If you're a brand hoping to thrive on social media, mastering Facebook marketing is going to exist key.

More 2.8 billion people use the platform every single month. That'southward a lot of potential eyeballs on your business.

Because here's the thing about Facebook: while you might think it's only a place where your aunt can leave cryptic comments on your vacation pics, it'southward also a identify for audiences to connect with businesses big and small.

In fact, two-thirds of Facebook users report visiting a local business Facebook Page at to the lowest degree once a week. This digital market place is downright bustling, if it's non likewise bold of us to say.

That's right: the people are looking for you! But if you desire to tap into this audition, yous can't just rely on luck. A focused Facebook marketing strategy is essential. Go along that eye on the prize (and off your aunt's comments).

Ready to master the fine fine art of Facebook marketing? Here's everything you need to know in the year ahead.

Bonus: Download a free guide that teaches you how to turn Facebook traffic into sales in four simple steps using Hootsuite.

Your step-by-step guide to setting upwardly Facebook for business

If y'all're working with a limited budget, we've got some good news: setting upward a Facebook Page for your concern is absolutely complimentary.

Then, once yous've created your Page, you can utilize it to create content, share your contact information, link to your website, build a product catalog and communicate with your customers… likewise for complimentary.

If you exercise have some greenbacks to spare (brag warning!), there'due south the choice to use paid marketing strategies like Facebook ads and sponsored posts from your Facebook Business Page, too.

But stride 1 is to set that Facebook Page upward (did nosotros mention that it'southward gratuitous?). Here'south how:

  1. Head to facebook.com/pages/create (Note: y'all'll need to be logged in to your personal account to become started, but don't worry: your personal info won't appear on your new Concern Folio.)
  2. Choose your page type: Business/brand or Customs/public figure
  3. Enter your business organisation details.
  4. Upload your contour and cover photos. Make certain to use the optimum image sizes for Facebook then they look their all-time.
  5. Click Edit Folio Info: here, yous can fill up in your clarification, contact information and any other relevant details similar operating hours.
  6. Click Create Page @Username to make your vanity URL. This can be up to fifty characters long and helps people observe you easily on Facebook.
  7. Click Add together a Button under your cover photo to gear up a phone call to action like "Shop" or "Contact United states of america."
  8. Pat yourself on the dorsum: You just launched a Facebook Concern Page into the world! And she'southward beautiful!

If y'all'd like a petty more help getting through the setup process, we've got y'all covered. Check out our total post on how to create a Facebook Folio for business.

Types of Facebook posts

Now that yous've got a Facebook Business Page to call your own… it'southward time to create some content.

On Facebook, you can create unlike types of posts. Each take their benefits and can spark date in different ways. Your brand's social media strategy and goals volition probable affect what style of posts you'll exist making.

Here, we're breaking down all of the different options you have for Facebook Page posts, including examples to spark a trivial inspiration.

Facebook text postal service (a.grand.a. status post)

This is the O.G. Facebook postal service: merely straight up text.

We're talking just words here. No photos. No videos. No links.

They're directly and to the point, but if your goal is to drive traffic to your website or direct catechumen a lead to a sale, text posts aren't a great option. The social network'due south algorithm also isn't too fond of these bare-bones posts, and they usually don't become much reach in the news feed.

What text posts are good for, all the same, is sparking conversation. Use a text post to ask a question or call for feedback.

Text posts can as well be useful for sharing of import information your audience might be seeking out on your page, like ticket availability or opening hours.

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Facebook photo postal service

Generally speaking, photo posts see much higher engagement than text posts. An eye-catching photo (or illustration or infographic, nosotros're not picky!) is a not bad manner to catch the attending of a potential customer scrolling through their news feed.

Particularly for product-focused businesses, photos that show the appurtenances in action tin be really effective. Carb lovers, for example, might exist stopped in their tracks by these photos of The Soap Clinic'due south staff of life baskets featuring yummy sourdough loaves. Breathtaking!

Bread making is an fine art and a science✨ Getting that perfect artisan shape with the beautiful screw design is simple…

Posted by The Soap Dispensary & Kitchen Staples on Friday, February 26, 2021

And don't worry if you aren't a professional person photographer — or are selling something difficult to capture in an image: stock photos are hither to relieve the twenty-four hour period. (In fact, here are 25 free stock photo sites to bank check out! Merely be sure you fully empathise the nuts of image copyright earlier y'all commencement posting.)

Facebook video post

Video posts run into even higher engagement rates than photo posts practise. Whether it'southward for a short-and-sweet video declaration or a longer, artfully shot vid with a narrative, video can be incredibly compelling.

Vocalism posts its explainer videos right into its feed and so users can soak up all the intel right there on Facebook, and easily comment, react or repost to their feeds. This primer on vaccines, for instance, has i,400 shares.

On Facebook, video plays automatically in the news feed, so you're all but guaranteed to catch users' attention. It'due south the perfect trap!

For specific Facebook video marketing tips, bank check out our six key elements of a perfect social video.

Facebook Alive video mail service

If pre-recorded videos aren't your thing, try dabbling with Live.

Facebook Live video is a alive-streamed broadcast, right on your Facebook Folio. This medium is very, very popular — in leap 2020, Facebook Live viewership increased by fifty%.

Live video is an intimate, authentic way to connect with followers. These broadcasts tin exist used for Q&Every bit, behind-the-scenes tours, product demos and much more.

The British Council ran a Q&A to reply questions almost its English-linguistic communication courses, racking up over 7,000 views and sparking an active conversation in the comments from people who were watching live.

Ready to become live? We've got a whole divide post about the marketing potential of Facebook Live right here!

Linked content mail (aka link posts)

A link post is a post that shares a URL with your followers. But paste a link into the composition box, and a preview of the website will automatically preview. (Is it technology or magic? We may never know.)

Wealthsimple, for example, shared this link to a how-to story on their website. The meta image and description are enticing and eye-catching: we want to cease writing this story to click and read it right now!

Breaking up is difficult to exercise. It'due south also pricy. Hither's how to come out on the other side in the best possible fiscal shape.

Posted by Wealthsimple on Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Yous could share a link to your website, merely y'all could too share content from other sources — like an interesting recollect piece nigh your industry. Whatever the content, make sure to add a few words of your ain to the post earlier you lot click Publish, to give your readers some context or a takeaway.

Ooh, and one more thing to proceed in mind: link posts get more engagement than plain text posts, but considerably less than photos or videos.

Facebook Stories

But like Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories are photograph or short video posts in vertical format that disappear later on 24 hours. Photos appear for five seconds, and videos tin can exist up to 20 seconds long.

Facebook Stories live at the top of the News Feed — which means they're immune to the Facebook algorithm. This might be why more half a billion people view Facebook Stories every day.

This Story from threescore Second Docs, for instance, is hither today, gone tomorrow… but certainly gives u.s. an intriguing sneak peek of their content in the meantime.

60 Second Docs Facebook story

Pinned post

A pinned post is any regular Facebook post that stays put at the top of your Folio. This ensures it's the offset thing people see when they visit your Page.

Once you've created the post itself — whether it's a text post, poll or video mail service — simply click on the 3 dots on the right-hand corner. You'll take the option to "pin mail service." You can tell when a post is pinned because information technology'll say "Pinned post" right above it, like this Domestika example.

Domestika pinned post

Use this characteristic to brand sure important news or neat content don't become lost in the shuffle. It'due south your chance to show potential followers exactly why they should like your Page.

You tin modify your Pinned mail whenever you'd like.

Facebook Watch Party

Watch Parties are a way to screen a public video on Facebook in real time, so y'all and your Fans and Followers can experience information technology together.

This is a not bad way to build buzz for a new production launch, or a world premiere of a music video, by making a standard video into an event.

Reddish Table Talks is doing it — and if it's good enough for Jaida Pinkett-Smith, it should be good enough for you!

Red Table Talks Facebook Watch Party
Source: Facebook

You tin can even promote Watch Parties (or Facebook Live events) by creating an Result.

More info on setting upwardly a Watch Party on your Page hither.

More hot options

You can also use Facebook Pages to mail service task listings and special offers if you lot're looking to recruit or build buzz almost a sale. In that location'due south also the pick to heighten money for a charitable cause with a Facebook post.

Or y'all could just stare at your post options, overwhelmed, for hours on end, paralyzed past the option…. totally upward to you!

posts options

How to choose the perfect type of post

Finding the perfect type of mail service for your make requires a picayune bit of experimenting. Endeavor out different combinations, and keep an eye on your analytics for clues about what's working.

You can likewise engage in social listening to learn about what people love virtually your company… or what challenges they'd like you to address. Go along an center on what people are saying about your competition too. Yes, it's eavesdropping, just it'southward for business organisation purposes, and so information technology'southward totally fine. Simply heed and learn.

A good place to beginning is merely by posting content that's performing well on other channels. Have you tweeted content that's getting a great response? Share it on Facebook, likewise! Take a folio on your blog that'south e'er getting new comments? That's another Facebook post contender.

That being said: for the best results, exist sure to share your content using cross-promotion best practices, rather than just cross-posting.

Bonus: Download a gratis guide that teaches you how to turn Facebook traffic into sales in iv simple steps using Hootsuite.

Become the free guide correct now!

How to create a Facebook marketing strategy in 6 easy steps

Okay, then you're an expert in Facebook posts at present. That was fast! Let's take a look at some ideas to help yous build a solid Facebook strategy to brand the most of your Page.

1. Define your audience

To engage your audience effectively, you've got to understand who yous're talking to first. Go to know who your target audition is by request yourself the following questions:

  • How old are your target followers?
  • Where do they alive?
  • What kind of jobs do they have?
  • What are their challenges?
  • How and when do they use Facebook?

Of form, it's also important to understand the general demographics of Facebook users. So, once you've got a sense of who actually is using the platform and how that connects to your target customer, you can accept a wait at Facebook Audience Insights.

Facebook Audience Insights user demographics

Facebook's free, built-in Audience Insights tool will help yous drill down into the nitty-gritty details about potential customers. You can utilize it to find information on things like:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Education
  • Relationship status
  • Location
  • Language
  • Facebook usage
  • Past purchasing activity

Afterwards all, if y'all don't take an thought of who y'all're trying to reach, y'all're unlikely to e'er reach them.

2. Set goals

What does success await similar for your make? Certain, it can be tempting to look at Likes as the ultimate measure out of achievement, but if they're not part of a broader marketing programme, those likes aren't much of annihilation. Sometimes they're even called a vanity metric.

A potent goal that's tied to your business objectives is essential for creating an effective Facebook marketing strategy. Every business organization will take different goals, just each should focus on actions that impact their bottom line.

This may include:

  • Generating leads
  • Increasing conversions on your website
  • Improving customer service

In one case you've decided what you desire to achieve, we recommend mapping out specific, measurable ways to become there. We recommend using a recognized goal-setting framework like SMART goals or the OKR goal framework. Check out our post on social media goal-setting for more details and some inspiring examples.

Every mail service, every comment, every ad you create on Facebook should ultimately be in service of your goals. To keep yourself on rails, it'south a good idea to create a Facebook mission statement for your brand, too as a Facebook style guide that tin can inform a consequent wait, feel and phonation for all of your content.

(Sorry to give you so much homework, just successful marketing takes a little sweat sometimes. Work it!)

3. Programme your content mix

You've got your target audition. You know your goals. At present it's fourth dimension to craft those posts.

Determining the right mix of content takes trial and fault, but a good rule of thumb is to utilize the "80-20 Rule": that means using 80% of your posts to inform, brainwash and entertain, and the other xx% to promote your brand.

That'southward right: not every mail should be about how keen your company is. That gets former fast, similar a friend's new boyfriend talking about Bitcoin through your entire birthday dinner.

Instead, aim to provide value and build relationships with your followers. Give them content that they'll enjoy regularly, and they'll be more than open-minded to hearing about your products and services when yous do bring them up 20% of the time.

Some other choice to help guide your content mix is the social media dominion of thirds. Under this school of thought, 1-third of your content should share ideas and stories, one-third of your content should involve personal interactions with your followers and the rest of your content can promote your business.

Whatever specific numerical mix you wind up with, the goal is to remainder promotional textile with value.

Hot tip: Facebook punishes brands that push sales too difficult. The algorithm is non a fan of self-promotion, as it turns out. The platform wants to prioritize meaningful, engaging content… not only coupons.

In one case you've decided what to post, deciding when to post it is your next stride.

You tin can glean some insight on engagement from Page Insights, simply our enquiry shows that the all-time time to post on Facebook is at 6:15 AM and 12:15 PM PST on weekdays.

Whatever your schedule, keep in mind that it's important to mail consistently.

Create a content calendar to help balance your mix of content types, and keep your frequency organized. This free content calendar template is 1 way to stay organized; the Hootsuite Planner is another nifty resource.

For more than strategic planning ideas, check out our mail on how to create a social media marketing programme.

4. Optimize your Folio for engagement

Whatsoever your Facebook marketing goal may exist, it'll be tough to achieve it if no i knows your Facebook Folio exists.

That'due south why information technology's important to a) get people to your Folio in the first place and b) compel them to interact once they become there.

This video shares some corking ways to fully optimize your Facebook Business organization Page for success:

Expert tip: give a little extra love to your Facebook Folio cover paradigm. This is the first thing people volition meet when they visit your Page, so it meliorate expect good!

One easy way to help people find your Facebook Business Page is through cross-promotion. Aid people who are already interacting with you on other platforms find you on Facebook past linking to your Page in your electronic mail signature and newsletter, and incorporating Facebook Similar and share buttons on your website or web log.

To get those views, Likes and Follows rolling in is a little less scientific: you've got to create highly shareable content. Posts that are valuable and entertaining will (hopefully!) inspire followers to share with their friends.

To build appointment, information technology's of import to remember that you become out of Facebook what y'all put into information technology. Y'all need to be engaged, too, if yous look your followers to be.

Responsiveness is a highly valued attribute of brands, and so get chatty. Reply to every message and annotate, answer questions, and keep content up-to-date. (In fact, yous should be scheduling a regular audit of your Facebook Page to cheque for and remove any outdated content. Your Well-nigh section should always exist accurate, up-to-engagement, and on-brand.)

You can find more than detailed strategies in our guide to getting more Facebook Likes and this listing of little-known Facebook tips and tricks.

v. Consider using other Facebook tools

Once you lot've gotten comfy with running a Facebook Concern Page, in that location are plenty of additional ways that brands can detect opportunities for engagement beyond posts and comments.

Facebook Business Manager

To take your Facebook Page to the adjacent level, it's helpful to set upwardly Facebook Business Managing director, too. Facebook calls it "a one-cease-shop to manage business concern tools, business assets and employee access to these avails." How tin you resist?!

In simpler terms, Concern Manager is a tool that allows you to manage your organic and paid Facebook posts. It also allows yous to work effectively with team members and outside contractors and agencies.

We'll walk yous step by step through the prepare-up process in our guide to using Facebook Business Manager.

Facebook Groups

Groups are another great "extra credit" tool you can utilise to drive engagement. In a way, Groups are like the online equivalent of your favorite java shop or community eye. They are digital spaces for people to share information and ideas… and hopefully, a passion for your brand. With one.four billion people using Facebook Groups every month, it's an audition as well large to ignore.

Y'all tin can also use Facebook Groups to showcase your expertise and provide added value to your fans, with bonus content or special deals that are simply for "members." This is a great manner to build trust and ongoing loyalty.

Nosotros've got instructions for how to set up your own Facebook Group correct here if you lot're ready to add this tool to your Facebook Business Page toolkit.

Only if people are passionate nigh your brand, you may non even demand to create a special infinite for them to gather: sometimes fans will create their own Facebook Grouping with a focus on your make. If you do find such Groups out there in the world, it'south a good idea to join so you tin can keep an eye on the chat, and make sure whatever misconceptions or negativity are nipped in the bud.

In general, though, fan-made Facebook Groups are an amazing sign that you're doing something correct. Lucky you!

Facebook chatbot (a.chiliad.a. Facebook Messenger bot)

Facebook users substitution 20 billion messages with businesses every month. 20 billion! If you're not bachelor for chat with your customers through this platform, you may exist missing out on an opportunity to connect.

It'southward non just nigh merely having Facebook Messenger set up upward, still. It'south about existence supremely responsive to client letters. Facebook's research shows users expect a business to respond nigh immediately. One surveyed Facebook user said he would only wait 10 minutes for a response earlier moving on to some other brand.

The solution to these expectations? Chatbots: automated response tools that are always on to help an interested customer, similar this 1 from Booking.com.

Booking.com Facebook messenger chatbot

To ready your own Facebook chatbot, check out our step-past-stride guide to creating a Facebook Messenger bot.

vi. Incorporate Facebook ads and the Facebook pixel

So you crafted the perfect post: the wording is just right, the imagery is outstanding and the question is super engaging. Here'south hoping your followers actually come across it.

That's right: not everything you postal service on your Facebook Page volition reach your followers on their news feeds. You might be surprised by the pct of followers your organic posts volition probable achieve:

  • For Pages with fewer than 10,000 followers: 8.18% organic reach
  • For Pages with more than 10,000 followers: 2.59% organic attain

For ameliorate or for worse, the Facebook algorithm prioritizes posts from users' friends and family unit. This means that businesses and brands sometimes just tin't stand out from the oversupply.

Sometimes, your cracking content just needs a niggling boost. Fortunately, y'all can extend your reach without breaking the bank using Facebook Ads.

Like traditional advertising, a Facebook advertizement is content you pay to share with a specific, targeted audience. The goal is to get your brand in forepart of the right eyeballs, whether your goal is to build make awareness, date or traffic.

For detailed steps to launching a targeted Facebook advertizement campaign, check out our complete guide to advertising on Facebook.

Even if y'all're not ready to accept the leap into Facebook Ads, it's a proficient idea to set yourself up (for free!) with a Facebook pixel at present.

A Facebook pixel is a simple slice of code that yous identify on your website to:

  • rail conversions from Facebook
  • remarket to people who accept already visited your website
  • build targeted custom audiences for future ads

Equally soon equally you place information technology on your website, the pixel will start collecting data. That way, whenever you are ready to advertise, you'll accept powerful data at your fingertips for retargeting campaigns.

How to measure the success of your strategy

Successful Facebook marketing requires maintenance: this is non a set-it-and-forget-it situation.

Tracking and measuring are essential, so you tin can understand what worked and what didn't. That way, you can learn, and tweak, and endeavour again then your strategy is constantly improving.

Yous can track audience engagement directly through Facebook Insights, which measures metrics such as…

  • likes
  • reach (how many people saw your posts)
  • engagement (how many people liked, clicked, shared, or commented on your content)
  • which of your posts outcome in people unliking your Folio

Additionally, Facebook Insights will assist you determine which types of posts work best for your Page, and then you lot'll know if your current content mix is working. For more details on this, cheque out our beginner's guide to Facebook Analytics.

Outside of Facebook — actions like purchases or other website conversions — demand to be tracked with external tools similar Google Analytics, Hootsuite Impact, UTM parameters, and Hootsuite Social Advertising.

All that being said… don't exist overwhelmed! We've created a detailed guide that walks you through the process of tracking the return on investment of your Facebook marketing.

Tracking your progress isn't simply about counting your wins and jubilant successes. It's about clocking what'due south not working, too. Using an integrated tool like Hootsuite Social Advertizing, yous can review organic and paid content next. And with a unified overview of all social media activity, you lot tin can easily brand data-informed adjustments to live campaigns (and get the most out of your budget). For case, if an advert is doing well on Facebook, yous tin adjust ad spend across other platforms to support it. On the same note, if a campaign is flopping, you lot can suspension it and redistribute the upkeep — all without leaving your Hootsuite dashboard.

Acquire more almost Hootsuite Social Advertisement:


Whew!

Nosotros know, we know: in that location's a lot to learn when information technology comes to Facebook marketing. Simply the proficient news is yous can become started without investing a dime.

So get in in that location, get your hands dirty and learn as you go. More than complex strategies and campaigns will be there whenever you're prepare to accept things to the next level… and our dozens and dozens of resources and guides will be here waiting to help yous, every step of the style.

Manage your Facebook presence aslope your other social media channels using Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you can schedule posts, share video, engage your audience, and mensurate the touch of your efforts. Try it costless today.

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