With over 500 million active users and counting the Facebook phenomenon shows no sign of faltering. Facebook’s seemingly insatiable appetite to improve and evolve the user experience has been key to its success. Accordingly, in an initiative to build on their popularity further, Facebook has been encouraging businesses to use their social platform as a means of engaging with customers.

Instead of a personal profile, a business can set up a Facebook Page, which can include their company information, website links and interactive content such as video. A Facebook Page offers an array of features, tools and purpose built applications to enable companies to successfully engage with their customers.

However, the business user cannot force a customer interaction, the decision to engage lies solely with the consumer. Once a user has become a ‘fan’ by clicking the ‘like’ button on your Page, your Page updates will automatically appear on their wall. And with Facebook boasting that 50% of their active users log on to Facebook in any given day, the opportunity is huge.

Key to success on Facebook then is the ability to boost your number of fans. The following five tips are intended to give you a head start.

1. First Things First
   Encourage your Facebook Page visitors to ‘like’ your page. You can do this by creating a custom Welcome landing page which includes a clear message (and perhaps an incentive) for visitors to click the ‘like’ button at the top of your Page.


2. Your Email Signature
   A seemingly obvious, but perhaps under-used technique is to include a link in your email signature. A link to your Facebook Page sits nicely right beside your other contact details as a viable option for staying in touch.


3. Email Campaigns
   Staying with the Email theme, your email newsletter broadcasts also provide a perfect opportunity to include a link to your Facebook Page. Add a colourful ‘find us on Facebook’ button for example; which when clicked opens your Facebook Page.


4. Link From Your Website
   A link to your Page from your website (and blog) will not only provide another easy and convenient option for visitors to ‘connect’ with you, it also presents your company as forward thinking, willing to engage with customers on a more personable level.


5. Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn etc
   Finally, remember to cross promote your social media profiles. Keep in mind you are not replacing your main web presence but enhancing it with improved correspondence – enabling customers to connect with you in more innovative and convenient ways.

In conclusion, keep in mind that any social media activity should not be undertaken in isolation, but part of a well thought out online marketing plan. Your fans – just as your email subscribers for example – will increase over time, have a plan, work at it, and be creative.

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