The other day we posted 15 Phrases to Increase Facebook Post Engagement. Today, instead of giving you tips on how to better construct your status updates, we’d like to offer up 6 pieces of advice on what your business should avoid doing on your Facebook Page.
1. Snubbing Users: When users takes the time to post a comment on your Facebook Page and no one responds, users tend not to want to engage with your Page again. This is especially true when the Facebook Page they posted on doesn’t have a large following in the first place.
Even if there is only one user to comment or Like a post on a Facebook Page, there is no reason that a business Page shouldn’t still respond with a Like or comment back. Users understand the low probability of getting a reply if they post to Page like Pepsi, but if they’re posting to a small business’s Page, they expect to get response.
2. Begging for Likes: We’ve all seen it. The infamous, “Don’t forget to Like our Page!” posts in the News Feed. If your business’s Page uses this update, or any updates similar, don’t expect to earn a lot of post Likes– or any Page Likes for that matter.
People don’t like being told what to like. So don’t try this strategy on Facebook, otherwise users will simply turn a blind eye. If you really want users to Like your status update or Facebook Page, try pairing your update with some valuable content. Then, instead of asking users to “Like my Page!” you can restructure your post to say, “Like this post if you agree with this article!” or “Like if you support our mission!”
3. Recycling Others’ Content: In every industry there are a few major news sources that dominate the field. For example, in social media and tech, sites like Mashable and Tech Crunch are widely followed. That said, do not frequently repurpose large news sites’ material for your own Facebook Page’s content without offering your own individual spin or opinion on it.
If it’s likely your fans are also fans and followers of other top-player news sites, don’t bombard your fans’ news feeds with duplicate stories. Also, bare in mind, your fans come to your Facebook Page to be introduced to new and exclusive content. If you’re constantly stealing other people’s content for your Page, your Page isn’t proving its stand-alone value.
4. Being Way Too General— And Irrelevant: “TGIF! What are you doing this weekend?” is one of many examples of status updates that are not only way too general, but ultimately not attention grabbing enough to generate any major engagement.
If your business is posting similar updates on a frequent basis, it’s time to rethink your posting game plan. Here’s a tip: keep 90% of your Page content related to the industry your business is in. Seasonally related posting are the exception to this rule. In other words, it’s okay to say: “Hope everyone has a blast on the 4th of July!!”
5. Sounding Like a Car Salesman: Unnecessarily using capitalized lettering and frequently using your Facebook Page to broadcast your business’s latest “sale” are surefire ways turn users off from engaging with your brand. No one likes to feel like they’re being screamed at, nor do they want to feel like you’re aiming your business’s marketing ploys straight at them.
Work on instead implementing the 80/20 rule, which basically means 80% of what you post and share on your business’s Timeline should be content that is valuable and relevant to your fans, and 20% of content can be self-promotional.
6. Using Bad Images: Images often play an important role in increasing post engagement. However, there are certain images that can actually discourage users from Liking a post. For example, low-quality or out-of-context images that don’t speak clearly for themselves are often not rewarded with a lot of comments and Likes.
Keep in mind that if you’re going to use an image as a post, make sure it’s one that makes a statement and that embodies some shareable qualities. Adding a descriptive caption to the photo doesn’t hurt, either.