Business owners, entrepreneurs and marketers have been wondering if they should just give up Facebook altogether and move elsewhere. I've heard so many people's complaints. "Facebook doesn't work anymore." "My page has no reach." "I hate Facebook." "Nobody sees my posts." The list goes on and on. So, is it time to give up Facebook?
When Google+ launched numerous marketers left Facebook altogether and made the move to Google+ instead. But they came back. Why? Facebook still has traffic and is only growing. Facebook is where the people are hanging out. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Google+ also. There are reasons for each of the different platforms, but Facebook is still one of the top dogs.
In case you missed it, Facebook recently released an official announcement about Reducing Overly Promotional Page Posts starting January, 2015. What does this mean exactly? Well, it boils down to that if your posts are going to sound like a blatant advertisement, then it is an advertisement and Facebook wants you to pay.
Facebook is not going anywhere and neither are your potential customers. So, what can be done to overcome this upcoming change for your Facebook Page?
Here are 6 Powerful Methods to Supercharge your Facebook Page in 2015
#1: Change your Mindset
We have all been spoiled by the 'free' social media marketing. When I first started working with businesses on Facebook marketing it was way back in 2008. At that time I had to convince a business owner that Facebook would be around for the next 5 years. Times have changed and now businesses know they need to market on Facebook and other social media outlets, but some still feel it should be free.
Remember back in the day when businesses spent huge advertising dollars on TV ads, yellow pages, newspaper ads, etc? It is time to go back to that mindset with the internet. In order to be successful in social media, there needs to be ad money spent.
#2: Get even more Creative
If your page does a good job of speaking to their target market and being creative with their content, you really have nothing to worry about. You need to have a specific strategy that involves different types of content. You need a mix of images, questions, videos and so on. If you have not downloaded my Ultimate Guide to Social Media Content Creation, this might be a good time to do that. It's more important than ever to mix it up and be creative!
Bottom line is this change pushes marketers to be more creative. And ultimately, that's a good thing.
#3: Speak to your Audience
When creating your posts, are you remembering who your target market is? Are you speaking to them or just trying to push out content? It's important to remember to have a conversation and talk with your fans, not at your fans.
If you have a main following of moms between the age of 35-45, are you talking about subjects that interest them? This is important. If you have had a Facebook Page for awhile, it is easy to learn who your fan base is. You can learn this through Facebook Insights on your Page.
Go to: 'Insights'
Then, click on 'People.'
This will give you a general layout of men/women/ages. If your insights are showing you different than who you think is your target audience, you may have to revisit your strategy.
#4: Create a Video Strategy
Have you noticed what your News Feed is full of? VIDEOS!
Facebook is giving a huge push to videos and the more creative they are, the more they show up in the News Feed. Video in 2015 is only going to grow via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other video outlets.
Being that I'm a big advocate of YouTube video, don't forget to get that video on YouTube too, but if you have a YouTube video, be sure to download the original from YouTube and upload directly to Facebook. Facebook wants the original video, not the YouTube link.
Here's the directions to do get the MP4 from your YouTube channel. You can do this in 3 Simple Steps (See Image).
#5: Don't count on Facebook as your ONLY Social Network
The reality is that Facebook is another platform among many forms of digital marketing. It should be used in conjunction with websites, social, email, SEO, etc.
If you do not have a strategy in place that will get your fans from Facebook to your email campaign, it's time to get one. Then you won't be so dependent on your Facebook fans.
Adding other social networks is a must. You need to look at your target market, figure out what other platforms your potential clients are hanging out. If you are a small business, then focus only on 1 or 2 more. Don't fall prey to being on 10 different platforms that make it impossible to manage.
#6: Get your Fans to your Website and Email List
The ultimate goal of social media is to drive traffic to what you actually own. You don't own Facebook. You don't own Twitter. You DO own your website. You DO own your email list. It is important to convert your fans so that you can directly market on your territory. Then, no matter what happens with any social network, you still have your core audience.
In conclusion, I think you know my answer now to "Is it time to give up Facebook?" NO, but it is time to GET CREATIVE and make some changes in the way you are currently marketing there.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Facebook changes?