An Essential Facebook Checklist for 2014

Welcome to the second post in our 'Essential Social Media Checklist for 2014' series. Read the first post about Twitter here. Now, let's dive right into Facebook. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg (above) as a way for students to keep in contact and browse each other's pictures, The Facebook accumulated 1200 users at Harvard University within 24 hours. 10 years later, after dropping the the at the behest of Sean Parker/Justin Timberlake, it now has over 1.23 billion active users!  Facebook was one of the first trend-setters to enter the social media field, and is still one of the largest social networks on the web today, one your business can ill-afford to ignore.

Pro Tip #1

Social media is all about building a solid relationship with your consumer and immersing them in your brand. To this end be sure to use personal language in your updates. Instead of 'An exclusive sneak peek' it would be 'YOUR exclusive sneak peek'. The reader will feel that you are talking directly to them and not at the 1.23 billion other users.

Pro Tip #2

As with all social platforms, be timely. Readers are more likely to engage with a post if the topic is already on their mind. Timing also matters when it comes to responding to comments. The quicker you respond the more likely readers will engage with you in the future.

Pro Tip #3

Use photos! Facebook is ideal for sharing photos. As evidenced by the VisitScotland post below (we're big fans by the way), really great photography is one of the most engaging posts types there is. Just look at the number of likes and shares that post has received. To promote further engagement, VisitScotland have included a shortened URL in the post to direct readers to a page on their website with more information. You can do the same by using a service such as bit.ly, which will track metrics such as visits to your website via that shared link.

Facebook Checklist

Perfect for: Short posts, sharing links & photos and company info & offers. Profile Picture: 180 x 180 Cover Photo: 851 x 315 What should I post? Access to exclusive information, discounts and promotions, links to your website and your other social sites ie your blog. Be conversational and personal. Use humour where appropriate.  How often should I post? Focus on quality, not quantity. Experiment with post times and keep an eye on engagement.

Happy Facebooking and be sure to Like Parachute on Facebook