There’s no question that having an active presence on Facebook can increase an author’s visibility (and book sales!). But exactly how to make your Facebook presence lively and active can be harder than you think. Here are some words of advice, courtesy of Internet and Marketing Report, on how to do just that.
1. Be proactive. Don’t wait for people to friend you and/or become a fan. Reach out to other authors, reading groups, etc… Join the groups, post on walls, and start conversations. This will allow a whole new audience of people to learn about you and your work.
2. Mix things up. Some authors just post status updates. Others only upload photos. But the more variety you offer on Facebook, the more likely you are to appear on other people’s news feeds. So post text updates, add photos, tag people in your updates, and post videos. You’ll be more likely to get views (and responses).
3. Solicit responses. If your Facebook posts say nothing except what you’re doing, you’re unlikely to get a whole lot of response. But if you ask questions, you’re encouraging people to become involved. For example, Microsoft posted the following on Facebook: “My favorite feature in Office 2010 is _____.” They got 300 responses.
4. Offer a reward for becoming a fan. People who friend you and/or become a fan should have special benefits. That may be a discount on your book, a raffle ticket, etc… One pizzeria picks a lucky fan each week and gives him or her a free pizza. Just the chance to win a free pizza led to a rapid increase in their number of fans.
Here’s to an active Facebook presence and lots of adoring fans!