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It's no secret that Facebook is the most powerful social network on the planet. With 500 million active users, Facebook represents a huge opportunity for smart businesses.
To take your Facebook marketing to a new level, here are hot Facebook marketing tips direct from the top industry pros. You'll want to incorporate these priceless ideas.
The best way to get the most from Facebook is to model the best. Find out who's doing it right and getting real results, and model their strategies. Here are seven ideas from the top authorities in Facebook marketing. Take notes—these tips are too good to pass up!
#1: Bring Facebook to Your Website
“The number-one thing you can do is to bring Facebook onto your own turf. It can be done with a few simple lines of code. This can be one of your most powerful tools for improving your brand awareness,” says Jesse Stay, author of multiple Facebook books, including FBML Essentials.
This page describes the many ways to add Facebook to your website. But the easiest way to add Facebook to your site is to use the Facebook Like Box.
#2: Try Really Inexpensive Facebook Ads
“The best ‘bang for the buck' in Internet marketing today is Facebook advertising. The targeting options are limitless and surprisingly inexpensive for businesses of all sizes. Facebook advertising can help marketers of all kinds get insights into how different demographic groups respond—and for a fraction of the cost of other alternatives,” said Chris Treadaway, co-author of Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day.
Setting up an ad on Facebook is super-easy. Just go to the Facebook Ads section and click the “Create an Ad” button. Then simply set up your ad.
#3: Leverage Friends of Connections
Once you have created your Facebook ad, here's a little-known tip that can supercharge your ad.
“Imagine watching your favorite TV show. The commercials come on, but instead of fast-forwarding through them (as you likely usually do these days), you notice a picture of YOUR friend in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Your friend is pointing to the business in the commercial saying, ‘Hey, I like these guys. Check them out!' Amazing, huh?
“Facebook's ‘Friends of Connections' ad targeting allows your fans to be featured in your ads,” noted Dave Kerpen, author of Likeable Social Media: Marketing to Win in a Facebook World.
Here's how you use this option. When you set up your ad, look under ‘Targeting' and you'll see an option to display more detail. There you will see the connection on Facebook choices.
#4: Give Your Fans Fun Reasons to Connect
“People love a reason to get together. Why not have the equivalent of a happy hour on your Facebook wall? Rather than serving up drinks and party favors, ask folks to bring their favorite link. Consider offering networking opportunities by asking folks to share something about themselves. You could also lure people in once in a while with an expert who will answer their most pressing questions,” says Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner.
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#5: Use Video as Your Secret Weapon to Gain Fans
“Videos seem to be a preferred medium not only by the fans, but by the news feed algorithm as well. Whenever a non-fan watches your videos, a button pops up in the top left corner suggesting he/she ‘Like' your Facebook page. To take advantage of this feature though, you'll have to upload the video file onto the Video Tab inside Facebook (not link to a YouTube video),” said Ekaterina Walter, social media strategist for Intel.
#6: Turn Your Facebook Page Into a Lead Generator
Facebook as a lead capture source? “You bet!” says renowned Facebook expert Mari Smith.
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“One of the first apps to add to your Facebook Fan Page is ‘Static FBML' (Facebook Markup Language), which allows you to add your own custom content, including an opt-in box. You can add multiple iterations of the FBML app, and try out various lead-capture systems—ezine signup, giveaway, ask campaign, etc. Each opt-in box can appear on a separate tab, each of which has its own unique URL, allowing you to accurately split test results,” noted Mari Smith, co-author of Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day.
#7: Turn Your Facebook Page Into a Thriving Community
“Your Facebook presence can serve as a meeting place for like-minded individuals. Make it a point to involve your customers as much as possible. Ask questions and suggest items for them to share on your wall. Ask yourself more than “What should WE share?”—ask, “What would our fans like to share with us and one another?”—and build your strategy around those answers. Allow them to connect with others who share the same interests by encouraging them to use your Facebook presence as a platform for sharing,” said Rob Birgfeld, director of digital strategy at SmartBrief.
Want to Learn More About Facebook Marketing?
If you're not fully leveraging the power of Facebook, don't worry, you're not alone. Most businesses are just now getting started with Facebook.
There's one easy way to take your Facebook marketing to the next level. By attending the web's largest online Facebook conference, Facebook Success Summit 2010, you'll become empowered to use Facebook to gain more exposure, better engage customers and grow your business.
The great part is you'll be learning from 22 Facebook experts (including the 7 mentioned in this article). In addition to Mari Smith, Jesse Stay, Brian Solis and Michael Stelzner, you'll learn how Intel, Cisco, Microsoft Xbox, SAP and the Washington Redskins are all leveraging Facebook.
It's the web's largest online Facebook marketing conference. Go here for a free sample and to learn more.
Have you tried any of these master tips or do you want to add Facebook tips of your own? Let us know! Please leave your comments below.
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