like Contests draw in entrants and voters to see what's going on so use promos to boost "page attraction!"

For instance, deal and coupon offers invite users to come to a Page to check out the offer. Apps like Pin Deal and Friend Share Deal Reveal then add a viral element where a fan must pin to Pinterest or share on Facebook to get access to the deal. So you have attracted fans, given them a simple task to accomplish that spreads the offer to their network, and gives them a deal all in a matter of seconds!

Custom tabs that offer engagement and social sharing tools such as Contests, Sweepstakes, and Coupons can be a big booster of fan engagement, return fan activity, and extending reach for your Page. In short, promotions can drive interest and drive away the page blahs!

In fact, according to a RocketMedia infographic, 40% of Facebook Page fans say they “Like” a Business on Facebook in order to get promotions and discounts. So use them!

 

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

Blahs are bad. Inspiring interest, interaction, and engagement is good!

Simply building a fan page is not enough. On a social network like Facebook, being "social" is critical and this means ongoing content!

You are only as engaging as your last post!

Keeping the 5 items noted in mind is important in getting past the blahs and seeking to engage and build a active community on Facebook.

An active community is crucial to page success. It helps build your brand awareness, audience, and interest. Social marketing involves time and effort. When done well, it can ultimately pay great dividends not just in being attractive but in new customer acquisition and customer loyalty.

What point stands out to you the most as something you need to implement? Please share!

Learn more about TabSite for Facebook contests.

"Liking" a Business, makes you a fan but does not guarantee you see the posts the Page makes Marketers are always looking at finding new and effective ways to reach their target audience.  With Facebook being a dominant online destination where potential customers and existing clients are spending significant time (more time than on any other social network),  maximizing the effectiveness of your company Facebook page is vital.  As well, for any Facebook Page, "Engagement is important because 79% of Facebook fans are more likely to purchase from a brand they have liked.” (Source: Vocus)  

This research data means that building your Facebook fan base has value because it can be a sales channel.

Let's look at 5 ways Facebook Contests can be an effective method for pages to grow their Facebook community, and ultimately increase their sales.

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Facebook Contests Overview:

Contests on Facebook typically involve voting  on a tab or canvas app by the public, or judging by a select group in order to determine the winner. Entries may be submitted by fans, or fans may be asked to vote on entries added by the Page.  While photo upload contests are the most common type routinely used, there are other types of contests such as video entry, essay or caption.  Contests on Facebook must follow Facebook's Promotion Policy which includes items that a page must implement such as:  Using a "third party app" (a tool beyond Facebook's own standard toolset, such as TabSite); Including a disclaimer that the contest is not connected to or associated with Facebook, and must not use a Facebook standard function (Like, Comment, etc.) as the primary means of being entered.

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How Facebook Contests Help Boost Engagement:

Here’s the skinny on how Facebook contests can assist with engagement for your Facebook page.

1. ADDS FANS

A very simply benefit of running a contest can be increasing your Page fan (Like) count.  By hosting the contest on Facebook, you can invite people via e-mail, blog, and social media to come and participate.  When they come, the contest tab can utilize a Like Gate, enabling your Page to capture the Like of that visitor before they can view the contest entries, enter themselves, or vote.

2. INCREASES EXPOSURE

Entrants are one segment of those participating, while those coming to view entries and vote are another participating group. Entrants often comment to encourage votes, voters comment on their favorite of friends entry.  These comments on Facebook are social so others in their network can see them and click through to see, explore, like and participate themselves.  As well,  the Page itself needs to comment in their News Feed regularly to alert users to the status of the contest, deadlines, and to encourage participation, all of which offers further  methods for users to engage with the Page content. While simple in nature these repeated social actions and comments build fan affinity with a page (Facebook's ranking of how connected a user is to a page) and thereby increase post visibility to those fans going forward. Together, this can add more overall reach, exposure and interaction to the Page.

3. ADDS VIRALITY

Contest entrants are motivated to seek votes for their entry and they become social catalysts, driving friends and followers to the Facebook page in their quest for votes. This allows the fan page (and contest) to be spread further by fans.  A reference by a friend is trusted so there is more likelihood of a friend of a fan coming to the page based on the fact that their friend entered/voted/commented on that Page.

4. BOOSTS TRAFFIC

Contests draw users in and allow for multiple times and ways of connecting, as well as a simple method to reach the friends of contest entrants and voters.  This increases traffic to the fan page.  Fan pages that are having trouble growing and building their reach can use a contest as a means to draw new people to the fan page.  A contest provides "a reason to come!"

5. MORE SOCIAL SHARING

www facebook com UnionWireless app 219135328197760 sony xperia ion 6 Ways Facebook Contests Can Increase Engagement

Upon entering the contest a user should have the ability to share their entry socially.  This empowers entrants to share on other social networks such as Twitter, G+, and of course Facebook to.  As well, many contest apps, including TabSite, offer voters easy social sharing mechanisms to further increase the reach across Facebook and other social networks.

As this list outlines, running a contest on Facebook has potential to add long term value to a Page and to be a key contributor in Facebook and social marketing success.  A contest must fit within an overall sales and marketing strategy.  When implemented from a strategic community building and customer acquisition strategy, a contest can be a great contributor with specific ROI. So, the circle of connection between a fan and a Facebook Page can grow with use of apps like a Facebook Contest.   In short, the more a Facebook Page can engage a user such as through a contest where there are the potential for multiple “Likes”, Comments, and Shares that connect the fan and the Page, the more the affinity of the user to the Page is boosted.  

Contests can be a powerful tool for Facebook marketers as part of social strategy to growth their social community.

What questions do you have about Facebook Contests?

 

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TabSite offers Facebook contest apps for Facebook starting at $19/month.  Learn more about TabSite contests and promotion tool options here:

POST669 contest button call out 6 Ways Facebook Contests Can Increase Engagement

Facebook Engagement -- The Marketing Magic Dust for your Facebook Page

Engagement is one of the most valuable Facebook page metrics a company can track.  With active engagement a brand increases their fan community, extends reach, and increases visibility of their posts in the News Feed of those actively interacting with the page.

Engagement = Happy Fans + Happy Brand

 

As well, for a business, active engagement can translate into more dollars, i.e., increased sales.

Research data reported by Vocus notes that 79% of Facebook fans are more likely to purchase from a brand they have liked.  Thus, pursuing more fans and deeper engagement with existing fans is a valuable priority!

 

promotions-have-ability-engagementThe million dollar question, though, remains, "how can a company boost engagement for their Facebook Page?"  While there are a number of core methods for increasing engagement such as creating highly shareable content, posting images and videos, and posting succinctly at key times, another powerful method is to run promotions.

A key question when thinking about running a promotion on a Facebook Page is, " what type of promotion will work best for my goals?"

The answer:  It varies!  Certain promotion types lend themselves to different end-goal objectives.  In addition, certain promotions may lend themselves better to certain industries.

Below I'll outline a number of promotion types and give keys for selecting the right type to run on your Facebook Page.  Each type can draw fans to your Facebook page as well as be the incentive for new visitors to come and explore your Page.  All of the types mentioned below are Facebook approved apps to add to a Facebook Page tab that comply with Facebook's promotion policy.

 

4 Types of Facebook Page Promotion Apps

1. SWEEPSTAKES

A sweepstakes is a chance-based promotion that is simple to setup and allows for easy entry.  Visitors typically enter by completing a simple form with fields for their name and e-mail address, and then a winner or winner(s) are drawn randomly after a set date.   As with most promotion apps available for Facebook there can be a fan or Like Gate image that requires the fan to "Like" the Page in order to access the entry form.

Pro's of using a Sweepstakes:

 

A sweepstakes may limit each user to one entry or allow users to enter repeatedly. Allowing users to enter daily enables more interaction potential with the visitor, because it brings them back to the Facebook page more often.  A sweepstakes promotion can work for a wide variety of businesses including B2B and B2C.  Running a sweepstakes helps draw fans in to the page to enter, and if the app has a sharing mechanism that increases their entries it can help boost viral sharing.

2. DEAL & COUPON Facebook Apps

deal or offer is another promotion option that typically has a low barrier to entry.  Often a deal or offer app on a Facebook page asks the user to do something and then when this task is completed the user is granted access to the deal. For example, "Like our Page to access this 40% off Coupon" is one method commonly employed on deal tabs.  Other app offerings include sharing a post on your Facebook news feed or sharing a post on a friend's timeline in order to access the deal. Like sweepstakes, deals are useful because (1) users respond to deal offers and (2) a task helpful to the company (More Page Likes or spreading the deal message) is accomplished as well.

Pro's of using a Deal app:

Facebook Deal Example

3. FACEBOOK CONTEST APPS

A contest is different than a sweepstakes or a deal offer. This type of promotion requires more from the user and can be called a "skill-based promotion".  A contest entry typically requires more effort and skill for the entry submission, such as taking and submitting a photo entry that meets certain requirements.  As well, instead of a random drawing to determine the winner, contests typically involve voting by the public, or judging by a select group in order to determine the winner.  While photo contests are the most common type of contest routinely used, there are other types of contests such as video entry, essay or caption as well.

Pro's for using a Facebook Contest:

Entrants are one segment of those participating, while those coming to view entries and vote are another participating group.  Together, this can add more overall reach, exposure, and interaction to the page.

Entrants want votes, so they extend the reach of the contest to their network of friends asking for their vote.  This social sharing by entrants to their friends increases the overall reach of the contest.  As well, this friend-to-friend introduction of a Page by an entrant to their friend can be a positive referral mechanism.  It adds trust and credibility to the Page, and it's products and services, via the friend invitation to vote.

Entrants are meeting a certain criteria for entry which is a sifting mechanism.  It adds a barrier to those who simply enter any promotion because it's easy and they might win, regardless of their interest in the company providing the offer.  Depending on the guidelines needed to enter, this process can serve to qualify or pre-screen entrants as potential customers.

If the promotional rules outline that the entries can be used by the company holding the contest, this can be an excellent method to gather user generated content that is relevant to your brand and which can be used in future social marketing.

A contest offers more potential for engagement simply in terms of having two ways to participate, both entrants and also voters participate.  As well, the motivation for an entrant to spread the word to their network to come and vote for their entry adds to the engagement potential.  Another option for a contest is to consider a two-stage process.  This adds the benefit of a initial round of voting and then the need to return to view and vote again in the finalist round.

Note: Contests may not work for some industries and types of businesses that simply do not lend themselves to this type of engagement.  For instance, it might be a stretch for a medical practitioner to run a photo contest due to privacy concerns or relevance.

4. MULTI-NETWORK SOCIAL PROMO APPS

multi-network social promotion is an additional promotion option that involves Facebook and at least one other social media platform such as Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. Similar to a deal, the user is asked to accomplish a task and upon completion they are then given access to the deal offer.  The difference is that the task is centered around doing something on a different social platform such as Pinterest or Instagram. In this case the user comes to the Facebook page and the promotion is outlined.  The user then accomplishes the task such as adding a image to Instagram with a certain hashtag or using a integrated pin tool to pin a image to Pinterest.  In some cases the images can be pulled in from the other social network to appear on the tab or in other cases the image is simply on the other network but the result is that a user has engage with a brand Facebook page and also simultaneously extended information about the brand to another social network.

Pro's for using a Multi-Network Social Promo:

Instagram Contest for Facebook Page

 

IMPORTANT KEYS FOR RUNNING SUCCESSFUL PROMOTIONS:

Promotions for Facebook pages offer the power to draw fans in, boost page engagement, and accomplish tangible marketing goals such as increasing e-mail list numbers.  Deals in the form of coupons and discount codes continue to be attractive means to help increase traffic to a page and offer a incentive method to help visitors begin a fan relationship with the page.

Now that Facebook has also integrated with Instagram, you have more opportunities than ever to increase your fan base. Consider using apps to get genuine Instagram likes and build your business.

While not an end in themselves, contests and offers can be part of a larger marketing strategy and a key piece of helping a business grow their social community.

Let's hear from you!  Have promotions helped your Facebook page?  Interested in trying a promotion on your Facebook Page?

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You've decided to run a promotion on your Facebook Page.

You've setup the tab using an approved Facebook Promo App and you're ready to launch.

It's the "if you build it, they will come" fallacy.  Simply having it live is not the end.  You've got to capture attention and drive fans and their friends to the tab on your Facebook Page.

To many businesses are failing at this key juncture.

Getting the attention of and making it easy for all fans (desktop and mobile) to access the promotion can totally make or break your promotion getting traction!  It can mean the difference between 5 entries and 500 entries; between 5 Likes and Shares and 5000 Likes and Shares!

So how do you best get the word out on Facebook?

 

The Answer:

Post a Photo to your News Feed with a call to action and a Smart URL in the description field.

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Facebook Page Image post with text and url


Why a Photo?

Facebook, in its own research, found that the most successful posts for capturing the attention of users and inspiring action are visual. Photo albums generated 180 percent more engagement than other types of posts, and individual photos 120 percent more. Since 40 percent of a Facebook user’s time is spent in the News feed, capturing attention to inspire a “Like,” comment or share by using images is critical.

 

Quick Guide for posting your contest or promotion to Facebook.  

This works for posting to your Facebook Page or a Facebook personal profile.

 

1. Go to your Timeline on Facebook and select "Photo / Video" for your new message.

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2. Next Select "Attach Photo / Video"

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3. Choose the image

Choose the image you want to post, add a text description to inform viewers of the promotion (this is the call-to-action that fans will see in their News Feed when the image catches their eye!), and include a smart URL to the tab in the description so that desktop and mobile viewers can access the tab.

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Then simply publish the post or schedule it to go out at a specific later time.

Following this procedure gives you the best visual means to sharing information about your promotion and drawing in fans to participate.  With images continually permforming better in engagement (Likes, Shares, and Comments) this method is the best current practice for sharing your promotion on Facebook.

Run a Contest on your Facebook Page with TabSite

Facebook Contest and Deal Apps

Social Media use by persons of all ages continues to grow.  It's not a fad, it's penetrated to become part of our fabric as a society.  As businesses have seen this change, they have responded to incorporate social media as part of their business strategy.

Many use Social Media as part of a sales and marketing strategy but increasingly we are now seeing Social Media used by businesses as fast and efficient support and customer service tool.

Here’s how social media can be used as a support channel for a business:

As a Announcement Tool

Facebook, Twitter, and Google + can all be used as an announcement tool for service issues.

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For example, if there is a weather emergency, an organization can post a message on their company Facebook Page and Twitter account to let users know there is a delay or that they are closing early, etc.  This is a pro-active way to get a message out quickly where customers, fans, and subscribers can see it and potentially Like, Comment, Retweet or Share it so the reach goes out farther and faster.  The more this is done, the more customers will get used to looking at your social media site as a place to get information on these types of matters.

As a Monitoring Tool

Many social media software services like HootSuite, PlanYourPost, and Sendible allow you to setup searches and monitor terms.  You could monitor terms for your business name so that you catch "social chatter" related to your company and can respond to comments, questions, and complaints.  This is sometimes called "social listening".  Listening and monitoring can help a company offer assistance which can help boost sales and solve customer issues.  Cable giant Comcast is noted for this as they have staff monitoring terms on Twitter, for example, so that they can review and respond if someone is tweeting about a Comcast cable service issue.

As a Quick Response Mechanism

Sometimes the best response is a quick response!  If a customer is having trouble setting up your product, purchasing your product online, or wanting to know something, a quick response can make all the difference in the world in terms of their overall satisfaction.  Allowing users to send your company a Tweet or post on your Facebook page News Feed allows your company the opportunity to publicly respond.  This can solve the issue for the requester but also answer that same question for others who were getting ready to inquire!  This public answering can help elevate your company and be a differentiator between your company and a competitor.

Real World Example

A utility provider in Arkansas, Entergy Arkansas, recently used their Facebook Page as a key support tool during weather related power-outages in their service area.  While the company Facebook Page notes that it is primarily monitored during business hours, the Page offers key resources using TabSite's tools to add resource tabs to the Fan Page so that users can view information on Facebook about service outages and getting power back.  By posting updates on their Facebook Page and using tabs on their page, fans of the Page are kept abreast of the latest information and can share this with others.

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Ultimately, the more options for getting information out quickly and effectively to customers, the better. So, like many businesses, it may be time to take a deeper look at social media not only as a marketing opportunity but also as a support channel.

With over 400 million users, a valuation of greater than $10 billion, and the recent title of most traveled place on the "Internets," Facebook has become an important business destination for all businesses. As a result, many businesses are scrambling to find their place on this most popular internet platform and others are realizing they are need to be.   Often, the biggest challenge isn't setting up a Facebook Fan Page, but the deployment of a viable and measurable strategy that converts visitors into customers.

Social Media is a communication tool by its very nature and can lack a clear internet marketing sales funnel that businesses can utilize to convince visitors to take action. Facebook is no different. These strategic sales funnels are usually reserved for the company's conversion platform, it's website. Because of this, businesses are forced to "encourage" visitors of their Facebook Fan page to take the leap from Facebook to their website. Internet marketing professionals have known for years that click-through rates drop significantly when people have to jump to a different website.

As a communication tool, Facebook is great for building brand awareness, growing a fan base, and building relationships. As a conversion platform, Facebook has had limited capacity due to Facebook enforced protocols. However, this has been changing over the last 12 months with the proliferation of custom applications that enable businesses to enact and utilize more standard methods of conversion conventions. Now, with the launch of a Facebook TabSite by Digital Hill Multimedia, these barriers to conversions are gone!

The Facebook TabSite application allows businesses to easily build a website on their Facebook Fan page. This website can have multiple pages, a contact form and it even allows for the use of flash animation. Companies will now have the ability to deploy a robust sales funnel on their Facebook Fan page just like they would on their website. With TabSite, Facebook has officially evolved from a social media communication and networking tool to a robust sales and marketing platform that businesses can take advantage of.

For full details on Facebook TabSite, visit their website at FacebookTabSite.com

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