Interact With Fans & Increase Your Facebook Rank Even More
Once you’ve got more fans to like your Facebook page, your second step is to get fans to interact with your online presence, such as via comments, posts and tagging your shop in photos. Again, the more interactions between fans and your page and the higher your shop will appear in Graph Search results.
Admittedly, many florists get frustrated with this aspect because they struggle with developing content to post on their page. But finding topics to post shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes each day if you follow a few easy (and fun!) suggestions:
Showcase testimonials. Whenever you receive a compliment from a customer (whether via email, phone or in person), jot it down. Then, once a week, use the Paint program or some other easy-to-use software on your computer to create a picture testimonial. To make that easy, keep a blank 300- x 250-pizel-sized JPG or PNG that has your logo on your computer. Then just add your customer’s kind words, along with a first name and last initial. (Another option: Physically write the comment on a real, printed comment card and take a photo.) Create an album on your Facebook page called ‘Testimonials” and post the image there.
Each time you add a new testimonial to the album, it will show up at the top of your page so new customers will see it. Not only will these prospects be impressed at how many kudos you receive, but the people who made the comments will appreciate that you cared about what they had to say.
Share news of community support. Do you sponsor a local soccer, baseball or football team? Do you participate in community fundraisers? Do you hold open houses? Talk about them! The week before a big game for your sponsored team or a charity event, post a note that “This is coming up!” Then, the day of, remind fans. Afterward, post pics. Done!
Ask for opinions. Are you thinking of offering a new candle line? Can’t decide between two lines of plush animals? Wondering which prom wristlet or bracelet would be most popular? Post a note and ask your fans for their thoughts. You can even ask about displays or holiday offerings, both before and after the events to get criticisms and comments. Use those ideas and provide updates on decisions you’ve made based on the input you received.
Invite fans to celebrate with you. With St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday, you have the perfect opportunity to jump on this next suggestion. Tomorrow, encourage all your staff to wear green. Then, post a photo on your Facebook page with a message that any fan who visits your shop who is also dressed in green will get a discount.
When business is slow, look for another funky holiday and promote it on Facebook with some related marketing. For example, March 27 is National “Joe” Day. How about creating giant, faux nametags that say “Joe” for everyone on your staff. Then post the pic with a note that anyone named Joe who comes by the shop that day gets a discount. Or, on March 30, National Doctor’s Day, take a photo of everyone on your staff wearing head bandages, with thermometers in their mouths or with their arms in slings. Then offer a free rose or carnation to any doctor who visits the shop that day. (For ideas on other fun events in March, check out the list here.)
No matter how small your shop or how small (or nonexistent!) your budget, you can find ways to increase your Facebook reach.
Do you have some tips on how you’ve connected with fans on Facebook? Send a note to [email protected].
Once you’ve got more fans to like your Facebook page, your second step is to get fans to interact with your online presence, such as via comments, posts and tagging your shop in photos. Again, the more interactions between fans and your page and the higher your shop will appear in Graph Search results.
Admittedly, many florists get frustrated with this aspect because they struggle with developing content to post on their page. But finding topics to post shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes each day if you follow a few easy (and fun!) suggestions:
Showcase testimonials. Whenever you receive a compliment from a customer (whether via email, phone or in person), jot it down. Then, once a week, use the Paint program or some other easy-to-use software on your computer to create a picture testimonial. To make that easy, keep a blank 300- x 250-pizel-sized JPG or PNG that has your logo on your computer. Then just add your customer’s kind words, along with a first name and last initial. (Another option: Physically write the comment on a real, printed comment card and take a photo.) Create an album on your Facebook page called ‘Testimonials” and post the image there.
Each time you add a new testimonial to the album, it will show up at the top of your page so new customers will see it. Not only will these prospects be impressed at how many kudos you receive, but the people who made the comments will appreciate that you cared about what they had to say.
Share news of community support. Do you sponsor a local soccer, baseball or football team? Do you participate in community fundraisers? Do you hold open houses? Talk about them! The week before a big game for your sponsored team or a charity event, post a note that “This is coming up!” Then, the day of, remind fans. Afterward, post pics. Done!
Ask for opinions. Are you thinking of offering a new candle line? Can’t decide between two lines of plush animals? Wondering which prom wristlet or bracelet would be most popular? Post a note and ask your fans for their thoughts. You can even ask about displays or holiday offerings, both before and after the events to get criticisms and comments. Use those ideas and provide updates on decisions you’ve made based on the input you received.
Invite fans to celebrate with you. With St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday, you have the perfect opportunity to jump on this next suggestion. Tomorrow, encourage all your staff to wear green. Then, post a photo on your Facebook page with a message that any fan who visits your shop who is also dressed in green will get a discount.
When business is slow, look for another funky holiday and promote it on Facebook with some related marketing. For example, March 27 is National “Joe” Day. How about creating giant, faux nametags that say “Joe” for everyone on your staff. Then post the pic with a note that anyone named Joe who comes by the shop that day gets a discount. Or, on March 30, National Doctor’s Day, take a photo of everyone on your staff wearing head bandages, with thermometers in their mouths or with their arms in slings. Then offer a free rose or carnation to any doctor who visits the shop that day. (For ideas on other fun events in March, check out the list here.)
No matter how small your shop or how small (or nonexistent!) your budget, you can find ways to increase your Facebook reach.
Do you have some tips on how you’ve connected with fans on Facebook? Send a note to [email protected].
