Though it has been around for a few years, Facebook marketing is still a relatively new playing field for marketers. It has phenomenal power for building a user base and a reputation, but also has many pitfalls. Let’s explore some of the most important Do’s and Don’ts of Facebook marketing.
1. Postings
DO: Post regularly. Post useful content, post personality-infused messages, and stay connected with your user base.
DON’T: Don’t spam. Don’t send just commercial messages; don’t always try to sell. Facebook is best suited for building connections. It is not very effective as a direct sales tool.
2. Type of Page
DO: Pick the right type of page. Facebook has personal profiles, fan pages, group pages and community pages. Read about each one and decide which is right for you. Each has different features and restrictions and the choice can’t be changed later, so do your due diligence before you start.
DON’T: Do not run your business off a personal Facebook account. For one you are limited on the number of friends. If you make a mistake that violates the terms of service, you also risk getting your personal account suspended.
3. Budget
DO: Start with a small budget. You don’t need to spend money to use Facebook marketing effectively. Create viral campaigns, use pages effectively and let your users do the work for you.
DON’T: Don’t spend a lot of money on Facebook Pay-Per-Click up front. Facebook has so much traffic that you could literally spend $1,000 in 60 seconds on its PPC platform. When you are just starting out, test small; as little as $20 a day until you can prove that your campaigns are making money.
4. Photos
DO: Have professional photos taken. If you’re running a business on Facebook, you need to have photos that make you look great.
DON’T: Don’t post photos that are too casual. Suggestive photos, nightlife photos, etc. should all be avoided.
5. Being Personal
DO: Respond personally to user comments and messages. Yes, it takes a lot of work, but the idea is to connect with people. That’s where the power of Facebook lies. Take the time to talk to your users. It will make a huge difference.
DON’T: Don’t just be an impersonal brand. Though big brands do advertise on Facebook, the real power of the platform comes in connecting with real people.
6. Information
DO: Fill out as much information as you can. In your bio pages and your info pages, your contact information, etc. should all be completed in detail.
DON’T: Don’t let the pages get old. Marketers often complete their information once and don’t change it, even if the information changes. Make sure you check your information and update it regularly, about once a month.
These are some of the most common Do’s and Don’ts of Facebook marketing. Remember that building a fan base on Facebook does take time, but once you get going, it can spread virally very quickly.