So now you have created a Facebook page for your business; you have invited your friends to like your page and you have acquired a whopping 30 'likes'.
But now what? How do you get more people to like your page, preferably people who are not already your friends and know what you do anyway? How do you spread the word and get your pie of the 500 million user base on Facebook.
Here are 7 tested ways to grow your 'fan base', your brand awareness and ultimately your profit.
Please note, for the ease of use the author has used the outdated term 'fans' instead of the correct term 'likes' for people who follow your page on Facebook.
1.
Suggest your page to your friends and ask them to suggest it to their friends Yes, you have already done that but what keeps you from suggesting it to them again? Some might have not seen the invitation.
Some might didn't know what that page was all about and that it was you being behind the business.
It is also a good idea to not just simply hit the 'suggest to friends' button but to compose a personal message to each of your friends.
While you're on it, ask them to suggest the page on to their friends.
Don't expect them to do this anyway, they won't do it.
Directly ask them to do so and give your page the chance to go viral.
2.
Create valuable content Having a Facebook page for your business just for the sake of having one (because all your competitors have one and all your online marketing experts tell you to do so) and then not using it, does not makes any sense at all.
It's like having a backyard BBQ and never using it - a waste of money and time.
Give the people who like your page on Facebook a reason to keep on following you.
Give them valuable information that helps them grow their business, tell them about news before you announce them to the general public, offer them Facebook only specials, etc.
This will also make it easier for them to suggest your page on to their friends.
3.
Include the link to your Facebook page on your website and in your email signature Or even go a step further and include them on your business card, your flyers, and any other promotional material you have.
Make it as easy as possible for people to connect with you on Facebook.
4.
Engage your 'fan base' with your posts Avoid talking about yourself and your products but try to find out more about your fans.
Ask them questions and get as many comments as possible.
Try to establish you page as a place where people with the same interests get together and exchange their ideas and experiences.
Move your page from being a promotional tool where you blurb about your products and services to a connection tool you donate to your fans.
And do not expect them to thank you by buying your products immediately.
This will follow eventually for some of them.
5.
Search for related pages on Facebook Let's say you are a photographer; search for related pages on Facebook, like beauticians or wedding planners.
Like those pages, leave your comments there, interact with them and eventually fans of those pages will click through to your page as well.
6.
Link Facebook to your blog If you have a company blog, this should be an easy task for you.
Keep on writing interesting blog posts and include Social Media sharing buttons.
This way people will be able to share your posts and your blog on Facebook.
Make sure you include a call to action to check out your Facebook page on your blog.
7.
Advertise on Facebook You can increase your 'fan base' by advertising your page with Facebook Ads.
Create an ad aimed at your target group and run it for a while.
And do not forget to measure your results.
  8.
Repeat all of the above from time to time and always track your efforts.
Keep a file where you track your metrics in comparison to actions taken in order to find out what worked and what not.
After all, Facebook is just another marketing tool and marketing is all about testing and measuring.