Top 4 Mistakes To Avoid On Facebook (Fan Page)

Facebook and other social media outlets are a great way to stay connected with people. Facebook business pages are an even better way to stay top-of-mind with customers and acquire new leads. However, business pages are not "set it and forget it". Your business page needs to be active and monitored daily. Here are the top 5 biggest mistakes to avoid when using Facebook for business.

1. Setting up your Facebook fan page and not using it
If your business page sits empty and idle, people will think you are disengaged, or maybe even out of business. The old saying "out of sight, out of mind" rings true in this situation. If you never post a status or link, your fans will not see updates from your company, thus you will be out of their minds.
The Remedy
Post at least once per day, preferably just before lunch or mid to late afternoon. These are the most common times people are likely to check Facebook for their lunch or afternoon break.
2. Spamming Your Sales Pitch
No one wants to see a continuous stream of advertisements. That's why our DVRs have fast forward; to skip through the commercials! If your business page is always spewing out reasons why your product is the best in the business, then people will tune you out, or even worse, unlike your page.
The Remedy
People do, however, want to be educated. 80% of your status updates should be educational, or link to interesting articles or videos. The other 20% can be self promotional with links to your website. If linking to your website, link directly to the page that is most relevant to your post. Avoid sending everyone to your home page all the time. If you are offering a special deal, be sure to link to a special landing page where you can collect their information for later follow up.
For more information on using landing pages effectively, read our blog post What is a Landing Page and How To Use It.
3. Breaking Social Ethics
Social media ethics are the same as being in public: you must watch what you say and behave appropriately. Facebook can suspend or delete your business fan page for violating any of their Terms of Use. In addition, people will unlike your fan page if you are mean or harsh towards others. Some examples of inappropriate behavior include offensive language, threatening others, or spamming other fan pages.
The Remedy
You will attract more fans with kindness rather than shock value. Be courteous and responsive to negative feedback. Show your fans how well you can take care of an unhappy customer. That will prove you are a reputable brand.
4. Ignoring Comments and Feedback
Social media is about having a communication. Your fan page should ask questions and engage the reader. Avoid letting comments go for days with no response. By the time you get back to the comment, the person who commented will probably have forgotten all about it and won't care.
The Remedy
When people respond to a status update, acknowledge and appreciate their response. Better still, engage in a dialogue about that particular topic or ask deeper questions. This is your conversation and you are the expert. Strive to position yourself in the eyes of your fans as knowledgeable and personable.
Conclusion
Take your Facebook fan page to the next level with these tips and you will be unstoppable. Remember, strive to be responsive, courteous, and interesting. By leveraging your fan page, you increase your trust factor and will gain new leads and customers every day.