Last week we showed you loads of ways to get fans to your Facebook Page. So how do you keep them? Well, the golden rule of social media is: Engage your fans! That’s what we’ll look at ways of doing today. In What Would Google Do?, social media guru Jeff Jarvis talks in-depth on engagement and why it’s so important. So let’s look more closely at “engagement”. How exactly can you make sure you’ve got it on your Facebook Page?
Engagement basically is about bringing quality content to your Facebook Page as well as trying to hold conversation with your fans. Normally you would post any new mixes or music you upload, events you’re playing at, personal news, and even blog entries (if you have a blog).
However, it doesn’t have to stop there. Here’s a few other ideas to try:
1. Do live blogging
This is one tip I wish DJs and even promoters would do more. When you show up to a club or event to play, mention it in a status. I know you can’t really “check in” using Facebook Places on a Facebook Page like you can on your profile, but simply toss out there you’re at some bar, club, event, etc. Even if you’re not playing, mention it. You would be surprised how many people are interested, and even how some might just come out to say hi. It adds an element of personability to your brand.
Just “post stuff” when you’re at a gig: If you have a decent smartphone this will be easier. You see two hot girls (or boys) dancing in front of you, get them to let you take their photo, then post it on your Page wall. Even tell them to go check you out and tag the photo with their names. Post a shot of the crowd (if it’s packed) and again jokingly ask people to tag themselves. It sounds silly or even intrusive, but you might be surprised how many people will engage. (Plus if people see you are playing at packed places full of hot women, they’ll believe you’re a big deal.)
2. Post exclusive content
I currently have a Tumblr blog where I generally post links to articles and blog entries I like, but I also post audio clips of tunes I like there. Just when I get a promo or buy a tune I really like, I’ll make a two-minute clip of it and post it on that Tumblr blog… and my Facebook Page. You can’t find this content anywhere on my website, so the only spots you’ll see it are either on my Facebook Page or the Tumblr blog The idea behind this is giving exclusivity to your fans.
So they might go to your website and find your mixes, events, news, and possibly normal blog… but on your Facebook Page they see things they don’t see anywhere else. This now gives value to being your fan.
In my case, it shows people what I’m playing and like other music blogs, songs other DJs might want to check out. I’ll even specialise the content with things like “Old School Friday” or “Monday Mashup” where I simply post a YouTube video of some old school anthem with a small bit of “history” behind it, or any cool mashup I came across on YouTube.
The goal in the end is to give people a viable reason to be your fan and to listen to what you have to say. If they’re listening to your postings, they’ll also listen to when you have an event or mix to check out
3. Be a content aggregator
I touched on this already, but the easiest way to not only gain fans but keep them is to be what is called a “content aggregator”. What is that? You’re posting links to things you see and like. It could be a new track you’re totally into, or a review on a new piece of gear you like, or a blog entry you read, a charity cause you support, a funny video on YouTube that has nothing to do with DJing, anything.
For many years people have linked up to and followed RSS feeds to get content, but the new age of social media has led people to follow what others are posting over single websites. Pretty much all of the “entertaining” and “newsworthy” things I find are through Facebook. I’ll come on any given day and beyond the usual bevy of people posting the good and the bad of their lives, I’ll see a few postings of articles, videos, and other content I should look at.
Twitter especially has become a big service of content aggregation, but Facebook can be seen in the same vein.
• D-Jam is a Chicago nightclub and rave DJ by night, and a branding expert by day. Check out his website
Check out the other parts in this series:
- Facebook 101 For DJs, Part 1: How To Get Fans
- Facebook 101 For DJs, Part 3: How to get 150,000 Fans In a Year
Have you managed build a fan base on Facebook? Got any further ideas to share? Please add your thoughts below.
D-Jam
