You followed everyone’s advice and finally created a solid Facebook page for your business. However, it quickly becomes apparent that people are becoming stingier with their “likes” and, presently, your company doesn’t have the budget for Facebook Ads. Though many posts exist with information concerning the topic…it ends up boiling down to two main concepts:

1. Exposure through linking
2. Creative and highly shareable content

This post will unveil a multitude of techniques regarding the first concept. Stay tuned to the Hüify blog for Part 2 of the series!

Part 1: Exposure through linking

Since advertising is out of the question, your audience will have to be able to find your Facebook page in as many ways as possible. Consumers are no longer solely looking on Facebook to connect with a business and a massive push towards mobile only strengthens this concept. The first step in exposing your business is to entwine your Facebook page into all of the digital and traditional aspects of your company marketing strategy.

The Digital Realm

Email/Website

Start by attaching your custom Facebook url to your email signature and creating an email blast to all clients announcing your new page. This is free advertising and is guaranteed to jumpstart your fan base. The next area to begin focusing on is your company website. There should “at least” be a Facebook icon clearly visible above the page break. Many websites also offer social plugins which feature different aspects of your Facebook page right on your company website! Once a plugin is installed, make sure that it matches the aesthetic of your website and is logically located.

Blog

If your company runs a blog, dedicate a post to the launch of your Facebook page and crosslink it to your actual Facebook wall. If a customer is already reading your company blog, it is highly likely that they are a true fan and will like your Facebook page! This is an easy way to strengthen a relationship with brand advocates and will help expand upon an existing Facebook page. Creating post that feature exclusive content “only available” on Facebook is a good technique for driving blog readers to your page.

Social Channels

Whether your business decides to utilize Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, or any other social platform, it is crucial to backlink your Facebook page. Regardless of how a customer or client finds your company, the easier it is to find your page, the more likely you will connect with the customer. If you decide to cross-post (which we do not recommend), Facebook posts generally translate well to Twitter but usually not vice versa. Though there are exceptions, we are going after free likes in this post and will save those for another day.

Traditional Media

Print Media

By coupling an Internet strategy with a solid traditional media strategy, you are nearly guaranteed to see results. Regardless of your business type, it is more than likely that your company “already” advertises in magazines, brochures, menus, or newsletters. By adding a small section announcing your Facebook page, you are alerting your target audience to the existence of your social media presence.

For example, a restaurant should add the Facebook Page URL to the front of a menu, which leads diners immediately to the Facebook page. A company with a monthly print newsletter could feature user generated content and turn it into a contest. Own a company, which utilizes brochures? Try offering a “More info available on our Facebook page” section to the back of your publication. The possibilities of incorporating your Facebook presence into print media are literally endless. As long as the message is being conveyed clearly and your company page is ready for viewing, you will see an increase in user likes.

TV/Radio Opportunities

Consumers are no longer mindlessly watching television without engagement. We have shifted towards a “two-screen experience” with nearly 40% of people who own tablets and smartphones watching TV with them every day. This means if you are running a TV commercial and don’t mention the existence of a Facebook page, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity! Whether you decide to dedicate a whole television ad to a social media strategy is up to your marketing department, however it is important to at least mention your Facebook presence.

On a final note, if your company uses radio as an advertisement method, adding a simple “Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Brandname” spot at the end of an advertisement can reach a large audience. At the very least, consumers know that you are on top of social media.

Key Takeaways

This post features quite a few separate ideas to generate free Facebook likes through simple techniques. Whether you focus on just a few, or decide to practice all of these recommendations…these are the key points to be aware of:

• Make your Facebook page easily accessible regardless of the consumer
• Expand on current advertising
• A Multi-structured approach will garner the most traffic/likes

Have any recommendations of your own on generating free likes? Add them to the comment section below!