The other day I had the opportunity to chat with someone who previously had worked at facebook. I had tons of questions for him, but my first one was “what is one thing businesses need to know about facebook?”
His answer was just what I was looking for. He explained that most businesses have yet to embrace the true end-use of facebook: INTERACTION. He also explained that this lack of understanding isn’t a unique occurrence. In fact, it is an excellent example of how history repeats itself.
A perfect comparison is the introduction of the television. Initially, the TV was a very new and scary medium for many. Some of the first television debuts consisted of an individual reading a radio script while standing in front of the camera. You see, at that time radio was a familiar broadcast medium; it was all that was known before TV. Years went by before advertisers became comfortable with the visual advantage the TV brought to the world of marketing, and we are still being entertained by advances in television today.
The onset of social media is no different than TV was years ago. Many businesses aren’t quite sure how to position themselves on facebook and other social networks. You see many pages filled with automated posts, ad graphics, and sometimes –well– nothing. They just can’t quite find their voice.
The best way to figure out what works best for you audience it to test, test, test. See which of your posts generate the most comments. To get started, here are a few tips to generate interaction on your facebook page:
- Ask questions – If you’re looking for feedback, the most effective approach is by asking a question. Try ending your next post with a simple “what do you think?” or “do you agree?” and see if you’re able to generate more comments. Another option is to create a poll to encourage followers to interact with your question.
- The shorter the better – Short posts on Facebook tend to create more engagement than longer ones.
- Include a video or trending image – People love visuals and are more likely to comment on a post that has an image or video attached.
- Ask people to respond – It may sounds simple, but using a ‘call to action’ in your posts will encourage followers to respond. Use words such as Like, Comment, Share, Post, Submit and phrases such as Tell Us and Ask Us.
- Host a contest or giveaway – Nothing draws interest like a giveaway. Even a simple $10 giftcard to Starbucks can really motivate followers to interact!
So don’t shy away from the true intended use of social media. It is a valuable resource for connecting with customers and clients – use it to it’s full potential!
Which of these engagement starters has worked for you? What other techniques have been successful for you? Do share!
