Bringing your blog or business to Facebook opens you up to the biggest audience on the internet. Even if someone is not familiar with the blogging world, there’s no doubt that they’re familiar with Facebook. Seriously, raise your hand if your grandmother has a Facebook page! Even if you’re not into Facebook for personal interactions, there is just no good reason for your blog or business not to be on Facebook.
Yesterday on the Blog Brunch blog, I shared an overview of how creating “fans-only” content for your Facebook page can help to grow your following. Today I’m going to go more in-depth to show you exactly how to do it!
What is “fans-only” content?
Fans-only content is a tab on a Facebook page that is only visible to users that have “liked” that page. Providing exclusive material to your fans is a great way to motivate followers who already love you to give you the thumbs up. It’s best to relate your fans-only content to you current blog topics. Food bloggers can offer exclusive recipes; style bloggers can share their top 10 trends for the summer. Shop owners can offer exclusive coupon codes for Facebook fans!
How does fans-only content translate into long-term fans?
I was curious about this myself – couldn’t someone just like my page for free stuff, then unlike after they get it? Sure, they definitely could, but in my experience, they don’t. My blog’s Facebook fans more than doubled in one month after I added fans-only content to my Facebook page!
Ready to grow your Facebook audience?
Step 1: Install the Static HTML app onto your blog’s page.
Step 2: In the “Public Content” box, enter what you wish those people who have not yet liked your page to see. You can enter a simple text greeting, or create a graphic to illustrate what your fans will receive once they like your page.
Step 3: In the “Fans-Only Content” box, enter what you want your fans to see once they have liked your page. You can include a personal thank you, download links, or even an entire blog post available exclusively to your fans! After someone has liked your page, they will have access to your fan-gated content at any time.
But I don’t know any HTML!
Use your blogging dashboard! Write up your “Public Content” page and your “Fans-Only Content” page in your blogging dashboard as if you were drafting a new post. Add images, links, and formatting using the dashboard tools. Then switch over to HTML view, copy the entire contents of that window, and paste it into the proper box in the Static HTML app.
Is your blog or business on Facebook? How do you make the most of the Facebook platform?
Want to check out my fans-only content? Like Her New Leaf on Facebook.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Kira, that is awesome! Great, I have to try it and I will let you know how it comes out. Thank you so much!
I saw your article yesterday at Blog Brunch, so helpful! I was able to do it… with a few hiccups. 1) I couldnt get the HTML static app to work in IE, but after switching to Chrome it worked fine. 2) I couldn’t figure out how to make the ‘welcome tab’ my default landing page, since Facebook Timeline has removed this feature. I figured out how to get the link for the ‘welcome page’ and then ran it through pretty link to get http://www.sweetbellaroos.com/facebookwelcome <– this allows me to direct new users to this tab of my facebook page, however it is not the 'default/landing' tab when you just search for my fan page through Facebook. Is there another way to do this or did I do that correctly?
Emily @ Sweet Bella Roos recently posted..Beat the Heat with Paper Direct
Emily, unfortunately for us, Facebook removed the landing page capability it used to have. If looks like you figured out a work-around that may work for you though!
Thank you for this! I’ve installed the app but I’ll need to figure out what I want to share using it.
Jummy recently posted..Free Online Classes from the Altitude Summit thanks to Bing!
I don’t seem to have a ‘public content box’. Where is it exactly?
Doreen recently posted..Why I started a blog, and why you should too!
Doreen, did you follow the link to install the app? After that, go to your profile and click on the Static HTML tab.
Great tips! I need to play more with my Facebook page and try this out. Thanks Kira
Hi Kira! I found you through BYW and am so happy that I did! I just started my Facebook page a few weeks ago and have not been gaining as many followers as I would like. In fact, I’ve had several friends actually try to look up my page and not find it! This is very helpful and I will have to try it out, thanks! I look forward to checking out the rest of your blogging tips to help improve my own blog
Sarah
this is so helpful! I can’t wait to customize my page with it.
I’m having a similar problem…I did click the link for the static html…but nothing new has popped up on my profile…where exactly on the profile is the static html tab located?
Jenni @ Jarfly recently posted..Blogging Your Way: What It Means to Me
Ah ha! Found it…for some pages…depending on how many tabs you have…you may have to scroll to the right to find it. Thanks!
Jenni @ Jarfly recently posted..Blogging Your Way: What It Means to Me
Yes, sorry I forgot to mention this! You may have to click the little arrow to find it. You can also rearrange your tabs as you wish!
Hey, Kira! I just found your blog through Eff Etc. — and I love this series! I just looked through all the posts and picked up a few great tips. Even though I’ve been blogging for two years, I am still learning!
I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog!
Emily recently posted..Hiking Longs Peak
Hi Kira!
Great blog, lots of goodies, thanks for sharing!
Mary (from BYW2!)
Mary recently posted..Color Vibrations 1
As always, super helpful content. Loved the tip about using my blog editor for instant HTML coding.
Genius!
Bernadette
Bernadette @ B3HD recently posted..Week 78 Random Pinehurst
It’s one of those tips that makes you say “Duh! Why didn’t I think of that?” right? ; )
I like facebook, but i only consider it a communication tool with my friends. If i were a business man, i would make full use of facebook.
Thank you SO much for this great tutorial! Now, is there an easy way to change the pictures for the tabs on your homepage? I love the look of your pink, orange and green tabs and my Instagram button isn’t so attractive. Although, this might be another whole post…
Kelly @thekeyofkels recently posted..Finally, Our Music Collage Wall
For a super easy way to do this, you can use Shortstack (free for under 2,000 page likes), which has a template for many tabs/apps. There’s an option for “all” or “fan-only” when you are creating tabs!
Hi there, I stumbled upon your blog and I found this post. Thank you so much for sharing about how to create fans only content page…I have to think about what kind of content I want to share and I’ll definitely like to give this a try!
Thanks again!
Pei Li
This is great! I especially like your hints about avoiding the no HTML problem!
JW Ashley recently posted..4 Truths about the Ideal Romance Hero
Great post! Using your tips to run our campaign!
Hello Kira!
Thanks so much for the info, it is a great idea to increase the fans. However, I don’t get it..
I am so sorry, but I am new to all this blogging a FB world.
So, I installed my app. I created like a welcome page in the non-fans sections in my blogger Dashboard and work pefectly.
But the fans, I want them to see just my normal FB content. All my updates, etc. Just like at any normal fb page.
I can’t do that on my blog Dashboard.
I am sooo lost.
Hope you can help!
Thanx, xoxo,
Blanca
Oh, Kira. And also… now everybody can see (I tried with my personal account) see a tab/box, right next to the photos one, under the right hand side of the Cover picture, something called Hosgeldin (that app that I installed I guess!)
Sooos!
xoxo
I have added two tabs to my blog each with different names and different images… and somehow they’re linked now and whenever I change the text for one it changes for both. Any idea on what the heck I might have done?
Thank you for this!!! & for the HTML tip
I just got mine up & running!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/mama-miss/243117815774948?ref=hl
xx m
Melissa @ mamamiss recently posted..sweets: Halloween Fudge
Found you via Pinterest and I’ve been busy primping my fb page all morning. Thank you! I see you have a lot of other great tutorials for blogging, I’m your newest fan!
ange recently posted..Our Family Room
Getting Facebook fans is a difficult task. Thanks for posting these nice tips, may be it can boost our fan following campaing. Many thanks Kira.
How do I install my own cute little tab icon?
Jenn recently posted..What is Love, Anyway?
This is really an exciting information to increase fan following. i will definitely apply this approach to my Facebook fan page.
Mylife.com
Hi Kira:
A friend of mine connected me to your blog. This all sounds wonderful, however, I do not have a blog. Can I make a fan only tab or content on Facebook with out a blog?
Thank you for this post. I am having some trouble though…wondering if you can help! The page you show above does not show up on mine. I think I may have a newer version of static html and it is confusing me.
It takes me to a page called the app buffet with many different options including html and image etc.
I think I choose the html for my fan only content, but I am sure lost.
Which app do I choose at the app buffet?
My goal is to have free downloads for my fans (free printables)….do I upload the images I want to be for free to photobucket and use a link on the app on facebook so they can download them?
I would appreciate any help you can offer!
Thanks!
Sorry to ask another question….I really like how you did you free social media thing…where did you upload your files to? And how or what html code did you use so that after liking your fb page, fans can download your content by clicking on the different color options? That is where I’m stuck at and I like the way you did yours. Thanks!
Emily recently posted..Some Blessings Come…
i li like fans page
Thank you for very useful tips!
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