The Do's and Dont's of Promoting Your Business With Social Media

Are you familiar with Facebook business pages? Of course, you are! If you're not, we should probably talk.

There's a reason why commercials and advertisements now direct viewers and readers to their fan pages. It's all about client engagement and finding new ways to connect with customers and keep the lines of communication open.

PR deals with multiple media outlets and having a social media presence online will definitely increase your publicity and promotions efforts. When it comes to getting people (customers) to "like" you, there's no secret recipe. People gravitate toward solid businesses they're familiar with and loyal to, and small businesses can create that same loyalty amongst their fans.

We asked our Facebook friends and Twitter followers their likes and dislikes for Facebook. Below you'll find some practical dos and don'ts.

Do introduce yourself:

Whether you're connecting personally or through your business, give people a reason to "friend, link to or like" you. Let them know who you are.

Do be yourself:

Share your brand's personality and be sure to engage authentically.

Do be consistent:

Facebook is a tool that's only as good and as active as its user. If you're going to have a Facebook business page, your interaction with your followers should occur on a regular basis.

Do experiment:

There is no guarantee on any tactics when it comes to social media. Want to know why? You're engaging with people and people are too complex to simply be figured out. You'll have to be open to trying new things, asking questions and sharing with your clients and customers in new ways. Talk to them and be engaged.

Do be content:

With the fact that everyone is not your customer and focus on providing information for those whom are your customer.

Now for some Don'ts....

Don't sell, sell, sell:

Business is about selling your product or service, however, don't jam it down your customers' throats. It shouldn't be all about you all the time. Yes, even if it is "your" business page. It's about your customers.

Don't ignore your audience:

Pay attention to what's working and what's not working as far as interaction.

Don't get so caught up in numbers:

Try not to focus so much on the number of people liking your business brand and focus on providing quality information and content. Once you're seen as a resource that provides valuable information, your fans will come. Imagine having a business that focuses on cars, however, more than 80 percent of your fans are bicycle riders. The "number" of fans is not as important as the information you're pushing out. Perhaps you'll convert these cyclists with your content. Focus on quality. (Note: Ads and marketing can you help you reach your target on Facebook.)

Don't offend your followers:

Stay tuned into your audience and get an idea of what works for them and your brand. Don't talk race, religion, politics or swear, unless it has some relevance to your brand. These are values-related and may impact your bottom line.

The number one "don't" feedback we received is regarding direct posts on other people's pages. Tagging businesses and people in a relevant posts was a "do", while posting on other people's pages as a "promotional" effort is not always welcome. If you want to post on someone else's Facebook page, it's a good idea to ask permission first. Good luck and Happy Facebooking!