How do I build a community on my Facebook page?

Building a community anywhere is hard, it’s not like you can force people to like you, your product or your business. Unfortunately you can’t force people to engage with you on your Facebook page either. Here are some practical tips on what you can do to try and get the community happening.

Say thanks

When your “likers” post on your Facebook page wall or comment on one of your posts you should comment below them to say “thanks” or “good idea”, something that shows them that you have recognised that they have commented. If someone is taking the time out to talk to you – you need to acknowledge it. This is how you will build the relationships and hence the community.

Post value on your page

By value I mean posts that add value to your reader’s days, for example a funny video, a relevant article, a daily tip, a link to a free eBook, etc. People will keep coming back if there is something in it for them, and that will help build a community.

Have your own language

By this I don’t mean a whole new language, but use words that are relevant to your audience, for example on the Mocks page I refer to likers as Mockers. They love it, it gives a personal touch, a feel that they are part of a gang, a group – a community. It doesn’t have to be anything massive, for example on my Social Rabbit page I refer to people as social media lovers, but it strikes a cord with them and they think, yes I am and she is talking to me!

Give them what they want

Make your page a hub of information that is what your likers want, if they love watching your videos add the YouTube tab, if they want to upload their own photos add the photo tab so that they can see them and comment on them.

A community is all about the whole, not the individual. You can’t control it, but you can guide it.

Make your Facebook page a community that talks, shares, engages, listens and is somewhere people like to interact and want to be part of. When your community starts responding to questions instead of you that’s when you know you have made it!

Lara Solomon is the founder of Mocks, mobile phone socks www.MyMocks.com, founder of Social Rabbit – your guide in the world of social media www.Facebook.com/SocialRabbit and author of ‘Brand New Day – the Highs & Lows of Starting a Small Business’. Lara’s business LaRoo was the winner of the NSW Telstra Micro-Business Award in 2008.