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Turn your Facebook fans into paying customers!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Posted inBUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

Hey you :)

You use Facebook, right? I thought so :).

But do you use it for your business? Do you use it to gain new customers, or is it just for show?

Today’s episode is all about turning Facebook Fans into actual, paying customers! I think you’re gonna like it – don’t miss out!

Click here to tweet: “Remember – you want to CONNECT because that’s what builds trust, and through TRUST comes purchase.” – @alexbeadon 

Okay – so in the comment section below I want to know what YOUR tips are for creating conversation and engagement on your Facebook page – what HAS worked for you and your business, and what HASN’T! Give it to us!

Big hugs
xoxo

 

 

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Posted inBUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

  • http://www.paperlotusphotography.com Emma

    Hey Alex, thanks so much for answering my question today! I got really excited when I read the title of today’s Chatty Tuesday!

    Engagement is something I’ve been trying to improve for a while, so I really appreciate your thoughts. It seems to me that, yes I do have friends and family as fans, but they have now been overtaken by other fans I’ve picked up along the way, and it seems as though a lot of these fans I now have are other photographers. And it’s largely (not not entirely) the other photogs who comment and like.

    This is definitely helpful – It’s great to receive feedback from other photos, but I also want feedback from customers/potential customers.

    I really like your tip of talking about shared interests with your fans – such as your top 10 tips/wishlist on your area of speciality.

    I work full time so I do find it difficult to have enough time to post frequently, but I will look again at what I think my target audience would want to read about.

    Again, thanks for answering my question, it has been hugely helpful!

    Big hugs
    Emma xxx

  • Kristin

    Hi Alex! I love watching your Chatty Tuesday videos, and this one is my favorite! I have been having some troubles gaining more clients lately (my likes keep going up, but my session rate has tanked). I will have to try your tips out, and see how it goes.

    I do have one tip myself: One thing I’ve noticed is the time of day when I post things. At certain times, nobody will see it (such as right now; currently it’s almost 2AM PST). A good time for me to post a status is in the middle of the day, or late afternoon, depending on my client base that I’m aiming for. For example, students get out of class at a certain time, so I’ll try to post around then. And I will share photos a couple of times after I’ve posted them, because now facebook only allows a small percentage of your fan base to see your posts unless they specifically highlight that they want to see your posts all the time. Hope this helps some!

    Thank you again for these videos! :)

  • http://www.annahardy.co.uk Anna

    This is great Alex – so helpful. Thank you so much!

  • Jolene

    I just wanted to tell you I love watching your videos and readying your posts!! Thank you again for sharing your knowledge!!
    –J

  • https://www.facebook.com/racheljoyphotos?ref=hl Rachel

    Good words alex! You look really great today too! I love your hair up like that :)

    Cheers’

  • http://www.ashleysloggett.ca Ashley

    Alex!

    This week’s Chatty Tuesday vid was by FAR one of your most helpful videos yet… So THANKS! You really took all the thoughts I had floating around in my head and helped bring clarity and application to them.

    Thanks for your continuing inspiration, stay wonderful!

    XO

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Kristin!

    I’m so happy you enjoyed today’s video – been hearing from lots of people that it’s a favourite, which is always great news – so THANKS :)!

    Yes, the time of day that you post definitely matters – you are so right! Thanks for sharing that awesome tip! Another tip that you reminded me of is that if you post a single photo it is much more likely to get viewed than if you post an album. I don’t know the logistics of this, or why it is, but for my page it is most definitely true.

    Rock on, girl!
    Big hugs
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Anna!

    Glad you found it helpful, thanks for stopping by! :)

    Big hugs!
    xoxo

  • http://www.MaryBasnight.com Mary Basnight

    Hi Alex. Your tips are right on the money. One option I give my clients is to allow me to post an artistic edit of their images on their Facebook page. Their friends seem to feel more comfortable chatting up the images on their friends page, tagging and passing them around then they are when viewed on my page.

    Thanks again for the fabulous tips today.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Emmmmmaaa!

    I wish I had known it was you, would have LOVED to do a “Facebook Page Critique”! If you’d be up for it, let me know – I think it would make for a great Chatty Tuesday vid!

    Also, thanks for the question – it came at exactly the right time and as soon as I saw it I scrapped my original idea for this week because I was too excited to leave this awesome question for another week! Love that you know how important Facebook is for business, and LOVE that you’re not ignoring your lack of engagement and passing off the blame! You rock! I’m so happy this video helped you but think a critique would REALLY help you and lots others, so if you’re up for it let me know :)

    HUGE hugs & Rock on!
    xoxo

  • http://www.strikingimages.ie Cormac

    Hey Alex,

    Just one thing to point out. You cannot tag people in photographs on your business page unless you have become a friend on your personal page. They can tag themselves but unless you are a friend, you cannot.

    Other than that, excellent tips in this one and thanks for sharing my blog post about the power of photography last week.

    Lastly, can I ask what you use to shoot and edit your videos?

    Thanks in advance

    Cormac
    (Dublin, Ireland)

    http://www.strikingimages.ie
    http://www.facebook.com/strikingimagesphotography

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Cormac!

    You are 100% right, and this is something I’ve spoken to many photographers about and it seems pretty split down the middle when it comes to whether or not photographers are comfortable requesting the friendship of their customers. I think it varies depending on who you are photographing. I mainly photograph young women who are totally cool with adding me as a friend, which is great for me as it allows me to then tag them in the photos on my page! :)

    And yes, I shoot my videos with Canon 5d mark ii, 50mm 1.4 lens and I’m in the process of finding a microphone to improve sound quality, and I edit my videos with Final Cut Pro. I hope that helps!

    Big hugs
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Mary!

    I LOVE this idea! Thanks so much for sharing it with us! I hope people read it and take your advice!

    Big hugs
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Ashley!

    Thank you so much for coming to the blog and leaving this lovely message! I was SO EXCITED to make this video, because Facebook is one of my favourite subjects :) so I’m really happy it paid off and that you enjoyed it so much!

    Big hugs!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Jolene!

    Thank YOU for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment!

    Big hugs
    xoxo

  • http://www.tmdphotos.com Tonya

    Love love todays Video I watch every Tuseday! I love the Wish list I am going to do a senior Girl Fashon wish list and also a Sports Wish list for senior Boys! You are awesome!

  • http://www.fotofroggy.com Jenna

    Thank you so so much for this Chatty Tuesday Alex! I have been asking myself the same thing for some time now, what am I doing wrong with my Facebook page??
    I am ashamed to admit that I fell into the trap of probably posting too many promotions and not enough everything else. But no more! I will definitely focus on engaging my fans with questions and lists and links to things that I enjoy.

    I have run into the issue that I cannot tag my clients in their photos unless they are my friends. So when I deliver their final photos, I include a note that they are welcome to tag themselves, and then I try to get all their photos posted the same day or soon after. This has worked out really well for a wedding I did, as the bride not only tagged herself, but her entire wedding party! It was fantastic exposure for me!

    But here is another problem I have experienced:
    A close friend modeled for me not too long ago, so I posted the photos and tagged him. However, one of his friends took the opportunity to tease and poke fun at him in the comments. It was nothing mean-spirited, and my friend was not bothered by it. But I’m afraid it might be inappropriate banter for my business page and also makes my photo seem less professional. This person is just seeing it as a photo of their friend where they can comment however they like, and not something that links to my professional business. Should I remove comments like this? Is it possible to avoid this happening again? I would love some feedback!!

    Thanks again for your blogpost Alex, its definitely one of my favorites and most helpful so far!

    *jenna*;j

    http://www.facebook.com/Fotofroggy

  • http://www.facebook.com/pages/JMK-Photography/23644612313486 jessica

    Hi Alex..!
    Love your Chatty Tuesdays… I always learn something!
    I have one tip that I have used to engage fans, I will take pictures of food recipes and share them on my page… for instance I took pretty pictures of apples and the ingredients to make “Apple Dip” and also posted the recipe. Fans got to look at pretty pictures and get a recipe. I usually photograph children and families … but will also randomly post pictures of things I like and have around my house… tea-cups, flowers from my garden ect. I have also gone on “Ghetto Tours” in Detroit and will post pictures from those… something different for them to look at..
    Keep up the good work..!!

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Tonya!

    I’m thrilled that you are loving this episode and that you’ll be able to use the wish list ideas! Let me know how it goes :)

    Big hugs!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Jenna!

    I think that we all fall into that trap of posting too many promotional posts at one point or another – so don’t feel bad! Promotional posts are GOOD as long as they are mixed with a variety of other non-promotional, brand building posts. I hope that makes sense and that you are able to benefit from the advice!

    I really like what you said about including a note that they are welcome to tag themselves – but what I think would be even more beneficial is if you included a direct call to action.

    “You are welcome to tag yourself in the facebook photos” is much less encouraging than “Tag yourself in the facebook photos today!” Experiment with different word usage and see what has the best effect!

    And the fact that one of your brides tagged the entire wedding party? WOW! Amazing exposure, for sure! Why not tell them that if they want a complementary framed print all they have to do is tag the wedding party – that’s another great incentive for the future!

    Concerning your problem with one of your model’s friends poking fun of him on the facebook page, if it were me I would just delete it. If you feel that it’s possibly harmful to your brand or image I would definitely use the power you have as a page owner and delete the comment, but it’s totally up to you and what you feel comfortable doing! Very tricky situation! Good luck with that!

    Big hugs, Jenna!
    xoxo
    Alex

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Jessica!

    I am thrilled that you love Chatty Tuesdays! YAY :) And I absolutely LOVE your tip – show off your BRILLIANT photography while sharing DELICIOUS recipes? Win win. Love it, love it, love it! Thanks for sharing!

    Big hugs and thanks so much for your comment!
    xoxo

  • http://www.darrenhouse.co.uk Darren House

    Hi Alex

    As always what a great post.

    You always have a fun and interactive way of getting across in a simple and understanding way.

    Thanks for the great post and looking forward to some more like this.

    I have just buffered this to share on all my social media.

    Darren House Photographer & Marketeer
    @DarrenHouse_

  • Tarah

    Omg, such a genius idea to add your Facebook Page link (and website) in the signature for your email! Thank you!! :)

  • http://www.greenorchidimages.com DeAnna

    Thank you so much for exploring this topic!
    One person commented that the posts must be a certain times of the day to reach the correct audience and I could not agree more. TO this I would like to add that all the night owls like myself will find it tough to get those posts in but facebook has a lovely little schedule feature. Before adding a post, just click the schedule button and pick the right time of day. This also works great when you are going to be busy and will not be able to reach out to your clients.

    I can’t thank you enough for all the advice given in your videos. Too many photographers are unwilling to share for fear you might steal their business and I think it is wonderful that you are so open and honest about what has worked for you and what has not.
    You are truly an inspiration!

    DeAnna
    http://www.facebook.com/greenorchidimages

  • https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGracePritchettPhotography?book Gracee

    alex! this video is so good! one of my favorites so far. I learned so much from it and can’t wait to put all of this to practice.
    Thank you~
    Gracee

  • http://www.facebook.com/rociodoleophotography Rocio DOleo

    Hi Alex, awesome video as always!

    I know you get a lot of requests but I really hope you can answer the email I sent you a bit ago (about different target markets)

    You’re amazing! Keep up the great work!

  • http://www.asmartartzphotography.co.uk Andrea Moorcroft

    Alex/Cormac YOu have talked about what stumps me with my FB page. I cannot tag anyone once i have loaded their photos up. Sometimes even if they have liked my page it still wont allow me to tag them so no-one is seeing the related photos and passing them around. when you say you have to get them to be friends with you, this is obviously different from being liked? How do you best approach this as the personal page that I had to create in order to make a business page is almost a dummy page that I don’t check and doesn’t really relate to me in any way, as I already have a couple of other pages for this use. Any advice would be welcome as this is an area that is letting me down a lot (apart from the fact of having nothing interesting to talk about most of the time!). thanks

  • Christi

    Hi Alex! I really liked this week’s video. I got started right away and started my business Facebook page. I have had a lot of responses! Thanks so much for your advice! I didn’t realize that I was going about it all wrong and with your help I finally understand what exactly to put on my page. I look forward to your next “Chatty Tuesday” video! Keep ‘em coming!