Setting up your business’s social media profile, especially on Facebook, is a pivotal step in establishing your online presence and engaging with your target audience. The first 60 days are crucial for laying a strong foundation, building a follower base, and starting meaningful engagement. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this initial phase successfully.

Week 1-2: Setting the Foundation

1. Create a Content Plan

• Develop a Content Calendar: Outline posts for each day, ensuring a mix of promotional, informational, and engaging content.
• Diverse Content Types: Include images, videos, articles, and infographics to keep your feed varied and interesting.

2. Introduce the Business

• Welcome Post: Kick off with an introduction to your business, its mission, and what followers can expect.
• Team Introductions: Share posts that introduce key team members, adding a personal touch to your business.

3. Initial Engagement

• Invite Targeted Connections: Instead of inviting everyone, focus on friends and acquaintances who fit your target market.
• Join Relevant Groups: Engage with local community groups and share relevant content to increase visibility.

Week 3-4: Building Engagement

1. Consistent Posting

• Daily Posts: Aim to post at least once a day to keep your page active.
• Optimal Timing: Experiment with posting at different times to see when your audience is most active.

2. Interactive Content

• Polls and Questions: Encourage interaction by asking questions or creating polls.
• User-Generated Content: Share content created by your followers, such as reviews or photos.

3. Promotions and Offers

• Exclusive Deals: Offer exclusive promotions to your Facebook followers to encourage sharing and engagement.
• Contests and Giveaways: Run a simple contest to increase visibility and engagement.

Week 5-6: Expanding Reach

1. Engagement with Followers

• Respond to Comments: Always reply to comments and messages promptly to show you value customer interaction.
• Engage with Followers’ Content: Like and comment on your followers’ posts when relevant.

2. Facebook Ads

• Boost Key Posts: Use Facebook Ads to boost high-performing posts to reach a larger audience.
• Targeted Ads: Create targeted ad campaigns to reach specific demographics that align with your business goals.

3. Cross-Promotion

• Collaborate with Other Businesses: Partner with complementary businesses for shout-outs or joint promotions.
• Share on Other Platforms: Cross-promote your Facebook content on other social media platforms and your website.

Week 7-8: Analysing and Adapting

1. Monitor Performance

• Insights Analysis: Regularly review Facebook Insights to track post performance, engagement metrics, and audience demographics.
• Adjust Content Strategy: Based on insights, adjust your content strategy to focus on what works best.

2. Continuous Improvement

• Content Quality: Continuously improve the quality of your content by incorporating feedback and learning from high-engagement posts.
• Stay Updated: Keep up with Facebook’s updates and new features to leverage them for your business.

3. Community Building

• Create a Facebook Group: Consider creating a Facebook Group related to your niche to build a community around your brand.
• Host Live Sessions: Host live Q&A sessions or product demonstrations to engage directly with your audience.

Using Canva to Create Branded Posts

Canva is a powerful tool for creating visually appealing, branded posts for your Facebook page. Here’s how to utilise Canva effectively:

1. Design Consistency

• Brand Kit: Set up a brand kit in Canva with your business colours, fonts, and logos to ensure all posts have a consistent look and feel.
• Templates: Use or create custom templates for different types of posts (e.g., promotions, quotes, product highlights) to save time and maintain uniformity.

2. Content Creation

• Visual Appeal: Use high-quality images, icons, and graphics from Canva’s library to make your posts visually engaging.
• Text Overlays: Add text overlays on images for announcements, tips, or quotes. Ensure the text is readable and matches your brand’s style.
• Animations and Videos: Canva also allows you to create simple animations and video content to make your posts more dynamic.

3. Post Scheduling

• Plan Ahead: Design and schedule posts in advance using Publer, an amazing scheduler that can manage multiple social media channels, saving you a tonne of time. Publer allows you to schedule posts, analyse performance, and collaborate with team members, making it a versatile tool for efficient social media management.

Building Your Audience to 100 Followers

Reaching the first 100 followers is crucial as it unlocks insights and analytics on Facebook, which are vital for refining your strategy. Here’s how to build your audience effectively:

1. Quality Over Quantity

• Targeted Followers: Focus on attracting followers who are genuinely interested in your business. This ensures higher engagement and more valuable insights.
• Avoid Random Invites: Inviting friends and family who aren’t part of your target market can skew your analytics and engagement rates. Your insights should reflect the behaviour of potential customers, not just supportive friends and family.

2. Engaging Content

• Valuable Posts: Share content that provides value to your audience, such as tips, tutorials, industry news, or behind-the-scenes looks at your business.
• Interactive Content: Create posts that encourage interaction, such as polls, quizzes, or contests.

3. Promotions and Collaborations

• Exclusive Offers: Offer exclusive deals or discounts to your Facebook followers to incentivise them to like and share your page.
• Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers or other businesses in your niche to reach a broader audience.

4. Utilise Facebook Features

• Live Videos: Host live sessions to engage directly with your audience and attract new followers.
• Stories: Use Facebook Stories to share timely content and keep your audience engaged.

5. Engage Actively

• Respond to Comments: Always reply to comments on your posts to foster a sense of community.
• Join Conversations: Participate in discussions in relevant Facebook groups and share your expertise.

Why Not Invite Friends and Family If They Aren’t Your Target Market

While it’s tempting to invite friends and family to boost your follower count quickly, it may not be the best strategy if they aren’t your target market. Here’s why:

1. Misleading Insights

• Engagement Metrics: Friends and family might like and comment on your posts out of support rather than genuine interest, leading to misleading engagement metrics.
• Target Audience Behaviour: Your content strategy should be based on the preferences and behaviours of your actual target audience, not just supportive acquaintances.

2. Customer Acquisition

• Real Followers: Building a follower base that consists of potential customers is more beneficial in the long run. These followers are more likely to engage with your content, visit your website, and make purchases.
• Relevance: Friends and family who aren’t interested in your business won’t help spread the word to relevant audiences, whereas true followers will share and recommend your content to like-minded individuals.

3. Cost Efficiency

• Ad Spend: If you’re running paid ads, having non-targeted followers means you’ll be paying for them to see your ads, and they are unlikely to convert. This leads to wasted ad spend and lower return on investment.

4. Brand Perception

• Professionalism: A following that accurately reflects your target market lends more credibility to your brand. It shows that your business has a genuine interest and following in the industry.

The First 60 Days Are Crucial

The first 60 days on social media are crucial for setting the tone and direction of your business’s online presence. By focusing on creating engaging content, building a targeted follower base, and using tools like Canva for consistent branding, you can lay a strong foundation for long-term success. Remember, quality over quantity is key when it comes to followers, and engaging with your audience authentically will help build a loyal community around your brand.

Need help managing your social media strategy? ProfitAbility Virtual Assistance can assist you in crafting and executing a winning social media plan tailored to your business needs. Contact us today to learn how we can help you succeed online!