Social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter can be effective tools for building an author platform, making valuable connections and promoting books. In today's guest post, book marketing guru John Kremer shares some terrific tips for getting more "likes" on your Facebook page.
Top 10 Ways to Promote Your Facebook Page
by John Kremer
A prominent Facebook page can be crucial to your book marketing and book promotion campaigns. If you want your Facebook fan page to be effective and stand out, you have to get people to find and like your page. Here are 10 ways to promote your Facebook page.
1. Customize your Facebook page URL.
I was surprised to find a Facebook page with more than 45,000 fans – and yet no vanity URL. Vanity URLs make your Facebook page much easier to remember – both for you and your potential fans. For example, my book author page is http://www.facebook.com/thejohnkremer.
You can set up a vanity username by going to http://www.facebook.com/username.
2. Put your Facebook page URL in your email signature.
Now this is pretty obvious. You already put your website or blog in your email signature. Now add your Twitter profile and Facebook page (one or all of them, if you have more than one Facebook page).
3. Write a blog post about your new Facebook page.
Give people reasons to like your Facebook page. Make a list of 5 to 7 reasons on how they will benefit by liking your page.
4. Tag other people’s high-traffic Facebook pages in your updates.
Hitch your wagon to a star. Refer to, tag, and link to other Facebook pages, especially those with tons of fans or those targeted to your interests or Facebook page focus. Their fans will often come back to check out your page.
Don’t just ask them to like your Facebook page. Ask them to join in the conversation. Give them reasons to get involved.
6. Add a Facebook Like box.
Place this in your blog/website sidebar. This is a given. A must. But when you do this, make sure you set the options to include face pile. That way, your Like box will show your readers how many of their friends like the page as well.
7. Ask your fans to post a link.
People like to be asked. And many like to help your out, especially if they really do like you or your work. And, if they are already your fans, it’s a simple step to share their fandom.
At Monk Development, they asked their fans to post a link to their company Facebook page on the same day. As a result of this one simple step, they doubled their average daily likes.
8. Comment on other people’s Facebook posts.
You can comment on other Facebook fan page posts – or the posts of your friends. This can be just as useful as blog commenting.
9. Invite your ezine subscribers.
If you have opt-in email lists or an email newsletter, make sure to invite your readers and subscribers to like your page. Give them reasons to visit and participate.
10. Encourage your contacts to ask questions on your Facebook wall.
Via your website, blog, ezine, tweets, etc., you can invite your tribe to ask you questions via your Facebook wall. Sooner or later, as they ask questions, they will like your page.
About the Author
This article was excerpted from 31 Ways to Promote Your Facebook Page, on the Ask John Kremer book marketing website. John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book and other book marketing guides, is a top book marketing expert and is also the founder of The Book Marketing Network, a social network for authors and publishers.
Learn More
Visit this page to learn how to add the Facebook Like button and other Facebook social plugins on your website.
Learn more about how to use Facebook to promote your book and yourself in the Facebook Guide for Authors by Dana Lynn Smith.
Some good tips! I have found FB a bit tough for me to crack at this point. I haven't given up on it but putting less energy in it than I have in the past. Still learning about this platform. Thanks, Todd
Posted by: Todd | January 09, 2012 at 07:29 PM
Todd, Facebook can be a very good promotional tool, but is time consuming and sometimes our time is better spent on other promotional activities. I think it also depends in part on the type of book you have.
Posted by: Dana Lynn Smith | January 09, 2012 at 07:56 PM
Thanks for the tips. I'm currently in the process of setting up a FB fan page for a client and didn't realize you could set up a custom url, good to know.
Posted by: Mary | January 13, 2012 at 07:16 AM
Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: SusanJaneSmith | February 08, 2012 at 08:25 AM
Mary and Susan, I'm glad that you enjoyed these Facebook tips :)
Posted by: Dana Lynn Smith | February 08, 2012 at 12:12 PM
10 Easy Ways to Promote Your Facebook Page ... who sees your ads, giving you the best chance of earning “Likes” from a qualified audience.
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