As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you’re always looking for new ways to bring in customers and grow your brand. And what better way to do that than by leveraging the power of social media? Facebook, in particular, is a great platform for driving referral traffic. By leveraging referrals from Facebook, you can reach a large audience while also driving targeted traffic that is more likely to convert. Here’s how you can use Facebook to your advantage.
What Is Referral Traffic?
First, let’s start with what exactly referral traffic is. Business referrals happen when someone in recommends your business to someone who was previously unfamiliar with your services. While word-of-mouth remains one of the best ways to achieve this for your business, you should not underestimate the power of social media.
In fact, social media sites are some of the most valuable sources of referral traffic today. Studies show that up to 89% of marketers say social media generates more exposure for their company. Additionally, efforts on some of the most popular platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram helped to increase traffic for 75% of organizations. However, a majority of that traffic comes from Facebook!
Using Facebook to Drive Referrals
Clearly, social media platforms are valuable tools to help you get more exposure for your business and ultimately end up with more leads and even more sales. So how can you use Facebook to its fullest potential in driving referral traffic? Here are some of our best tips!
Post Unique Content
If you want people to share your content, you need to give them a reason to do so. That means creating unique, original content that appeals to your target audience. Think about what kinds of things your target audience would be interested in reading or watching, and create content accordingly. If you’re struggling with what type of content to create, feel free to look at your competitors. You can use their posts as inspiration – just be sure you do not copy them directly. Always put your own spin on the information!
Create Shareable Content
When creating content for Facebook (or any other platform), it’s important to create content that is shareable. This means that your content should be interesting, informative, and entertaining. If your content is shareable, then people will be more likely to share it with their networks, which will help increase referral traffic to your website. When you’re creating content, think about why someone would want to share it with their friends or followers. If you can’t immediately come up with an answer, you might want to try something else.
Make It Visual
Since creating shareable content is so important, knowing what formats people share the most is vital. In short, people are more likely to share visual content than text-based content. So if you want people to share your Facebook posts, make sure they’re visually appealing. Use high-quality images and videos, and avoid using too much text. Remember, people are scrolling through their newsfeeds quickly, so you want to make sure your content catches their eye.
Use Calls to Action
If you want people to share your content, you need to tell them to do it! Include a call to action in every post, encouraging people to share with their friends and followers. The more specific you are with your call to action, the better results you’ll see. For example, instead of simply saying “share this post,” try something like “share this post if you’re looking for a new job.”
Leverage Social Proof
Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to take action if they see that others have taken the same action. When it comes to referral traffic, social proof can be used in a few different ways. For example, you can post testimonials from satisfied customers or showcase how many people have shared your content. Don’t be afraid to ask previous customers to leave a review of your business. Many people are willing to do so – you just have to ask them! And when you do get that valuable review, make sure you say thank you. You can send them an email, a private message, or leave a comment thanking them for taking the time to tell others about your service.
Take Advantage of Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a great way to connect with like-minded people and get your content in front of a whole new audience. Find groups that align with your target audience and start sharing your best stuff! Just make sure you’re not spamming the group members. You should only share relevant content that will be of interest to them.
Start Seeing More Referrals Today
By following these simple tips, you can start using Facebook to drive referrals for your business or website. The leads you receive from referrals are much more likely to convert than cold leads, making them much more valuable. When you decide to use Facebook to gain those referrals, remember that unique and visually appealing content is key! And don’t forget to include a call to action telling people exactly what you want them to do—which is sharing your content with their friends and followers.