How do I grow my Facebook following?
I made an earlier post about my complaints and overall feelings on gaining users. At this point, I must focus on getting followers. I will be direct. What is the best way to get Facebook followers and page likes? My ads aren't converting and I do not intend to spend 1000 dollars on ad spend. What are the tactics you used to get FB users? I have a photography app. ( I tried groups but I just come off as spammy.) HELP!?
Followers and Likes are vanity metrics and not tied to product conversion and usage.
On Facebook your organic posts are likely to reach less than 10% of your Page Likes.
This task / question is a blocker to meaningful marketing.
If your ads aren't converting then you have a problem with messaging, audiences or placements. Iterate on all of them with tiny budgets.
Re: groups. IF you come off as spammy, you are spammy. Spend the time to add value and engage meaningfully.
There are no short cuts. Sorry.
@Red8lima
Yeah. I hear you. I am always on the lookout for tactics, in reality it's seeking a shortcut of some sort. reference the spam, I make a conscious effort to never introduce my business un-requested - although it still feels spammy. It's just really hard to communicate in groups because opportunities to participate are few and far between. That's why sales and ads feel great because you are allowed to walk into a room and yell out your business. You are absolutely right, the best way to get involved is to just add value. Its a slow process and that's what I am doing now. The adventure continues.
@Red8lima
Content marketing can help. Review common conversations / questions / challenges in the community. Create content to help with that challenge (you can even curate ideas from existing members), and share it back into the group. This is a 'hack' to help you quickly build relationships.
Everyone. I will continue following this link and I will try to respond directly where I can. There is a lot of good information in here and I think that it will act on several ideas shortly. I think the most valuable input so far has been to abandon the idea that "likes" is a valuable measurement... I will offer that it's hard not to look at it as some sort of determinate in the success of a business. I see the low following and low everything else (downloads, sharing,etc.) and it supposes there is some value to raising FB likes, especially when you compare it to other businesses on social media. This is likely heuristics at play and the correlation is not causation but the mind goes to lots of places to quickly solve difficult and complex problems. I will focus on engaging directly and forego the "likes" pursuit. Thank you for helping me get off this idea and focus on other methods of engagement.
Just to add one quick note if I may. Facebook knows business owners use and value likes as a visual to new customers to show off their popularity. Fb built the liking system to exploit that aspect of a business owners psyche. Try to resist falling for it. Most potential customers barely look at your facebook page. They’re not very popular indicators of popularity anymore because so many businesses figured out how to manipulate the liking system. Use facebook in ways that drive value to your business. If it doesnt drive trackable value through some sort of predetermined metric that you set, try to resist the artificial urges facebook will push on you. Best of luck
"Fb built the liking system to exploit that aspect of a business owners psyche."
That is a good summation of the design and the sensation that is experienced when it comes to Facebook. I will keep engaging through Linkedin, I am having some success.
Hey Manuel,
It seems like you might have more success if you really hammer down on your value proposition. In the past when I have released products I have had these types of issues when I haven’t had product/market fit. Basically offering the market the exact product it wants to achieve some goal that market desires. Unless I had tons of money to propel this project forward I would consider that the best use of my time. Interviewing prospective customers through email or dm about what they would like to see, how it could be improved etc.
By giving the market what it wants your ad rates will go down, you’ll get more followers and users will promote your product. Hopefully this helps.
If your goal is literally just to get fb likes and followers you can pay a company to just give you likes. If you’re looking for real engagement #1 most users don’t like fb pages like they did years ago so maybe give them something for free (like a sample) as incentive. #2 facebook will charge you to reach your audience so if you get fb likes and want to reach those users with your posts you’ll still have to pay the $1000 to reach those new followers. Facebook is a money pit. If you are selling a product i would look to direct my customers elsewhere like an email signup. Id want to own those contacts, not be charged to access them.
Hopefully something in here was helpful
Thank you for your input. I agree the number of page likes and followers is an artificial marker. I don't know why I want Facebook users, I guess I view Facebook users as more of the proletariat and have a better sway on influencing the masses/each other. I have used Linkedin with some success but I just feel like a door-to-door salesman. I am doing individual reaching out to photographers but its a hit or miss. I agree a group is where to be but I need an ambassador, so my real effort is getting an individual to use the app and then convert that person to an ambassador to inform and educate and proselytize on our behalf. Going back to the Facebook aspect, I feel as though I need the followers to show that there is a community, otherwise, photographers and freelancers will see that there is no traffic and they will be less inclined to participate or take on the endeavor.
Facebook fans are completely useless. Even if you get them you have almost zero organic reach, meaning you will have to boost your post to make them see your content.
If you don't want to spend money maybe you could give Instagram a try. You can still get a decent following there.
I agree Instagram has shown more potential. The trouble is crafting Instagram posts is not translatable to other postings. I need to craft a specific schedule and develop specific content. I guess what I am saying it is hard and I dont wanna, lol. (I just realized my complaint was just a pity party). I think you are right. I should invest my time in putting forward Instagram content. I will work on that today.
Facebook pages are likes, and tbh they are pretty worthless from what I've experienced and heard.
There's no such things as followers, I guess that would be 'friends', but normally people only connect if they know each other. Everyone has their own rules.
A better option would to maybe consider a group, either starting one or joining one. Each group will have their own rules and you won't get any love if you go in there promoting your wares. You need to find a way to engage with something relevant.
Come to think of it, COVID might present you with an opportunity. Reach out, personally, to wedding photographers and ask them to do you a favour and try the app. If that doesn't work, maybe offer a small coffee card. Wedding photographers likely aren't busy right now with the pandemic.
That being said, it's also going to be hard to test out a social photo app with the pandemic.
Absolutely. I need to reach to these people. I am just nervous about negative responses. I made a promise to mentor that I would do 70 approaches a week. I guess I just need to keep reaching out. thanks!