5 Ways to Take Control of Your Facebook Page
Published on August 17, 2016
Can you remember a time before Facebook? We’ll give you a second.
It’s getting harder to do, isn’t it? What was once a fun online novelty has become an omnipresent backbone of the internet ecosystem, with roots that spread out and impact commerce, entertainment, communication, and every other facet of the digital landscape.
So, we’re going to go ahead and guess that you’re familiar with Facebook, and probably that you’re already using it for your business.
Here’s what you may not realize – most of us are barely scratching the surface of what we can do to refine, streamline, and customize our Facebook experience. The network that boasts a huge ROI for advertising and that is rapidly changing the way we talk about SEO also offers a slew of customizable tools for brands that are well worth exploring.
Social media is a vital way for your brand to stand out, to create leads, to bolster your reputation and create your positive narrative. So when it comes to your Facebook page, don’t just settle for the basics – take control. Here are five easy ways to get started:
1.) Create Powerful, Custom Images
Social media has always been an image-first concept, where a great visual is a surefire step to success. And as Facebook has adapted to keep up with even more photogenic networks, like Snapchat or the GIF-heavy Tumblr, it has started to privilege imagery, giving users more options and customizability than ever before.
So, when it comes to the images that create your first impression – your profile pic and cover photo – don’t settle for stock images, let alone a blank gray space. Work with a photographer or designer to create a series of pictures that reflect your brand and all that it stands for in a compelling, colorful way, perhaps using subtle psychology to guide your reader’s eye.
And remember to work with Facebook by keeping your images within their ideal dimensions: 851 pixels wide x 315 pixels tall for cover photos, and at least 180 x 180 for profile pictures.
2.) Reclaim Your URL
There are plenty of brands with “Geek” in their name, even more with “Chicago.” We recognize this, but it’s important to remember that Facebook might not. If you don’t customize your URL – an important step for SEO – who knows what strangely numbered and punctuated URL you’ll end up with.
Fortunately, updating your URL to maximize its efficacy is an easy fix: Go to facebook.com/username and choose your page from your dropdown menu, then update the URL to reflect your brand and check its availability.
3.) Add a Call to Action
Like getting around the Windy City, digital marketing is all about the CTA. And no, not the Chicago Transit Authority, but a strong, effective Call to Action!
OK, sure, that joke is so embarrassing that my deskmates are now refusing to look me in the eye. But the fact remains that having a single, easy-to-locate Call to Action button is essential to converting a curious visitor into a satisfied client. Fortunately, Facebook makes it easy to implement a button that completes the actionable “goal” of your choice.
When setting up your business page, just look for the “Add Action Button” button, click it, and select the CTA connected to your primary social media goal – whether it’s to link to your website, to prompt curious visitors to send you an email, or to download your app right away.
Don’t forget to customize this CTA so it’s mobile optimized, and be sure to use tracking links, the better to monitor your Facebook’s effectiveness at creating leads.
4.) Add Ratings and Reviews
If you’re scrolling through taco places on Google, is your interest piqued by the one with no ratings, or the one with 18 glowing reviews?
Facebook works the same way, and you can help your brand stand out by soliciting positive reviews from your most-satisfied customers. Bear in mind that you’ll need to adjust your business’ setting to “local business” and enter a full business address in order to add testimonials to your page.
5.) Set Controls on Your Content
No one wants a frustrated customer logging onto Facebook and tarnishing their page with expletives before getting a chance to cool off. No one wants a spambot posting questionable links or even aggressive or explicit images (trust us, this happens, and it can get nasty).
The good news is that Facebook allows you to monitor and control both who can see your page, and who can comment or post to it.
First, use the “country” and “age” restrictions, located under the “settings” tab, to control who can see your page – maybe you’re a bar that has no interest in reaching people below legal drinking age, maybe you can only provide your service in the continental 48. Whatever the reason, it helps to make sure your page is reaching the right audience.
And on top of that, you can filter and moderate what content gets posted to your page. Don’t want strangers adding photos or videos? Prevent it by adjusting your “Posting Ability” settings. Want to automatically block or target profanity from appearing on your page? The “Page Moderation” setting will allow you to block specific words, and the “Profanity Filter” can be adjusted to automatically target language that Facebook users traditionally deem offensive.
The best way to make sure your Facebook page is up to constantly-shifting industry standards? Turn it over to the pros, so you can go back to doing what you do best. That’s where Geek comes in! Our social media team is here for all of your needs across all of your platforms, including Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat. Ready to get started? Drop us a line today!
