Category Archives: Facebook Tips
Is it good form to ask for followers?
Occasionally, you will see the administrator of a Facebook Page or Twitter profile post an update asking for followers. Often, it’s associated with a goal, e.g., let’s get 10,000 followers by such and such date or time.
Does this tactic work? And more importantly, should it be used? Can it backfire for your brand?
I was thinking about this as I read the response of some fans when the Facebook Page owner of a Page I follow, Daym Drops, posted a request for more Twitter followers on his Facebook Page.
Now, this guy recently vaulted to YouTube viral stardom — which can be a short-lived and wild ride — so it’s easy to understand why he’s trying to make the most of it, quickly.
Fam, as I look at my Fam Follow on Twitter; it is all types of nappy and unhappy. (1,759)..Can we hit 2,000 before midnight? Let’s DO THIS!
Well, for one thing, asking for Twitter followers on Facebook is like assuming people like sushi if they also like Chinese food. It’s not necessarily so. And one of his Facebook fans didn’t hesitate to tell him, in a nice way, that she preferred Facebook.
I don’t have a twitter account.. dint like it .. I don’t like to feel restricted… n u know us Latinas have a lot to say
I’ve emphasized before that Facebook and Twitter, while both are social networks, are two different entities with different personalities and uses and these should be approached and treated differently. And this just illustrates how you cannot give someone sushi when they want kung pao chicken.
But back to the ask. Calls to action (or CTAs, for short) are tricky on social media. Are they necessary? Yes. But there is a way to make the ask, and maybe this wasn’t it. And who knew? We are all learning. Often, it’s the community that tells us what works, and what doesn’t. What struck me were the kindly intentioned but direct responses of two of his Facebook Fans to his ask for Twitter followers (please pardon the crude language):
Hey man, you are f’ing awesome and sh!t… But don’t get greedy on followers. Just be your awesome self, and followers will show up anyways
Yeah, keep having fun with it and everything else will come along. The second you start thinking you deserve things, you start losing the respect of the people already following you.
Significantly, he did not make his 2,000 Twitter follower goal. So, maybe there is a lesson here for businesses and nonprofits. Don’t push your luck too quickly, too soon. Let the fans come to you. Do what you do best, and you will earn the reputation. Focus on what you already have and on engaging your current fans.
Does this mean we stop using advertising, or PR, or social media to try and attract more attention for our services, products, or missions? No! Especially for other types of brands, a more assertive approach may be warranted. Just — keep it real on social media. It’s important not to lose sight of the fundamentals, or force your hand.
But it’s also very true on social media that if you have earned the love and respect of fans, then they will forgive the fumbles you may make occasionally. And we all make those fumbles, self included!
Congratulations, Daym Drops, on your new success! Count me among your fans
Just for fun, here is one of his funny fast food reviews…
Related articles
- How Dunkin’ Donuts Builds a Connected Brand with Social Media (greatfinds.icrossing.com)
- Is Bigger Better with Social Media? (greatfinds.icrossing.com)
- Is it Possible To Overdo Your Company’s Social Media Presence? (marketingland.com)
Design challenge: Facebook Timeline Cover Images
The profile image/logo has a prominent placement within the Timeline cover image. As we design branded Covers, we find it is best to work with the profile image rather than fight with it.
This reminds me of a time I was watching my dad finish a painting. He was getting ready to put in his signature. I asked him if he always put it in the same place. He said, no, you have to find a “home” for the signature in the painting. So the size, location, and color of the signature would vary from painting to painting.
I was thinking about this in relation to the Timelines Cover images. The profile image really needs to have a “home” within the Cover image.
In this example for Rink Strategic Communications, the colors of the image work with the logo. For example, the black in Susan’s camisole anchors with the black in her logo — it also calls attention to her as the important person in the photograph (besides the fact that she is in the center
Could a tagline have also been included here in the Cover? Maybe, but I think the text would have been too busy and would have competed with the R. What you want for many Facebook Cover images is a compelling photograph or design that complements the profile image. With Facebook Timeline Covers, you have to know when to walk away.
When planning the Timeline image for other clients, I also look at the Cover in terms of balance and composition. For example, there is a good space in the upper right corner. You don’t want to crowd the left side too much, since the profile picture is there.
That is the approach we took with this design for the Keenan PR Facebook Page. This is basically a banner ad she already (created by another designer) that she liked that we reworked for her as a Timeline Cover.
We flipped the image so the Silver Anvil award is on the right, and we moved the text and changed the font. So, the result is a more balanced composition that works with her logo, which is her profile image. See how the logo points at the message and the award? Cool, huh? That was almost accidental
This is also a good example (we didn’t design) from Constant Contact UK that gives the profile image a “home” in the Timeline Cover and makes good use of that upper right corner/sweet spot… You can tell this image was designed expressly for Facebook.
There is also a really nice flow, composition, and a great match between the Cover image and the profile image in this example from Manchester United (we did not design this one, either).
Look, by contrast, at this one from the New York Times. I suppose with that red staircase that it’s an interesting photograph. But does it make a good Timeline image? In my opinion, no. Nothing about the image communicates anything about the attributes (or a single attribute) of the New York Times (other than they have a lot of employees and a really cool staircase). It’s not memorable. It doesn’t play nicely with the profile image. I think they should give this one another shot….
Facebook is a fun and friendly environment, and it has a certain cool factor. Being overly corporate on Facebook would be a mistake just as it would be a mistake to use business jargon at a backyard barbecue. Brands have a real opportunity with these Facebook Page Timeline Covers. It’s worthwhile to design them well — to delight the viewer, as well as convey a message.
Related articles
- Time to Update Your Facebook Page with a New Cover (fletcher-prince.com)
Time to Update Your Facebook Page with a New Cover
Remember back in September when I blogged that Facebook would most likely shift Pages to the Timelines format? Well, that day is here. You can implement the changes right now, or spend the next few weeks getting ready for them, because the changes will go into effect for all Pages on March 30, 2012.
To illustrate, here is what the Fletcher Prince Facebook Page looked like before the changes:
Fletcher Prince Facebook Page -- Former Layout
And here is the Fletcher Prince Facebook Page after the changes that will take place for all Pages on March 30 (you can go ahead and change your Page now).
Fletcher Prince Facebook Page with the new Cover image
Are you ready? The main thing you are going to need right away is a branded Cover. You have a month to work with, and we are ready to help you. Depending on the complexity of your design, we can create a new Page Cover image for your Facebook Page for about $125 to $375, estimated.
The new Page format is visual and wide. The look of your page will change. Photos will be getting top billing, by default, and as you may know, photos are what get engagement on Facebook Pages. The photo that is featured on your Page front is the most recent photo you posted on your wall, in landscape format. So that is something to consider.
The first two “tabs” you have on your Page will be featured most prominently with thumbnails, and the rest of your links will have a click through, so pick the two tabs you like best and move them to the top of the list of your tabs.
Facebook Restrictions about Page Covers
There are some restrictions from Facebook about the Cover image. You may not put a call to action in the Cover image — you cannot say or suggest someone “like” the Page or share the Page. Facebook specifically restricts this. You cannot include price or purchase information, or any kind of promotional wording.
Choose a Cover image — or have us create one for you, because we would love to do that! — that is a creative and original photograph that sums up what your Page is about. For example, if you were a realtor, it might be an image of homes. If your Page was for a restaurant, it might be some menu items or the restaurant interior. If your Page is for a product, it might be an image of people using your product.
While you don’t want to get overly promotional, there’s no rule that says you can’t change your Cover from time to time. So, think about seasonal and holiday versions of your Covers, if that is appropriate for your brand. We will offer that design service for Page owners who would like that option.
Please contact us to update your Facebook Page Cover Image, and your client’s Facebook Pages. And remember: we also create branded Google + Page banner images, LinkedIn Business Profile banner images, new YouTube layout graphics, blog headers, Twitter profiles, and more. We can create a whole suite of branded social media images for you.
Facebook Page Administration Basics (Video)
If you administer a Facebook Page for your company or nonprofit, you know what a bear EdgeRank can be. Here’s a few tips for getting the most out of your Facebook Page from Fletcher Prince’s Mary Fletcher Jones and check out our portfolio of Facebook Pages http://www.FletcherPrince.com
Recorded at RHED Pixel October 2011. Thanks to Richard Harrington and the RHED Pixel video production team for producing the video.
Visit Fletcher Prince on Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/FletcherPrince
Writing for engagement: tips and best practices (video presentation)
I had the opportunity to speak at the RHED Pixel annual Open House last week on best practices for effective social media updates, and wanted to share the video with you today.
I enjoy this event because the speakers are terrific, it’s informal and interactive, and free! So mark your calendars for the Open House next year.
Thanks so much to Richard Harrington for inviting me to present and to Adam Martray and the terrific RHED Pixel team for coordinating and taping the event (which featured a lot of other speakers, including Richard Harrington).
If you didn’t have a chance to go (the room was packed!) or watch the presentations live on UStream, I’ll share the link to those recorded presentations when they become available online. Meanwhile, the folks at RHED Pixel have generously shared the video of my presentation and if you have the time, check it out. I’m sharing tips for marketing your business, nonprofit, association or govt. agency with blogs, Facebook Pages, Twitter profiles, YouTube and more.
These are my highly subjective opinions about what has worked for me and what I have observed. If you concur, or you believe differently, or have tips to share, please leave a comment. I would love to hear your views.
For more creative and affordable marketing tips, please subscribe to the Fletcher Prince blog http://fletcher-prince.com/blog
Presentation recorded October 25, 2011 in front of a live audience at RHED Pixel, Falls Church, Virginia.
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- How to Get More Readers for Your Blog (fletcher-prince.com)
Have a Facebook Page? How’s it doing? Want to find out?
Checked Fletcher Prince's Facebook Page EdgeRank: check yours at http://www.EdgeRankChecker.com
If you’re a Facebook Page owner, you may be frustrated by the mystery of knowing if your fans (friends, followers, whatever) are ever seeing your Page updates in their newsfeed.
It’s kind of a like being a parent to a 12-year-old boy. You’re just never sure if they’re really listening.
Anyway, parenting angst aside, EdgeRank Checker is a way to measure how your Page is doing (in addition to the metrics provided by Facebook). I got an excellent score of 29 for Fletcher Prince so I’m happy.
Is it a reliable way to measure your Page’s effectiveness? I don’t know. But it’s free to check, so you might as well give it a spin. Caveat: it only really works well if you have 100 fans or more for your Facebook Page.
How EdgeRank Works
So, you know, EdgeRank is an algorithm that ranks objects in the Facebook News Feed. Pages with high EdgeRank Scores will be more likely to show up in the news feed, than Pages with low EdgeRank Scores. How you get your EdgeRank to rise is to get lots of “likes” and comments on your updates from your fans. If they don’t interact with your posts, your EdgeRank will sink, and then you won’t show up in their newsfeeds, and eventually, maybe no one’s.
Affinity, Weight and Time Decay
The EdgeRank score for your Facebook Page is made up of 3 variables: Affinity, Weight, and Time Decay.
- Affinity has to do with the relationships the fan has with the Page creator — how many times did the fan comment or like?
- Weight is determined by the type of update on the Page, such as a photo/video/link/etc. Apparently, links have less weight. That’s probably because Facebook is not eager to have users migrate off Facebook to read articles somewhere else. Photos and video you upload have higher weight. Ostensibly. The algorithm’s secret, so who really knows?
- Time decay just has to do with how old the post is. The importance of this variable means that you really have to know when your fans are on Facebook and post then, not at other times. Which means you may have to make your Page updates at night, or on Sunday mornings, or on rainy Saturdays, depending on what your fans do.
New Changes in Facebook Settings
It used to be that you could encourage your fans to click a setting in their newsfeed that would display ALL the content from Pages they liked in their newsfeed. That was a neat trick for Page owners but most fans didn’t do it. The setting wasn’t in the most obvious place. Now, Facebook has (irritatingly) removed that option.
So, we’re back to the drawing board: trying to get engagement on our Pages. Doing anything it takes to get likes or comments in the newsfeed of the Page (forget those other tabs). Or paying for traffic (advertising, sponsored stories).
Or just concentrating on other marketing tactics.
Related articles
- Facebook, the new Timelines, and what this means for Page Owners (fletcher-prince.com)
