Having a good business page on Facebook is a must-have as an entrepreneur. Make sure you can be found easily and that your business page is up to date and looks professional. Many entrepreneurs make all kinds of ‘beginner’s mistakes’ that can get in the way of your success on Facebook. In this blog, I will share a number of common mistakes that you can easily avoid.
1. You’re using a personal account for your business
You would think that every business owner would have a business Facebook profile that they use. Unfortunately, this is not true. Some entrepreneurs use their personal accounts.
Do you have a business but not a business profile? Then create one right now! It is a small effort, but it’s so important. It also has a lot of additional functionalities that are useful to you as an entrepreneur.
Read more about creating a successful business Facebook page here: https://www.365daysofsuccess.com/13-dos-and-donts-for-a-successful-business-facebook-page/
2. You are barely active on Facebook
This is one of the most common mistakes, and often it is probably not even intentional: after creating a business profile, you are hardly active on Facebook.
The name says it all: social media platforms are all about being social and interaction. As an entrepreneur, you want to interact with your target audience.
If you have a business account on Facebook but don’t do much with it, your account is of little use. Your fans want to hear from you. They want you to inform and inspire them about topics which they are interested in.
Try to do that structurally, at least a few times a week. Provide a good mix of content: alternate texts, tips, questions, images, offers, and funny posts. Be sure to also use video content; it performs very well in the Facebook ranking.
3. You don’t give your online appearance on Facebook a personal touch
You can see your Facebook page as your online business card or – even better – as your online shop window. People visit your page, and if what they see appeals to them, they would want to see what else you have to offer. If it doesn’t appeal to them, they’ll leave in a flash.
Make sure your profile is not a billboard with only products and offers. That puts people off. You are your company: so make your posts personal and authentic. Share your experiences and exchange tips on topics they are interested in. That’s what’s going to appeal to people.
Also, show yourself and share who you are and what you do. Give your account a personal touch. That is the only way you will appeal to your target audience, and they will start to follow and trust you.
4. You don’t work with a social media marketing plan
Don’t just post anything, but create a targeted plan for your social media marketing in advance. Unfortunately, I still see people doing this, and that’s a shame!
By following a targeted approach; it will cost you less time, and you will get much more out of it. In addition, with a well-thought-out plan, you will appear with a professional image. In this way, you can plan ahead and be effective on Facebook.
This is the way to easily and structurally become visible and get more customers through Facebook. Always make sure there is added value in every post. Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal customer when you write the content for your posts.
5. You forget to build a relationship of trust with your fans
Entrepreneurs often unconsciously think that Facebook is a medium to send messages only. Remember that social media platforms (including Facebook) aim at as much interaction as possible. Through interaction you and your audience will get to know each other better. This builds a relationship of trust, which is very important for your business.
Besides responding to the comments on your posts, it is smart to actively respond to what they post on Facebook. Take a moment every day to actively work on creating a bond of trust: like your fans’ posts, comment, and give them tips or compliments.
6. You’re too impatient
Social media doesn’t get you new customers overnight. I’ve already mentioned the bond of trust a few times. To build this bond, you simply need more time. In addition, it also takes a while before you build up an organic reach on Facebook.
For this, you must first be regularly active on Facebook for some time. That means both posting structurally and regularly commenting on other’s posts. Know that this takes time and therefore requires your patience
7. You address your fans in plural
This is a mistake I often encounter in newsletters, but also sometimes in the content of social media posts: people address their fans on Facebook in plural. When someone reads your post, they generally read it alone.
Therefore, always address the reader in singular. So, use ‘you’ or ‘your’. When you use ‘everyone’, the reader will not feel personally addressed. Write your texts addressed to one person, and you will always be on the right track!
8. You only post your own posts
Besides the few times a week that you post your content, it is wise to share other people’s content between your own posts. For example, share news from your field that is also interesting for them.
Share the link to that article in your post. Then add something interesting. For example, share what you think about it or what it could mean for you or your customers.
9. You don’t post your Facebook posts at the best time
Did you know that most Facebook users are online in the evening? Of course, this depends on your target audience, but keep it in mind. Think carefully about when your potential customer is online.
Working people are probably best reached after working hours. If your target audience is working people, you should probably post your posts early in the evening. The lunch break can also be a good time. Just try it out sometimes and see how it works for you. Through the statistics of your account, you can get a good insight into the best times.
10. You make your Facebook posts too long
A question that is asked often is how long a Facebook post should be. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this. In general, the text should never be too long and should not come across as long-winded. Short and to-the-point is always a good strategy.
Always use blank lines in longer texts since it makes it easier to read. Feel free to use an emoticon here and there to spice things up. It’s really a matter of trying out what your target audience likes.
Always ensure you put the most important thing in the first sentence(s). Because when people scroll through posts, that section of text is always visible. So make sure that your first few sentences have words that invite further reading.
11. You don’t respond or respond too late to comments
Do you take the time to respond to questions and comments from your fans every day? You really should. Because in addition to interest and involvement, you also radiate reliability to your fans. They know they can count on you every day.
Also, never ignore comments that you are not really happy about. Always provide a quick and diplomatic response. A respectful response not only shows that you care about your fans, but it also makes them feel heard and know that you are always there for them.
12. You start with Facebook ads right away
Facebook ads are great, but it’s important to gather a group of fans organically first. That’s a great foundation to start advertising on.
Are you new to Facebook? Let your group of fans come and follow you on their own first for a few months. See what their needs are. Share content that interests them. Ask questions and get to know your fans that way first.
If you do this first, you can target your ads much better according to your target audience’s needs. After that, you can actively start advertising on Facebook.
13. You’re not using the correct image formats.
On Facebook, you have several places where you can post images. Images can be shared in your post, but you also have the profile picture, the cover picture or the story. It is important to use the correct image formats for each type. This will prevent you from coming across as an amateur. For example, if your images are not fully visible.
This handy overview lists all the image formats: https://www.365daysofsuccess.com/an-overview-of-the-most-important-social-media-formats-for-2022/
14. You are afraid of repetition.
It can sometimes feel uncomfortable to post certain things over and over again. You should let go of that feeling. Repetition is a necessity on Facebook. Know that if you only post something once, only a small percentage of your followers will see that content. A small portion of those will probably read it as well.
Now that you know this, you probably understand why you need to highlight something regularly. Suppose you are giving a workshop. Start posting about your workshop 3 weeks in advance. Post something that is related to, or that is about your workshop a few times a week.
Make sure it is not just promotional posts. Add tips or new items that relate to the theme of your workshop. Mention somewhere in the post that you also give a workshop with the link attached. By repeating the workshop regularly, it will be remembered better by the reader.
15. You use images that don’t belong to you
You probably know that you can’t just blindly use images from the Internet for your own posts. Yet it still happens regularly. Know that most images are protected by copyright.
It is best to take nice pictures yourself or of certain objects. You can also ask someone to do a photoshoot with you. That way, you will have a lot of images that you can use for your posts. You can even do this very easily with a friend and your phone.
In addition, you have websites where you can find professional photos that you can use for your business. For example, take a look at Pexels.
16. You’re not using Facebook Pixel.
Do you already have a Facebook Pixel? It is a JavaScipt code for your website which allows you to create and optimize audiences for your advertising campaigns.
With the Facebook Pixel, you can use the actions that people have taken on your website across different devices to make promotions even more effective.
In addition, the pixel is an important measurement tool for lead conversion.
17. You’re not using reviews on Facebook.
Reviews are often the deciding factor for a potential customer. They are important because they are written by real people. By the way, did you know that Facebook reviews show up on Google?
Do you have reviews on your website but not on your Facebook page yet? Then you should change that now! I’ll give you a few tips on how to get reviews:
- Share reviews with readers on Facebook or on your website. It shows that you really appreciate the reviews and that more reviews are welcome.
- Ask your guests and customers in person or via email if they would like to leave a review on the Facebook page.
- Post a message on your page asking your fans to leave a review. There’s a good chance that a large share of your Facebook fans have already purchased a product or service from you but have never thought to leave a review. You can also ask them to do this via your website or newsletter.
Note: before your reviews get shown in the search results, you must first have collected a number of them.
Now that you’ve read the common mistakes, you know what to look out for when you get started on Facebook. So go for more fans and more visibility on Facebook. Good luck!
