No, no and NO! We probably receive an email a week asking about this. Ask yourself this… where will these likes come from and will they enhance my community with valuable shares or be potential customers that can help increase my online revenue?
Our answer is absolutely and emphatically, NO.
Target marketing always reminds us that we have an audience that needs our service or product and it’s our job, as business professionals, to seek out that audience and meet their needs in an honest and transparent way. Facebook is no different. In fact, I think it’s even more imperative to be honest with Facebook because these are people that have taken the time out to be involved in your community for a long time.
Click here to read what Facebook has to say.
Here’s what WE RECOMMEND to grow your authentic community:
- Keep your cover image fresh and timely
- Post things that your customers want to know about
- Give your fans something to look forward to – maybe free tips or advice
- Invite people relevant to your product or service
- Make sure you have a link to your Facebook page on your website, print material, everywhere…
- Use print material to promote becoming a fan
- Create a QR Code that goes directly to your Facebook page (click here for more info on QR Codes and how they can be used)
- Run contests and promotions (be sure to follow Facebooks Guidelines for running a promotion or contest)
- Run a Facebook Ad – these really are quite inexpensive and can be incredibly targeted!
- BE INTERESTING AND PROVIDE VALUE
Here’s what we DON’T RECOMMEND you do:
- Make it a continuous flow of sales tactics
- Talk about how great you are and make it all about you
- Post so much that you get ‘unliked’ because your fans are annoyed
- Buy likes or any other means of getting people to your page that is not authentic
Like anything in business, it takes time to grow and long-term goals are far more lucrative than short term pay offs.