While paid advertising provides a quick boost, organic growth strategies are crucial for building a loyal, engaged community around your brand. Organic followers are more likely to interact with your content, share it with their networks, and become customers or advocates for your business.
In this article, we’ll explore proven strategies for growing your Facebook page followers organically. From creating share-worthy content to leveraging partnerships and community-building tactics, these techniques will help you attract a dedicated following without breaking the bank on ads. Let’s dive in!
Create Engaging, Share-Worthy Content
The foundation of organically growing your Facebook page is posting content that resonates with your target audience. Focus on crafting posts that are informative, entertaining, or inspirational.
Some engaging content ideas include:
- How-to guides and tutorials
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business
- Interesting facts and statistics
- Inspirational quotes and stories
- Funny memes or videos related to your niche
The more people enjoy and relate to your content, the more likely they are to share it with friends. This exposes your page to new potential followers.
For example, Tasty, a popular food-related Facebook page, grew to over 100 million followers by consistently posting engaging, short recipe videos that people love watching and sharing.
Optimize Your Post Timing
When you post is almost as important as what you post. Use Facebook Page Insights to see when most of your followers are online. You’ll get more visibility and engagement by posting at peak times.
Different industries may find different days and times work best. For instance, a study by CoSchedule found that the best time to post for technology companies is Wednesday at 10 AM, while healthcare companies get the most engagement on Wednesdays at 10 AM and Sundays at 11 AM.
Participate in Relevant Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are online communities where people gather to discuss shared interests. By joining groups related to your niche and actively participating, you can spread brand awareness and attract followers.
Look for ways to be truly helpful by answering questions, sharing your expertise, and providing valuable resources. Avoid spamming the group with constant links to your page. Instead, aim to build genuine relationships and let your helpfulness draw people to your page naturally.
Digital marketer Molly Marshall used this strategy to grow her page to over 10,000 followers. She participated in digital marketing-related Facebook groups, offered advice, and built connections. Her helpful contributions made people curious to check out her page.
Partner with Influencers and Complementary Pages
Partnering with influencers or other pages in your niche is a powerful way to expand your reach to new audiences. Influencers are people who have built a following by creating content around a specific topic. Complementary pages are those that share your target audience but aren’t direct competitors.
Some partnership ideas:
- Do a joint Facebook live stream
- Collaborate on a how-to guide
- Share each other’s content
- Host a giveaway together
For instance, yoga mat brand Manduka partnered with various yoga influencers and studios. They provided free mats for the influencers to review and share with followers. This exposed Manduka to a wider audience of yoga enthusiasts who fit their target market, attracting many new followers.
Use Facebook Live
Facebook Live videos get 6 times more engagement than regular videos. They’re a fantastic way to connect with your audience in real-time. Host Q&A sessions, share industry news, demo products, or bring people behind-the-scenes.
Tough Mudder, an endurance event company, used Facebook Live to stream event footage, giving followers a thrilling glimpse of the experience. The live videos were incredibly popular, helping them attract thousands of new followers.
Invite People Who React to Your Page’s Posts
When someone reacts to one of your posts, they’re clearly interested in your content. Seize the opportunity by inviting them to like your page. You can do this manually for each post by clicking on the reactions and inviting those who aren’t already followers.
Many pages have substantially grown their followings using this simple method. For example, Hari Kalymnios, a weight loss coach, tripled his page followers from 5,000 to 15,000 in one year by consistently inviting post engagers to like his page.
Optimize Your Page for Discovery
Lastly, make sure your Facebook page is optimized to show up in search results and “suggested pages”. Fill out your page information completely, including an informative “About” section and relevant keywords.
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your page, as pages with more stars tend to rank higher in search results. Choose an easy-to-remember vanity URL so people can easily find your page.
Growing your Facebook following organically takes time and consistent effort. Focus on providing value to your audience, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies to see what works best for your unique page. With persistence and creativity, you can build an engaged community of followers who are excited about your business.
Run Contests and Giveaways
People love the chance to win something, making contests and giveaways an excellent strategy for attracting new followers. Create a contest that requires people to like your page, comment on a post, and share it with their friends to enter. This can rapidly expand your page’s visibility.
Keep the prize relevant to your niche to ensure you’re attracting qualified followers who are genuinely interested in your content. For example, a pet supply store could give away a basket of dog toys and treats rather than a generic gift card.
Birchbox, a beauty subscription box company, used a giveaway to grow its Facebook page from 500 to over 5,000 followers in just one week. They partnered with a popular beauty blogger and gave away a year’s worth of beauty boxes to one lucky winner.
Leverage User-Generated Content
Encourage your followers to create and share content related to your brand, then share the best posts on your page. This not only provides you with a source of free content but also makes your followers feel valued and engaged.
User-generated content (UGC) can take many forms, such as:
- Photos of customers using your products
- Testimonial videos from satisfied clients
- Artwork or memes created by fans
People trust UGC more than traditional advertising, as it feels more authentic. When followers see their content featured on your page, they’re likely to share it with their friends, exposing your page to new potential followers.
GoPro, a camera company, has built a massive following on Facebook largely through UGC. They regularly share customer photos and videos shot on their cameras, which not only showcases their products but also inspires others to create and share their own GoPro content.
Cross-Promote Your Page on Other Channels
Leverage your other marketing channels to promote your Facebook page and attract new followers. This could include:
- Adding Facebook social media buttons to your website
- Linking to your page in your email newsletter
- Mentioning your page in your YouTube videos
- Sharing your page on your other social media profiles
By cross-promoting, you’re making it easy for people who already engage with your brand elsewhere to find and follow your Facebook page.
For instance, Marie Forleo, a life coach and motivational speaker, consistently promotes her Facebook page to her email list of over 500,000 subscribers. By including a link to her page in her weekly newsletter, she steadily drives new followers who are already interested in her content.
Create a Facebook Group
In addition to your main page, consider creating a Facebook group centered around a specific topic or challenge related to your niche. Groups tend to have higher engagement rates than pages, as they foster a sense of community and exclusivity.
Use your page to promote your group and encourage followers to join for insider tips, live Q&A sessions, or challenge participation. As group members build relationships and trust, many will likely check out and follow your main page as well.
Entrepreneur Kimra Luna used this strategy to grow her page from 2,000 to 50,000 followers in less than a year. She launched a free Facebook group teaching people how to launch online businesses, which quickly grew to over 20,000 members. Many of those members also followed her main page for more content.
Engage with Your Followers
Finally, don’t forget to actively engage with your current followers to keep them interested and loyal. Respond to comments and messages promptly, ask for feedback and opinions, and show appreciation for your community.
When followers feel valued and connected, they’re more likely to interact with your content, exposing it to their friends. They’re also more likely to recommend your page to others, helping you attract new followers organically.
For example, skincare brand Glossier is known for its highly-engaged Facebook community. They regularly respond to customer comments, feature followers in their content, and ask for input on new products. This has helped them build a fiercely loyal following that enthusiastically promotes the brand to friends.
Growing a Facebook following organically requires a multi-faceted approach. By combining quality content, strategic partnerships, community-building, and follower engagement, you can steadily grow your page’s reach and impact. Remember, the goal isn’t just to attract any followers, but to build a community of people who genuinely care about your message and offerings.
