When it comes to social media marketing, everyone has an opinion. Some people see social networking platforms as the perfect way to connect. Others see social media as having a seriously negative impact on present cultural trends. Regardless of how you view social media, there is no denying it has a serious grip on society today, and that grip probably will not go away anytime soon...
Facebook in particular is remarkably influential on our culture. According to the platform itself, as of September 2017, Facebookboasted a whopping 2.07 billion monthly active users, with an average of 1.37 billion daily active users. On average, Facebook still remains the most-used social media site among all ages, used by 64% of Americans. The site alone accounts for one in every five minutes spent online on mobile—that’s 20% of time spent on one site alone, out of every single website on the internet. In fact, the average user spends more than 20 minutes per day on Facebook. There’s no doubt about it: Facebook is big, and it is here to stay.
All of these Facebook users mean one thing for your nonprofit (NPO)—potential constituents. These users are connections, relationships, volunteers and ultimately donations. If your nonprofit already has a Facebook page, the best way to expand your reach and connect with more constituents is by increasing your Facebook followers. How exactly do you do that? We have ten surefire ways to get you started.
If your nonprofit wants to expand and grow its mission, Facebook is one of the best places to do so. Try out some of these surefire ways to increase your Facebook followers and see the impact you can make today.
- Fill out your “About” information.
One of the simplest ways to gain more likes and followers on your nonprofit’s Facebook page is completing all of your information in the “About” section. This makes your page easier to find for users, as well as increases your credibility and Google search engine rankings. Be sure to include any and all pertinent information, including address, phone number, location, mission statement and even your story. Check out Firespring’s own example here to see what a thorough “About” section can look like.
- Add a “Like” button to your blog.
If your nonprofit organization has an active website or blog, utilize it to your advantage in capturing Facebook followers. Add a Facebook “Like” button to your blog posts using a Facebook Page Plugin. This is a great strategy for gaining likes from already loyal constituents, without being too invasive or asking for too much on their part. Having a single-step process makes it as simple as possible for website visitors.
- Promote your page via email.
Does your NPO already have a substantial email marketing list compiled? Use it to help boost your Facebook page. In your next newsletter, include a call to action encouraging constituents to like and follow your Facebook page. Be sure to emphasize the value in liking the page—including updates from the organization, valuable content articles and upcoming events. More than likely, constituents will feel excited to give it a like.
- Share images and video in your content.
You might have heard by now: Content is king. And one of the best ways to increase your Facebook page followers is by sharing valuable content, such as images and video. Images and video are the most powerful forms of content on social media sites, and a great way to increase your Facebook followers. According to Social Media Examiner, photos on Facebook generate an 87% interaction rate from followers, while videos bring in more than 8 billion average daily views. If you want to engage with page followers, images and video are the best way to do it.
- Engage with others.
Speaking of engagement, no one wants to like a page just to see them post random, inapplicable stuff all the time. Engaging with followers, constituents and fellow pages on Facebook is necessary for increasing your followers. Regularly leaving thoughtful, interesting or even funny comments or responses with others on your Facebook page is a great way to show more of your brand’s personality, and earn more likes.
- Use hashtags.
You may think hashtags are more of a “Twitter thing,” and they are; however, they are gaining more traction on Facebook as well. Hashtags are a way to connect similar ideas and topics across different profiles, pages and public groups. By using a hashtag, you can ensure your content is seen by people who might not necessarily follow your page. Facebook users who scroll through similar hashtags may happen upon your post, then choose to like the nonprofit’s page from there. Learn more about hashtags by checking out our article here.
- Post at optimal times.
Turns out, when you post is almost as important to consider as what you post. According to CoSchedule, the best time to post on Facebook is between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. on days late into the week and on the weekends. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will garner anywhere from 18–32% higher engagement than Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. And While posting at 3:00 in the afternoon will gain the most clicks, 1:00 tends to earn the most shares. Do your research on the best times to post on Facebook, and make sure to schedule content during those times to get more views, engagement and followers.
- Connect to an Instagram account.
If your nonprofit does not have an Instagram account yet, it may be time to invest in one. Instagram and Facebook are highly connected, and by linking the two, your organization can appear more credible, and gain more followers on two different platforms through similar posts. Not sure where to start? Check out our article on 6 Ways You Can Use Instagram to Further Your Mission.
- Utilize Facebook Live.
One new feature Facebook introduced just in 2016 is Facebook Live. This allows all public pages and personal profiles to live-stream video content to their followers. Facebook Live is incredibly valuable in increasing page likes. Not only do current followers get notifications directly on their phone when a page goes live, but they can also interact with the live video in real time—liking, showing expressions and commenting on the video literally as it is being made. See our article on Using Facebook Live to Grow Your Cause to get ideas on what to post and how it can help grow your nonprofit.
- Consider Facebook Ads.
Finally, consider utilizing Facebook Ads to increase your page followers. According to Invespcro, 92% of social marketers use Facebook for advertising. On average, these see an increase of 23% on post engagement, 20% on website clicks and 13% on page likes. Facebook Ads are paid advertisements by your nonprofit to Facebook users. The greatest component in utilizing Facebook Ads is considering the return on investment—your page likes and fundraising efforts will likely increase, but will it be worth the investment?
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