This is a guest blog post from Natasha Vanzetti, an Author, Speaker and Educator at www.natashavanzetti.com.au 
You can join in the conversation via www.facebook.com/natashavanzettionline
Do you find ‘working’ on a social platform like Facebook a bit uncomfortable? Are you struggling to work out what to post and how you can get more people interested in your business, without feeling spammy?
It’s a common problem, one I hear about frequently. With over a billion users, chances are your perfect audience are hanging out on Facebook. But you have to remember they’re on there to have fun and be entertained. They’re not on there to be sold to.
How quickly do you scroll through your newsfeed?
Think about how quickly you scroll through your Facebook Newsfeed and what catches your eye. Are you paying attention to ads or blatant product announcements? Or, are you like most people and looking for updates from friends and family, entertainment or cool things to try?
Consumers these days don’t want to be sold to, so constantly pushing out ads about your business or boring sales promos isn’t going to work. You want people to engage, to like, share or comment on your posts, so Facebook will see them as worthy enough to push out into the Newsfeed.
‘How on earth do I do that?’ you may ask. It can be a little overwhelming figuring out what to post but I have some suggestions for you. Before you post anything, run it by this short checklist—three simple steps to keep in mind when posting content on your Facebook business page:
1. Be Human
Don’t get caught out hiding behind your brand. Facebook is a social platform so people are there to mingle with other people, not brands. Show your human side, be willing to step out every now and then and talk to other humans.
Think of Facebook like a dinner party. You’re there to get to know people, learn from them and also talk a little about yourself. You’re not there in a suit and tie, sprouting sales messages as they serve up the entrée.
Think about how you want people to feel when they see or hear about your business.
2. Add Value
Adding value builds trust and rapport and is one of the easiest ways to get into the heart and mind of your perfect audience. You can share articles you’ve written, content from other sources relevant to your audience or advice you know will help people get a small win.
Helping people by adding value will encourage them to engage with your content and be willing to read more of it.
This can also be done by adding comments and advice to other posts and becoming a useful contributor to the Facebook community.
3. Share the Love
It’s not always just about you. I love nothing more than sharing wins from my clients, showcasing other businesses or events that I find worthwhile and engaging with other people’s pages. Putting yourself out there and engaging with other pages will help you be known but also encourage people to love you back.
These three steps are so simple yet so often overlooked. You’re not on Facebook to simply sell stuff. You’re on Facebook to get to know your audience and let them get to know you. People want to know who they’re dealing with and if you do things right, you’ll have the privilege of finding a place in their heart and mind. Then when you do share ‘how your business can help’ they’re much more receptive to saying yes to what you have to offer.
Do you need some more information on social media for business? Check out the Digital Business page on Marketing with social media section. Or let us know what Facebook posts are working for your business in the comment section below.
