Keeping Your Facebook Followers Engaged

It's not a secret. Your Facebook news feed features posts from pages you interact with regularly.

This can have a HUGE impact on cottage businesses, like Etsy sellers, who use a Facebook page to market their shop. Even if you have a million Facebook followers, if your followers do not frequently like, share or comment on your posts, you will eventually disappear from their feed.

So how do you keep your followers engaged?

Post Frequently

If you are only posting once or twice a month, your stories will get lost in people's news feeds. You simply won't be seen. People will think your page has become inactive and eventually un-follow you.

There's no magic number for how often a business should share on Facebook. I like to post once or twice a day because not every post is seen by every follower. If that seems like a lot, you can start off by posting 3-4 times a week.

Welcome New Followers

Everyone likes to feel special. Post a welcome to your newest followers every week or two. You can make it extra special by including a pretty picture. Think of it like sending a little greeting card to say hi.

If another page has liked your page it's nice to include an @mention in your welcome. (An @mention is just the "@"symbol followed by the page's user name. It creates a direct link to the other business page and sends them a notification that they have been mentioned.)

Thanks for new likes from DeUno Art, Viktoria, Pearl, Lucy, Mis Stepp, and Zelda! Hope you enjoy our posts!

Posted by Echidna Art and Cards on Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Be Personal

Indie businesses have an distinct advantage on social media because in addition to selling products, we each have a very personal story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell your followers about your triumphs, struggles or even just things that make you happy.

A beautiful handcrafted necklace for a beautiful friend!! Couldn't be prouder :D
Posted by Hanji Naty on Sunday, June 28, 2015

I am 3 items away from 1,000 items sold. I think I should do something special for whoever buys the 1000th item from my shop. Should it be a surprise? Still thinking about it. Feel free to offer suggestions!

Posted by Catching Waves Artisan Jewelry on Monday, July 13, 2015

Can you find Mr. and Mrs. Goldfinch?I hope they leave some cosmos seeds for me!#chillin #inthegarden #birdwatching

Posted by North and South Shabby on Monday, July 13, 2015

Ask Questions

Everyone wants to share their opinion from time to time. Asking your followers specific questions not only engages them, it also makes them feel like they are an important part of your business.

I have been thinking of remaking a few of these in other colors but it seems the more I think the less I figure it...

Posted by Knots & Sparklez on Thursday, June 25, 2015

Spread Some Love

Small businesses aren't always competitors. If you regularly promote other indie shops, people will remember and possibly even promote your shop.

This is my journal recently purchased from this lovely shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/CarolaBartz Please visit and find some lovely treasures for yourself!
Posted by Joliefemme on Saturday, June 13, 2015

Found another artist I like. Check out this glass blower:https://www.etsy.com/listing/214506940/black-eyed-susan-lampwork-hand-blown?ref=shop_home_active_7
Posted by Babywear by Babs on Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Follow Others

Don't forget to put the "social" in social media. "Like" other relevant business pages, including the SPS Team, as your page. Also, interact with other pages by liking, commenting and sharing posts you enjoy.

You can find a list of other SPS Team members in the Facebook Directory on our Etsy team forum.

PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :

My name is Ellen and I LOVE to design and create things. I find it deeply satisfying to start with nothing more than an idea and finish with a tangible, beautiful, functional piece of work. I enjoy learning new techniques that I can incorporate into my creations. I practice a variety of different art forms, but find I always have at least one knit, crochet or sewing project in progress.

shop The Chilly Dog

For free craft pattern's, tutorials and inspiration visit my blog, The Chilly Dog.

ETSYCIJ15: Participating shops

The Strategic Promotion for Success Team's Christmas in July Sale will be held July 5-11 and you can get some great discounts from all of these participating shops.

Don't forget to use coupon code EtsyCIJ15.

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Get 10% Off

amoonartdesign	BerkshireCollections	corkycrafts
KraftyGrannysHome	LovelyBride2B	northandsouthshabby
ResinHeavenUSA	UncleJimmysAttic

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Get 15% Off

bloomingdoordecor	CarolaBartz	CatchingWaves
chezviolette	deedeedeesigns	eclectasism
hanjinaty	joliefemme	LadyLyBoutique
PearcesCraftShop	prettybyrddesigns	RosyDaysScarves
Seadbeady	SunisSerendipity	thestickywrapper
trellislanevintage	VintageLandingAZ	RainStudio

---

Get 20% Off

Ceraminic	ChickenJungle	Klettur
mybeautifulmonster	Astra9	NoveltyandThings

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Get 25% Off

amydscrochet

StockLaneStudio

 Happy Shopping!

PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :

My name is Ellen and I LOVE to design and create things. I find it deeply satisfying to start with nothing more than an idea and finish with a tangible, beautiful, functional piece of work. I enjoy learning new techniques that I can incorporate into my creations. I practice a variety of different art forms, but find I always have at least one knit, crochet or sewing project in progress.

Shop The Chilly Dog

For free craft pattern's, tutorials and inspiration visit my blog, The Chilly Dog.

Christmas in July Sales Event

Our team is hosting a Christmas In July Sales Event from July 5-11. We will be promoting the sale on the Team Blog and our Team Social Media to bring you extra visibility.

How The Sale Works

The purpose of this sale is for us to work together, as a team, to help each other get views and sales.

Every shop that signs up will create a coupon code for the sale using the code EtsyCIJ15 . We all will be using the same code but each shop is responsible for assigning the value of the coupon; free shipping, 10% off, 15% off, etc. It's up to you to decide how to use the code for your shop.

Things to remember when setting up your code:

• Codes cannot be edited. So please choose the value of your coupon wisely.
• DO NOT DELETE YOUR CODE before or during the event. Deleted codes cannot be used again. If you delete your code early Etsy will not allow you make a new one using EtsyCIJ15

Thread to Watch in the Team Forum on Etsy

Beginning June 18

• Sale Chat Thread  - This is a place team leaders will be explaining the sale rules and you can post any questions. Leaders will be around to answer your questions and help you out as much as possible. 

June 21-27

• Sign-Up - Let us know you are planning to participate by sharing a link to your shop and the type of discount you will be offering.

June 28- July 4

• Photo Collages - Each shop is being asked to make a photo collage of their items before the sale. Instructions on how to make one will be provided in the thread; along with free sites you can use to make one. There are sites that are easy to use. You select your background, upload your photo & the site makes the photo collage for you. If you are unsure how to make one and would like to do so we will gladly help you. Photo collages are basically a mini treasury showcasing your items. You are creating a free ad for your shop; which is shared on social media. Shops who do create a photo collage will have the advantage of having them shared on the team’s social media.
• Pre-Promotion - Shops list 5 items from their shop & heart the other items. Team Leaders will be using these items to promote them on Team Social Media.

July 5-11

• Christmas In July Sales Event - we will be doing different activities throughout the event. 

               Day 1 - Promote treasuries created by leaders

               Day 2 & 3 - Adopt a Shop
               Day 4 & 5 - Social Media
               Day 6 & 7 - Hearting (to give everyone that last big push)


Team leaders will send each participating shop a convo once the marketing threads are up.

Participating Shops Must...

• Post their coupon code value/discount on the signup list. Shops that don’t have this done by June 27 will not have their discount on the shop blog.
• Being available (not being in vacation mode) for the duration of the sale
• Post in the “SOLD” thread any sales that they might have made during the time of the sale
• Participate in each of the activities for the sale ( treasury promotion, adopt a shop, social media, and hearting ). 
• Have at least one social media account such as Facebook , Twitter or Pinterest. 
• Help promote the sale by promoting it in your own blogs, social media, add it to your shop announcement, etc.

Shops that do not follow thru will not be allowed to play next time.

Finally, if you'd like to use any of the our team graphics during the sale, help yourself to these images:

Facebook Banner 851 x 315 px

Twitter Banner 1500 x 500 px

Banner 600 x 200 px

800 x 800 px

800 x 800 px

800 x 800 px

Happy sales!

PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR LEADER :

My name is Ellen and I LOVE to design and create things. I find it deeply satisfying to start with nothing more than an idea and finish with a tangible, beautiful, functional piece of work. I enjoy learning new techniques that I can incorporate into my creations. I practice a variety of different art forms, but find I always have at least one knit, crochet or sewing project in progress.

thechillydog on Etsy

For free craft pattern's, tutorials and inspiration visit my blog, The Chilly Dog.