I love Facebook! Before I was ever a blogger, I was a facebook junky. I love seeing what everyone’s up to and it’s allowed me to keep tabs on friends and family that, well, I probably wouldn’t just pick up the phone to call on a regular basis. As a blogger, Facebook is an invaluable resource for me. And it’s FREE.
Hopefully you’re reading my tips and finding a few things you can do to make facebook work for you. I wrote about setting up your page and sharing your photos here. Before we move on to Sharing, I just want to restate when you share your posts-SHARE A PHOTO! I did a test, just to verify what I already knew. I shared a link of my Homemade Nutella-just the link with a nice little comment.
Woohoo, 16 people liked it and it was shared by someone one time. I posted this at my prime time-7:30pm.
I scrolled back to when I posted this same post but as a photo with a link in the comments.
Do you see how many likes it got? 133 people liked it. But whats even better is this photo was shared 114 times!!! And this photo isn’t even that great, it was rejected by all the photo sites, but that’s another post.
So now that I’ve convinced you to share photos, it’s time to talk about sharing. Not your posts but other stuff. The cute picture of a puppy, the funny saying, another page’s post. Reminder, this is what works for me, so don’t shoot me. Take the position of your reader. Why did they come to like your page in the first place? Probably because of the delicious food you post. (or whatever your blog is about) After liking a zillion other pages to make sure they’d come “like” me back, I now had a wall full of posts. I love when my food friends share more food. It’s how I get ideas, find more friends and when I go visit, I know that we have something in common. Sharing things on your page just to fill space will annoy your readers. Sharing things on your page that have no relevance to what your page is about will annoy your readers. I’m a food blog, so if I start sharing photos about dinosaurs, I’m going to annoy my readers, and after a while they will probably start to “unlike” me.
Decide what you are about and stick with it. I’m a sweet, nothing healthy about me, food blog. So guess what I try to share with my readers. Sweet, yummy treats! That’s what my readers expect. This doesn’t mean don’t ever share the cute photo of your kids on the first day of school, just don’t make it an everyday habit unless you blog about kids. This also doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share the cute sayings. Just know that it’s what the readers will learn to expect from you.
Sweet Tea and Cornbread is always sharing cute photos and sayings
It works for her. And posts like this are great for getting your page name out there. Two things I want to note on this post. First, it won’t take people to her blog, just her facebook page. And second, Make sure when you share a photo, if you did not take the picture then don’t share it with out sharing the love (photo credit.)
When I share on Facebook I try to share photos that will either take the reader to my blog or to someone else’s blog. There is so much good stuff out there, I don’t need to use “filler” to clog up my wall and my reader’s.
Think of it as paying it forward. Find something someone else has posted
In your comments tag the page you got it from (to tag on facebook, use the @ sign then with no spaces type in the page name, @the cooking actress) say something nice and hit the share button. Also when I share I leave a comment on the original post “this is so yummy I just have to share” or something like that. I honestly love this Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake from the Cooking Actress so I’m pretty sure my readers will too. And Kayla put the link to her post in her comments so my readers can either go to her facebook page (because I tagged her) or go straight to the coffee cake post. Win, win.
We used to be able to do “shout outs” on Facebook. you know how those went
These used to be great when we could see who “tagged” us. But honestly, I don’t think most fans took the time to go like all my friends. Those likes and comments were from the pages I tagged. I’m kinda glad facebook took the tagging notification away from us. It has cut down on these type of posts. If you want me to like someone’s page, show me why I should. Share a photo from the page with a tag and nice comment in the caption.
Here’s why you should share other pages yummy stuff. We can still see who is sharing from our pages. And we check it, at least I do. And if you’re a nice person, you’ll probably return the favor. Pay it forward, Share it first! Remember that Nutella up above?
My Imperfect Kitchen shared it and 20 more people shared it from her post!
Now I do occasionally do a mini shout out but hopefully my readers don’t get annoyed by it. I disguise it. Don’t cut out the middle man you found the post from.
There’s a trend on facebook, having a party on your page. There’s usually a theme. Above, you see Mom, What’s for Dinner? was having a dessert party. Everyone heads over to her page and shares a dessert photo with the link and then Mom will share the posts with her fans. Big win for all of us going to the party. But pay it back. Don’t just post and run. If it’s good enough for you to share to them, then share it back. I try to find something posted by someone else at the party and share it with my fans, tagging both the host of the party and the owner of what I’m sharing. In this case it was The Fountain Avenue Kitchen‘s Blueberry Crisp.
Facebook Parties can be huge for both the host and the attendees. But they are a ton of work for the host. Sumptuous Spoonfuls Did an A-Z challenge about a month ago. Each Day she would take the letter of the day, choose an ingredient, give the health benefits of it then invite everyone to share their appropriate photos and links on her page. She then shared them with all her readers. Any time I was able to participate, my likes would go nuts. I’ll never be able to pay Ann back for all the good she brought to me but any time I can share something of hers, that I know my readers will like, I try to. I loved this Chocolate Oatmeal she posted for Xocolatl (Chocolate.) Ann’s starting a new party series on Facebook. Fit and Fun Fridays. I can’t wait to see everything that gets shared from that party!
I say this about blogging and I’ll say it about facebook. Your readers have already found you! Share the love and help them find others through sharing on facebook, links on your blog posts. It will come back to you eventually. Just like growing your blog takes time, so does developing social media. It won’t happen over night but it will happen. And the more your Facebook page grows, the more people will see your photo with a link, from your blog, and click over to read more.
Think quality not quantity. Remember to keep your readers in mind. After all, I’m a blogger but I’m also a reader, aren’t you? How do you use Facebook?
You can find my posts on Pinterest here- How I use Pinterest and How I Pin. Next week, we’ll start on Twitter and since I’m such a twit that I don’t know how to Tweet, I’ve asked my friend Carla from Chocolate Moosey to hold our hands in the land of Twitter.
I’m linking up at some of these great parties.
Cherry says
Visiting from Saturday Show & Tell – really appreciate your input about facebook sharing, and also a previous post of yours that I read now, about setting up a facebook page for your blog. I have not done that yet, and not sure my blog is “big” enough for that. But am considering it now, after reading your posts – thanks so much for sharing your advice and tips! I will be back …
Joan Hayes says
Cherry, so glad I could help. When you’re ready to pop over to the Facebook world, just start slow. It takes time but it can be so rewarding, just like blogging.
Ally says
Joan…this is fabulous…thank you for all the work that went into this post! Our FB foodie family is beyond a huge part of my life! xo ally
Joan Hayes says
Thanks sweet Ally, I know what you mean, I love my foodie friends! XOXO
Nettie Moore says
This is a wonderful post, wow, you are amazing sharing all of this incredible information! I learned so much, wish I had this a year ago, LOL! Love you Joan!
Nettie
Joan Hayes says
Thanks Nettie, me too, just think if we knew all this when we first started! Big hugs XOXO
Doreen Simpson says
Joan, I Love you, even I have learnt a trick or two. Thanks my lovely for this wonderful blog xxx Dor @La Difference Catering
Joan Hayes says
Awww Dor, love and hugs right back at ya! I know I wouldn’t be anything with out the support of my wonderful friends!
The Cooking Actress says
Love these posts–and it’s so sweet that you used me as an example 😀 Made my day 🙂 🙂
Joan Hayes says
Gotta share what I love! So glad I can help others with these posts!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Such great tips, Joan! Thanks for sharing your FB knowledge with us all :).
Joan Hayes says
My pleasure Laura!
Tulip TrueAim says
I am so excited that I found this post. I was wondering about sharing other people’s pictures on Facebook. Some people said that you should only share photos that are your own because of Copyright issues. I think I will try this today by tagging the page of the photo owner that way they get credit. Thanks!
The Cooking Actress says
It’s not exactly sharing other people’s photos so much as if they share the photo on their own fb you can then click the “share” button and tag them. It is definitely still not OK to put them on other stuff, etc. And definitely not to copy & paste recipes. 🙂
Joan Hayes says
Tulip, hitting the share button below someones photo on Facebook is the easiest way to share anything on facebook. Then there’s never any doubt that it’s ok to share. Facebook will automatically tag the photo with the owner like it shows above the blueberry crisp photo here.
I would never recommend saving a photo from facebook (or anywhere else on the internet) to your computer and then uploading it to facebook like it belongs to you. The work does belong to someone else and they deserve the credit. There are sites out there YoureCards is one, where I think you can create cute sayings that you can share. But honestly, there is so much already out there and sharing is a great way to make new friends when you do it the right way.
Christy@SweetandSavoring says
This is sosososososososooooo helpful! I am a new blogger with a new FB page, fairly new Pinterest, and brand new Twitter account- and I could definitely use all the advice I can get 🙂 I’ve been trying to post, share, comment and like as much as possible, but it’s so easy to get carried away and “greedy”, you know what I mean? “What, only 6 people liked this? But that Page has 200 likes on their dessert photo!” Ha- perspective and patience are in order 🙂
Anyway, thank you so much! You’ll be hearing more from me!
Joan Hayes says
Christy, just be patient and don’t, don’t compare your page to others. Share what you love, give credit and the likes will come. Also if someone makes a comment on something you post, be sure to reply with their name tagged. They’ll see you responded and become a loyal follower.
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says
This is such a great post, Joan! I am slowly learning all this 🙂
Joan Hayes says
Jamie, there is so much out there in social media, I know I’ll never figure it all out, lol. Just glad I can share the little I’ve figured out.
Heidi says
Love this post! Such great insight (especially for all of us newbies) Btw, I found you thru Nettie’s share (exactly the point, right?!) Off to share on our fb page!
Joan Hayes says
Love it!
Ann says
This is a well-written, thoughtful and helpful post, Joan. Thank you very much for mentioning The Fountain Avenue Kitchen. As a fellow twit, I am so glad to know that I can check back in next week and finally figure out the world of Twitter! You’re the best!
Joan Hayes says
Thanks Ann, I can’t wait for the twitter post either!
Erin {Lemon Sugar} says
Great post! 🙂 I’m a Facebook junkie too, it’s hard for me to break away and remember that there ARE other social media outlets.
Joan Hayes says
Erin, I’m trying to broaden my reach but Facebook was just easy for me to use since I was already a junkie. Glad I’m not the only one. Maybe we can start meetings (on FB of course) for other addicts 🙂
Sue Harris says
Thank you..a fantastic article, an interesting read and some good pointers! Lots to learn for sure!
Sue jams’n’pans
Joan Hayes says
Thanks Sue, I think we’ll always be learning new things with facebook!
carol says
Fabulous post! Informative, beautifully written and your warmth and sense of humor shines through.
I so enjoy the remarkable fellowship, creativity and mutual support of our amazing foodie community. Such great people/pages
XOXOX Carol (Pampered Chef Consultant Carol’s Corner)
Joan Hayes says
Thank you Carol. Food people are truly some of the best people I know. Hugs!
Jana@Transformations From the Heart says
I’m so new to Facebook that I need all the help I can get. Enjoyed reading your tips. I’ll have to come back for your “tweet” post, I’m such a newb and have no idea what I doing there. :0)
Joan Hayes says
Jana, I hope some of these tips help. I can’t wait for the twitter post. I have an account but no clue on what to do there. We’ll learn together.
Kelly - Two Kids Cooking and More says
Love this! I’ve really been trying to increase interaction with my readers on Facebook…and get them to our site too…I’m gonna start posting photos instead of just links to new posts. I already share lots of other bloggers posts if I think my readers will like them.
Thanks for these great tips!
Radhika says
Very good article. Sure this would help a lot of beginners. earlier I too used to just share the links but sharing the photos have made a tremendous difference.
kellisretrokitchenarts says
Great article! I’ve been following all your educational posts – well I just read everything you post – but these have been particularly helpful! I love it when you share other posters recipes etc… I trust your judgment and have always found great bloggers. That homemade nutella – I shared it AND pinned it where it was repinned a ton!! Love your stuff – ALL of it!
CJ - Food Stories says
Thanks so much for sharing this information … I’m fairly new to the social media world and it can be so overwhelming, at times 🙂
Daphne Bryson says
Hello Joan, I have just come across your blog via Natasha in Oz and I’m so glad I did. As a new blogger the information you are sharing is fabulous. I was thinking of starting a facebook page for my blog, but really wasn’t sure. You have convinced me. I am going to be following you from now on. Thank you so very much for sharing this information. I really appreciate it. Best Wishes Daphne