It’s true: Facebook is one of the most powerful marketing tools out there. But what’s not so clear is how to make it work for you, your business, and your products. How do you leverage this powerful tool in a way that gets results?
Well, I’ve been around the block a few times, and there’s one thing I know for sure: no two businesses are alike. What works for me might not work for you, but these 25 strategies have worked for many of my clients – and maybe they’ll work for you too!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Tailor ad content to academic interests. |
| 2. Leverage Facebook groups for targeted outreach. |
| 3. Utilize storytelling to make academic content relatable. |
| 4. Incorporate visuals to enhance engagement. |
| 5. Analyze data to refine your academic marketing approach. |
Pause Before You Post
Before you press that “publish” button, make sure all is well in this world of academia, and that your content is ready to be shared with your community. You want to make sure that it:
- has a clear purpose for existing (e.g., raising awareness about a new program)
- is relevant to those who will see it (i.e., students interested in the particular program)
- contains high-quality photos or videos that would interest your target audience
- isn’t just a link without any context use a description in addition to the link text so people know what they’re clicking through on! It’s also good practice not just because it helps Google crawl better but because it makes sense for other humans too; we like knowing what’s coming next.
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Post On Sundays
While some people like to post at different times of the day during the week, there are certain days that are better than others.
Sunday is the best day to post on Facebook. In fact, if you have a choice between posting on a weekday or a weekend, Sunday is the day with the most engagement according to data from Socialbakers.
Let’s take a look at all of these metrics:
- Shares – On average, over 700 million shares occur on Sundays making it the most popular day for sharing content;
- Comments – Almost 6 million comments happen each Sunday;
- Likes – Nearly 1 million likes are given out every Sunday.
Looking for inspiration for your next Facebook ad campaign? Dive into real-world examples of successful strategies and outcomes. Explore our curated collection of Facebook ads case studies that offer valuable insights and ideas.
Post On Tuesdays
Tuesday is the best day to post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. And while you’re at it, be sure to post around 8 a.m., as that’s when most people are online and will see your posts.
If you can’t make that time slot work for you, try posting later in the morning or early afternoon around noon is ideal for getting noticed by potential students who are browsing their newsfeeds during lunchtime or waiting for class to start.
- Monday: Tuesday is better than Monday because people have just gotten back from their weekend and may not be up-to-date on what’s happening in your academic community yet
- Wednesday: Thursday is better than Wednesday because more people are ready to start their work week after Tuesday has passed
Post Three Times A Day
Posting three times a day is a good rule of thumb. This will ensure that you’re in front of your audience at least once a day, and it also means that if you want to post more often than three times per day, it won’t be overkill for the audience.
If you post once or twice per day, some people may not see your posts and think you aren’t active enough on Facebook (and therefore might not trust what you have to say).
And if you post too many times per day like six or seven then people will begin unfollowing you because they don’t want their feed cluttered with all of these messages from one person in such a short amount of time.
Post When Your Fans Are Online
To maximize the effectiveness of your Facebook marketing, it’s important to post when your fans are online. In other words, you want to publish content when they’re most likely to engage with it.
For example:
- When you post at 6 PM on a Wednesday evening (when people are generally home from work and school), there’s a greater chance that they will see the post themselves and engage with it than if you had posted an identical status update at 3 AM on Tuesday morning (when most people aren’t even awake).
- Posting something on Sunday afternoon could elicit more engagement from fans than posting the same thing on Tuesday night because this is typically when people have time for distractions like Facebook.
This also gives marketers time for their messages to spread as well if someone sees something interesting on Monday morning, chances are he/she might not remember about it until Wednesday morning or later in the week.
Are you an academic seeking effective ways to expand your reach through Facebook ads? Discover easy-to-implement strategies tailored to academics in our guide on using Facebook ads to reach more readers and enhance your online presence.
Track Your Audience’s Responses To Your Posts
There are a number of ways to track the audience’s responses to your posts, but the simplest is to create a Google Form and ask people for their email addresses. Then, send them an email asking them to fill out the form with their name, email address, and any comments or questions they might have about your post.
You can even add an optional field for how likely they would be to buy something from you if it were available (called a “likelihood-to-purchase” metric). When someone fills out this form (and adds their data), you can see exactly who has filled it out and when they did so.
This helps you know which posts are more successful than others because those people are more responsive than others.
Focus On Videos, Photos, And Links
Videos, photos, and links are the most effective ways for academics to market themselves on Facebook. These three types of content can showcase your products or services in a way that text updates cannot.
They will help you build relationships with new audiences, but they should also be used sparingly because they can drive away people who don’t want to see them.
Be positive: You have one chance every time someone visits your page to make them feel good about being there; even if you’re only trying to sell something, it’s important not to come across as aggressive or pushy. Instead, focus on being friendly and helpful while keeping the overall tone lighthearted and fun.
Be yourself: The most important thing when marketing yourself online is authenticity if people like what they see from you personally then they’ll be more likely to visit again later (even if just out of curiosity).
If possible try using some kind of avatar instead of just using stock photos; otherwise, try including some personal photos (like ones from vacations) into posts whenever possible because this can help build trustworthiness as well as make things more interesting.
Use Text Updates Sparingly
Facebook updates that have text only are less effective than those with photos, videos, and links.
You’re probably thinking: “But what about the time I wrote a really long status update for my blog post? It got so many likes!”
That may be true; you might have gotten a lot of engagement from your audience by using text in your post. However, it is important to remember that there are more users on Facebook than just academics,
many of them including friends and family members who support your work but aren’t necessarily interested in academic discussions or theories. If you use text updates sparingly (and follow our tips), they can still be very effective!
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Be Positive. Be Yourself. Be Consistent
Now we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty. We’re going to look at some of the specific things you can do on Facebook that can make a real difference in your academic life and career, and how to use them most effectively.
To start, it’s important that you have an open mind and a positive attitude when using Facebook. If something doesn’t work out as planned and it probably won’t don’t let it get you down! Instead, take a step back and try something different (or even completely different). And if one tactic doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to come up with another way around!
Also remember: you are unique; your voice is unique; your thoughts are unique; so don’t be afraid to speak out or share them with others through Facebook! People want their voices heard too; so go ahead and speak up.
Finding What Works For You And Your Business
You’ll have to be patient when you’re starting out, as it will take time for your business to grow and for you to find what works for you. But once you’ve found what works, success will follow!
Your business is unique and so are you! Don’t try to be someone else or copy someone else’s methods. Be yourself; be consistent with the way that YOU do things; stay positive even when things aren’t going well (and they won’t always go well);
be flexible enough to change your strategy if it isn’t working; open-minded enough to consider other options; determined enough not to give up at first failure; ambitious enough to keep trying until something clicks.
Crafting a successful Facebook page involves more than just creating a profile. Dive into expert advice and hidden tricks in our guide on growing your Facebook page to increase engagement, followers, and overall impact.
Conclusion
I hope our list of recommendations has helped you figure out your own personal approach to Facebook. There are many things to consider and numerous ways to get on the wrong track, but if you’re willing to take a little advice and try new things, then we promise you’ll find something that works for your business! Good luck.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore for further insights into Facebook marketing strategies:
Sprout Social – Crafting an Effective Facebook Marketing Strategy
Discover essential tips and tactics for formulating a successful Facebook marketing strategy in this comprehensive guide.
Sextant Marketing – Facebook Marketing Strategies for Higher Education
Learn specialized strategies to leverage Facebook for higher education marketing campaigns and connect with students effectively.
Emeritus – Digital Marketing & Social Media for Business
Explore the intersection of digital marketing, social media, and business growth in this insightful article.
FAQs
How can I optimize my Facebook marketing strategy for better results?
To optimize your Facebook marketing strategy, focus on targeting the right audience, creating engaging content, analyzing insights regularly, and testing different ad formats.
What are some effective ways to engage with followers on Facebook?
Engaging with followers involves responding promptly to comments, asking questions, running polls, sharing user-generated content, and hosting live sessions to interact directly.
How can I measure the success of my Facebook ad campaigns?
You can measure the success of your Facebook ad campaigns by tracking metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, engagement rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS).
Are there specific strategies for using Facebook marketing in higher education?
Absolutely, using Facebook for higher education marketing involves showcasing campus life, sharing success stories, offering valuable resources, and targeting prospective students effectively.
How does social media fit into an overall digital marketing strategy for businesses?
Social media plays a vital role in a comprehensive digital marketing strategy by increasing brand visibility, fostering customer engagement, driving traffic, and enhancing overall online presence.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.