As small business owners and handmade artisans, marketing on social media can be a daunting task, especially when time and resources are limited.
However, Facebook remains a powerful platform for reaching potential customers, provided you know how to use it effectively.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into six common mistakes that could be costing you engagement and sales.
Let’s dive into these actionable tips to supercharge your Facebook strategy and grow your handmade business.
1. Don’t Post Links in Your Updates
One of the biggest Facebook faux pas is including links directly in your posts.
While it might seem logical to share a direct link to your online shop or product listing, this approach can actually harm your post's reach.
Facebook aims to keep users on its platform and will therefore suppress posts containing external links.
What to Do Instead: Use your content to engage your audience. Encourage comments where you can provide links to those who want them.
This not only keeps users on Facebook but also boosts your post's engagement rate, making it more visible.
2. Avoid Posting Albums
Posting entire albums with multiple photos might seem like a good way to showcase a range of products or a new collection, but it rarely works.
Most users won’t click through an album. Instead, they’re more likely to engage with a single, striking image.
What to Do Instead: Post one fantastic photo at a time. This allows you to focus on each product individually, making your posts more compelling and engaging. Plus, it gives you more content to post over time.
3. Steer Clear of Generic Memes and Inspirational Posts
While memes and inspirational quotes might garner shares and likes, they don’t contribute to your business goals.
Your followers didn't come to your page for generic content; they came to learn about your handmade products... and YOU!
What to Do Instead: Focus on content that is directly related to your business. Share behind-the-scenes looks at your crafting process, stories about what inspired your latest product, or customer testimonials.
If you feel compelled to share an inspirational quote, make sure it ties into your business theme.
4. Minimize Use of Canva Graphics
Spending hours creating perfect Canva graphics for your posts might feel productive, but it doesn’t typically result in higher engagement.
People are on Facebook to see real-life content, not meticulously crafted graphics.
What to Do Instead: Use your phone's camera to take real, authentic pictures of your products. Natural, high-quality photos perform much better on Facebook and feel more genuine to your audience.
When editing is necessary, keep it minimal and focus on brightness and contrast adjustments to make your images pop.
5. Don’t Use Hashtags
Unlike Instagram and Twitter, Facebook users don’t actively follow or engage with hashtags.
While they can help categorize your posts, they can also make your content look cluttered and out of place on the platform.
What to Do Instead: Skip the hashtags on Facebook. If you’re also posting the same content on Instagram, you can include hashtags there but remove them for Facebook. This keeps your posts looking clean and professional.
6. Avoid Being Overly Salesy
Constantly pushing for sales can turn off your audience. If your posts scream “buy from me,” followers may start ignoring your content.
Social media, especially Facebook, is about building relationships and engaging with your community, not just pushing sales. The truth is, you'll make MORE sales by selling less in your posts.
What to Do Instead: Create engaging content that piques your audience’s interest without directly pitching a sale. Share stories about your creation process, ask questions to engage your followers, and let your audience naturally lean into wanting your products.
Creating a desire for your products without overtly selling will encourage organic interactions and ultimately boost sales.
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Conclusion
Maximizing your impact on Facebook doesn’t require hours of effort, but it does demand smart strategy.
By avoiding these six common mistakes, you can significantly improve your reach and engagement on the platform.
Focus on engaging, authentic content that resonates with your audience, and you’ll find that your Facebook efforts start to pay off.
Start implementing these strategies today and watch as your handmade business grows and thrives on Facebook.
4 comments
I really enjoyed.
Love your reasoning
hello thank you for your advice im just starting my online I’m abit nervous but i know all will be well
Just finished this video. 9-14-23. Good reminder of previously watched videos.
Thing I heard was I don’t need canva for all my photos. I thought if I used I could
have good looking pic in post. Trying to soak up as much as I can from you. Thank you.