A lot of companies and organizations are merely concerned with getting people to become a fan 
of their pages on Facebook – but what does this really accomplish? Sure, you can tell your boss that your page just hit a bajillion fans and he can present it to investors and they can think that you have accomplished an amazing goal – or – you could live in a place called earth and realize that if you aren’t doing anything to interact with those fans then that fan count is little more than a number.
1. Size Doesn’t Matter
It doesn’t matter if your page has 50 fans or 50,000 fans. What really matters is how loyal and active they are. Creating a loyal fan is like having a good marriage. It doesn’t just “happen”. You have to work at it.
2. Would YOU Share This?
It’s a Page Admin’s job to create unique and interesting content that users will WANT to read, comment on and share. Ask yourself “why would anyone want to share this?” before posting anything, and you’ll be able to edit out a lot of uninteresting content right away. Post audience-relevant content on a regular basis. This could be a news story that your fans would find interesting or you could create your own content – like a discussion topic or photo – to get people chatting on your wall. The goal is to create interaction which in turn creates a sense of ownership, community and loyalty.
3. Ask questions, you could learn something.
Asking questions is a great way to not only encourage engagement, but to get some valuable feedback from your fans at the same time. Check out the new “Questions” feature that Facebook recently released. Facebook Questions allows you to create a “poll” where fans could vote and invite their friends to vote also. Facebook Questions not only helps admins keep their fans engaged, but also has the potential to grow the fanbase.
4. Tangents are Terrible
Keep the content relevant to your fans! If your page is about pancakes, then your fans aren’t going to want to hear about some picture that a satellite took in space (unless that picture is of space pancakes, that would definitely interest the pancake fans). By offering relevant content, your fans will start coming to you for information; the goal is to become a respected news outlet for your particular niche.
5. Build it and They will Come (Back)
Give your fans new ways to interact with your page besides the wall. Having a custom tab containing upcoming events, coupons, polls, contests and sweepstakes, Google Maps and/or images can greatly increase the amount of time your fans will spend on your page. Again, keep it relevant to your audience.
If you know a bit about iFrames then you could even put your entire website (or at least a 520 pixel-wide version of it) up on a tab so when your fans want to find out more information about your business or organization they already have it right there on Facebook.
6. It’s a Conversation
These are all great ways to keep your fans coming back for more, but remember that social media is a 2-way conversation. When your fans post comments or tag your page in a post, respond to it. Don’t neglect the people that like you, they are your #1 asset. Do whatever it takes to keep them happy and they will reciprocate. If you can make them feel special and respected then your fans will love you for a long time.
