Facebook is always modifying its network, whether changing the layout, its rules or adding new options. This sometimes frustrates its users, but it also can add greater optimization that enables businesses to reach consumers via their Facebook Business page.
Keeping this is mind, It’s a good practice to educate yourself on the latest changes and updates to the social media network. It’s also a good idea to revisit your Facebook business page to implement any changes, and take a look at what you may have missed when you first set it up. Here are five things to review to make sure your page is optimized to its fullest capacity.
1. Keyword Your Page
This should have been done when you first setup your business page, but if you didn’t–do it now. Use Google’s Keyword Planner to find what word searches people use the most to find your type of business.
Use at least one keyword in your Facebook username (more on this in step 2) as well as one or more in your page categories, topics, and description.
2. Facebook Business Page Username
You may have overlooked the fact that you can change your Facebook Business Page username. The username is the Web address of your page.
Keep in mind, if you change the username, the old name links will not work. You will have to update your links on all your other sites. Also be prepared in case your username is already taken. Come up with several options just in case.
If you’re setting up a new page, you might not be able to create a unique username right away. After you get a few likes and generate some activity on your page, check back to see if you can create one.
When deciding on one, make sure you use a short, keyword-rich name that reflects your business services. Joe’s Pizza would be great to use, but if Joe’s Pizza is located in Pasadena, California, facebook.com/Joespizzapasadena will work better.
How to create a username: Go to the About tab, and choose create or edit username.
3. Freshen Your Cover Art
Take a fresh look at your Facebook Business Page cover photo. Does it still represent your business in the best manner? Is it relevant and designed to attract attention, or did you just plunk in whatever image you had available from your print marketing materials when you first created your page?
Facebook quietly lifted the total ban on text for cover photos long ago, and you can pretty much put whatever you want on your image. The only warning is that it does not misrepresent what your page is about. Calls to action, and contact information are also now allowed.
How to upload or change a cover photo: Your cover photo must be at least 720 pixels wide. Hover your mouse over your cover photo or the blank area at the top of your page if it’s new, and click the camera icon. Click on “Choose From Photos” or “Upload Photo.”
4. Create a Unique History
When many Facebook business pages were created, page admins started posting status updates right away, bypassing options to create a unique history, or story, on your page’s Timeline. Status updates do this to some degree, but by using Milestones, you can create a unique and specific story that will be listed in your About section.
To created a Milestone: Click on the ellipsis to the right of the Share button under your cover photo, and click on Create Milestone.
You can start with the day you launched your company, or another important event. Anytime your business is recognized, or a new partner joins your company, is an occasion for a milestone. Predated milestones will not show up in your recent news feed.
5. Tab It
Another under utilized area on Facebook Business Pages is the tabs section located to the left of your timeline. There are many Facebook apps you can use to market your business effectively. Facebook also offers plenty of useful native tabs for Events, Notes, Offers, Services, and even a Jobs tab, where you can post open positions for your business.
For other tabs, if you use Mailchimp, it integrates with Facebook so you can add a email sign up tab. Shortstack lets you integrate campaign tabs for sweepstakes and other offers, and Woobox is another app that makes it easy to install campaign tabs, as well as embed a website page.
How to add more Facebook native tabs: Click on Settings on the upper right of your page. Click Edit Page from the menu at left, and scroll down until you see the Tabs section. Click Add Tab. You can click and drag your tabs to change their positions.
