Posted May 31, 2011 @ 07:29 AM
Facebook Basics, our webinar presented Thursday by GateHouse national trainer Sarah Corbitt, was peppered by a lot of great questions by participants. Here's a link to download the PowerPoint.
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Facebook is driving referrals for GateHouse news organizations, with a 149 percent increase year over year from April 2010 to April 2011. That means readers are clicking on links to get to your website to reader your stories.
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To build your Facebook fan base, promote your Facebook page everywhere: on your website, in print, on your email signature, to email groups such as email newsletters. If you have Twitter, make sure everyone who follows you also "likes" you on Facebook.
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The personal touch is key to success. RSS feeds often end up being ignored. Facebook is all about really being a part of your community and joining the conversation.
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Manually post a couple 2 to 4 stories per day.
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What do you choose to post? Callouts, quirky stories, newsy stories with a human hook, upcoming events (ask people if they're going).
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Use fans as sources for stories. Ask if anyone is going to the big game or coming to town for the reunion.
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Direct fans to your website for the story (include links).
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Verify information found on Facebook.
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For reporters who use personal pages for work, always be upfront about who you are if you are asking for information.
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If you don't have a Facebook page and you want one, contact Sarah Corbitt at scorbitt@gatehousemedia.com. She'll discuss the areas you need to fill in, an image and some other basics.
