Increasing the number of followers on Facebook requires a combination of strategies that focus on engaging your target audience, providing valuable content, and promoting your page effectively.

How to build up your following on Facebook

Here are some effective steps to help you grow your Facebook followers:

Optimize Your Page – Start with the basics.  Did you complete all the necessary information in your Facebook page’s “About” section?  Consider this a free outline.  Use a clear profile picture and cover photo that represent your brand or message, and the image you want to convey.  Try to avoid leaving the same image year after year. 

Create High-Quality Content – Find a balance between creating good content and delaying the creation of any content.  In other words, don’t let perfection be the enemy of action.  The key here is to start out making your content accdording to the 3 C’s:  Clean, Clear and Concise.  Long verbose paragraphs about “considering this” or “remember to do that” tend to work well for clickbait articles, but do not sit well with readers who are genuinely trying to learn something about your topic.  Are you posting for clicks (there is nothing wrong with that), or are you posting to build a community? 

A well-written article – without mistakes or grammatical errors – is already “high quality”.  Over time you can further enhance the quality of your work by ensuring that there is a storyline in your prose and by improving your skills as a writer, or videographer, or graphics artist, depending on your platform of choice.  The most important step, however, is to take one.

Having said that, “remember that” sharing valuable, engaging, and relevant content that resonates with your target audience will be key to better engagement.  “Consider” inclusion of informative posts, entertaining videos, inspiring stories, and eye-catching visuals.

Post Consistently – This point cannot be emphasized enough, and beyond quality and depth of content, is the most important factor in gaining the attention of search engines and platform algorithms, which are ultimately the key to ensuring that that your content is made visible in the vast universe of the internet.  Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and attract new followers. Consistency shows that your page is active, and that you regularly provide your audience with real value over time.  Your audience is always paying – hopefully they will pay you with money, but they always pay you with their time.  The better the content, the more you will earn.

Know Your Audience – Understand your target audience’s preferences, interests, and pain points. Tailor your content to address their needs and preferences.  Think in terms of solving problems.  Are you posting an article for the sake of clicks?  Is that the only problem you are trying to solve?  Think again.  What does your audience need?  What problem are you solving for them? 

Utilize Different Content Formats – With the basics of a consistent theme in place, venture beyond the standard format to experiment.  With the same “high quality” (3 C’s) approach, include images, videos, infographics, polls, live streams, and side stories. Diverse content keeps your audience engaged and interested.

Engage with Your Audience – Viewer comments are gold.  They indicate an advanced reaction, beyond the usual likes and emojis.  If someone takes the effort to write something, it means you have captured their attention.  Reward that attention by regularly responding to comments on your posts and engage in conversations.  When followers feel heard and valued, they are more likely to stay engaged and recommend your page to others.

Host Contests and Giveaways – Organize fun and creative contests or giveaways that require users to engage with your page. This can help increase visibility and attract new followers.  Keep it simple and informal.  Formal contests have rules and regulations attached to them.  False promises will give you many headaches in the future.  Future articles on this site will address giveaways and provide some guidelines.  The key to success is to engage your audience in a fun way, and if you are going to give something away for free, ensure the rules are clear and that there is only one winner. 

Promote User-Generated Content (UGC) – Encourage your existing followers to create content related to your brand and to tag your page.  Reposting UGC not only shows appreciation but also exposes your page to the creators’ followers.

Collaborate with Influencers – Partner with influencers or individuals in your industry who have a strong following.  While influencer endorsement can be expensive, it can also bring a significant boost to attention and notoriety. 

Run Facebook Ads – Invest in Facebook ads to target specific demographics that align with your target audience. Use engaging ad creatives and compelling copy to encourage users to follow your page.

Cross-Promote on Other Platforms – Promote your Facebook page on your other social media platforms, website, email signature, and any other communication channels you use.

Use Facebook Insights – Monitor Facebook Insights to understand which posts perform well and gain insights into your audience’s behavior. Adjust your content strategy based on these insights.

Join Relevant Groups – Participate in relevant Facebook groups to establish yourself as an authority and share valuable insights.  Postings to these forums can have an amazing impact on the number of followers and growth in connections because you are addressing an already-captive audience.  Follow the group’s rules and avoid spamming, because these will never engender respect.  Genuinely add value, and the payment (in their time and money) will follow. 

Share Behind-the-Scenes Content – Offer glimpses of your company culture, team members, and behind-the-scenes processes. This personal touch can humanize your brand and connect with your audience.

Promote Exclusive Offers – Offer exclusive discounts, promotions, or content to your Facebook followers. This incentive can encourage people to follow your page to access these benefits.

Keep doing these on a regular basis, and over time, your skill and efficiency will improve.  Growing your Facebook followers takes time, patience, and consistent effort. Focus on building genuine relationships with your audience, delivering value, and maintaining an engaging online presence. As you build trust and a strong community, your follower count is likely to increase naturally.