With the introduction of these features, Facebook is poised to launch themselves out of the “broadcasting” site pigeon hole and into a more engaging and individualized social media stratosphere.  As much as this may seem like a small upgrade, it could potentially change how branded pages use Facebook on a major level.

With that said, you may be asking yourself the same question that has been on the tip of so many community managers’ tongues as of late:

We can broadcast AND respond directly to individual comments on Facebook now?

The answer is simply, ‘yes’.  Yes, you can! With the new ‘reply’ feature page and profile owners alike will be able to respond directly to specific comments, creating a thread within the comment to which they are responding.  This feature mirrors the way Twitter approaches 1:1 engagements between users where branded pages can continue individual conversations and engage with their audiences on a more personalized level. Community managers can now directly reply to comments within the larger comment thread which will make conversations easier to follow and manage. This increase of 1:1 engagements will most likely result in users spending more time on a given brand’s Facebook page.  Furthermore, branded pages EdgeRank score and NFO will get a positive boost as only the most relevant, popular and recent posts will appear on users’ newsfeeds.

It’s called a comment thread for good reason!

Now that you have directly responded to your Facebook fans, what happens? Ah, yes, comment threads.  What this means is that a person’s direct ‘reply’ will automatically start a thread of comments within the initial comment the direct ‘reply’ was responding to. If this is hard to follow, here are a few examples of what the new comment feeds will look like:

Example 1: Shows the direct reply feature in comments to posts made by the brand

Example 2: Shows the direct reply feature in comments to wall posts made by the page’s fans

This attribute certainly brings Facebook much closer to the direct contact feel of Twitter while also embodying an open forum, much like Reddit.

Comment threads are also convenient because they will leverage branded pages to deliver the greatest opportunities for said Brand’s engagement goals.  Here are some other ways community managers and brands can utilize the new feature:

• Run live Q&A Sessions on their Facebook pages
• Run informal polls about an array of different ideas and topics
• Have conversations organized automatically by relevance and popularity
• Gives Brands easier access to individualized interactive engagement

How do I implement these new Facebook features?

At this point, only a few accounts are utilizing these tools in their current format as an “opt-in” feature.  What is interesting is that this feature has been available on Facebook’s third party commenting platform and sites such as TechCrunch for some time.  If you would like to join these groups of people now using direct ‘reply’, Facebook’s Journalism Program Manager, Vadim Lavrusik discusses how to “opt in” on these features, and more here.

If you question the value these features will deliver to you or your brand’s Facebook page, you have limited time left!  All Facebook accounts will be defaulted to this format as of July 10, 2013.  So either way, you must comply.  Or you could use your mobile phone for these features, as the update is currently only available for desktop use.  For those who do not like change, this could be one for the record books.  Welcome to the newest Facebook, here to connect and serve you now.

Redesign Trends

A noticeable trend in initial user feedback is the comparison to Google+’s image-friendly user interface. There are a number of reasons that, while it may be similar to Google+, you really can’t fault Facebook for these changes. One of the reasons that the social network cited for the adjustment is the ability for a seamless transition from desktop to mobile viewing, which we all know is imperative for a site that relies so heavily on mobile integration.

Let’s face it, Facebook engagement is deeply anchored in visually stimulating material – you can’t blame Mark for focusing on the most enticing aspect of his creation and enhancing it. The most liked, commented and shared posts on Facebook are photos and the update reformatted these to be more vibrant and colorful and even highlight news articles, maps and events shared by friends so that the overall newsfeed is more visually appealing. Here are some other ways to get fans to interact with your Facebook post

Sure, this is great for personal pages but what does this mean for the visibility of brands within the larger ecosystem? Early speculation would suggest that the changes to personal pages will impact the way that brands are able to interact with their fans. For instance, the organizational freedom that Facebook has provided to its personal users has the potential to radically decrease the brand messages they are exposed to due to the “All Friends” feed option. This can completely hide all news from brands on a user’s page, as opposed to incorporating it into the general news feed, possibly turning their brand engagement into an afterthought. For now, though, this is only an option. Brands can rest assured however that their most avid fans will stay updated, as Facebook will retain the EdgeRank algorithm that places the pages that users engage with most, higher on their newsfeeds.

News Feed Optimization

From an optimization standpoint, there are a number of factors to consider. The cover photo is more important than ever, since it will essentially serve as the billboard of the brand on the superhighway of the Facebook news feed. Also, due to the more enhanced visual design, Facebook is encouraging users to optimize their image posts by assuring they are hi-res, recommending a minimum 200×200 pixel count moving forward. A possible residual effect of this visual overhaul is the fact that stories will be more prominent in the news feed of users, meaning the possibility of user engagement may increase. The fact that  Facebook allows users friends’ brand engagement to appear in their timeline even when they are viewing ‘Friends Only’ feed makes compelling imagery even more crucial for breaking through to potential fans that aren’t particularly interested in viewing brand messages.

It is also important to note that the site is actively moving toward a “personalized newspaper” feel, meaning that the current events will dictate feed activity so posting according to trending topics will play an important role in optimizing for exposure.   Some additional designs tweeks brands that may be useful for brands when considering optimizing content:

• Third-party video like Vimeo and YouTube will be afforded the same rich viewing opportunity as Facebook videos
• Link previews will appear larger and more vibrant than before
• Cross-device mobile design consistency has arrived so everyone will be on the same page when it comes to the Facebook mobile experience

All in all, the new changes will pose a number of adjustments that brands will have to take into account in order to maximize their marketing dollars. One of these adjustments will undoubtedly include increased quality of visual content for some brands which will lead to increased spending. Will these brands identify the value in increasing their Facebook marketing budget amid the new design or will the chance of decreased user engagement cause them to scale back? We will just have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, Facebook is randomly rolling out the new design at a gradual rate, so to request access, head over to https://www.facebook.com/about/newsfeed and scroll to the bottom for an invitation link.

Congratulations to him and the rest of the winners on reaching such an incredible milestone!

Want to see who else made the list? Check it out here!

When writing Facebook Posts for a business’s fan page it’s important to not over complicate the process. To make your job easy, keep in mind the following tips to help systemize your approach for providing valuable content that is easy for your community to engage with through like’s, comment’s and share’s.

With more than 30 billion pieces of content shared on Facebook each month, it’s essential that you give your Post the best possible chance of being seen by your fans (aka a potential business lead, new customer, or valuable brand advocate). The best way to get more people to see the Post is to understand EdgeRank. Simply put, EdgeRank is Facebook’s algorithm that determines which status updates will get more visibility in users’ news feeds.

Before you post your next Facebook status update, ask yourself the following five questions to be sure that the Post is armed with necessary components to be successful.

Five points to a good Post:

1. Is this Post more than 120 characters long? Why?

Many marketers post status updates that are too long. What they don’t realize is that posts with more than 120 characters get dramatically less engagements.

2. What is the goal of this Post?

Be sure to tailor the wording of the post to accomplish the goal of likes, comments, shares, clicks, or video views.

3. What is the core message that I want to promote?

Promote message that coincides with business offerings and appropriate layer.

4. Is this valuable to my audience?

By insuring your content is valuable you will build relationships, gain fans trust and reach thought leadership status. Its not all about posting your marketing messaging.

5. Am I being repetitive?

Don’t be a parrot! Information overload and repetitive content are two of the top reasons a consumer chooses to stop following a brand online.

Creatively providing resourceful content to your audience will ensure that they’re continuously interested in what you are saying. Between creating and curating content, it’s not always easy to determine which angle will cultivate engagement and open up two-way communication between you and your community.

Fill in the blank

One great way to gauge your audience’s interest in what you are sharing is to Post a fill in the blank statement that gives them an easy way to give their opinion. By doing this, the Post may receive up to 9 times more comments than other Posts. Here is a recent example of how we used this tactic for Microsoft User Community:

‘Like’ this post

Another great way to increase communication on a Post is to ask for a “Like”. In Fact, asking for a “Like” will increase the interaction on the Post by 216%. Keep in mind; this percentage is not as high when asking for comments and mainly because commenting takes more user energy.

‘Share’ this post

Facebook recently added the ability to see just how many times a Post was shared and by whom, which is another addition for marketers and others who are tracking their social activity to see how well a Post performed. You can try this on your Facebook page by simply asking or telling your fans to “Share” your content and see how they respond.

How to Reply to Comments

Once your community of fans starts to post comments on your initial post, it’s time to initiate the second phase of the Posting strategy. It’s important to stay mindful when responding to comments, and to stay focused on facilitating open communication by persuading fans to continue the conversation in a helpful and resourceful way. Getting fans to comment more than once will increase your affinity score. Commenting on a post from the admin account also triggers a notification for all the people that have already commented on it. Here are four ways to help you do this:

5 points to a good reply:

1. Use commenters name

Link their first name in your reply by typing in “@” followed by their name. By doing this, the linked person will get a personal notification that you have responded to their comment.

2. Acknowledge the user’s comment or question

Affirming user’s remarks is a great way to let them know that you’re listening to their opinion.

3. Include resources if needed

This a great time to again establish your position as a thought leader by sharing links to either created or curated content.

4. Ask a follow up question

This is a vital step for establishing two-way communication and continuing the conversation.

5.Sign off with your name

Provide a personal touch by signing off with your name after each comment so users know whom they are talking to.

There are many other creative ways to post engaging content that will get a response from your fans. Some of these include the “Question of The Day” status update or customizing your own poll question. Given your area of business and expertise there are usually multiple topics to discuss. It’s important to provide your audience with a well-rounded stream of information that provides timely content and also speaks to your businesses voice and expertise. To help structure your messaging, utilize an editorial calendar to help set a guide for the content you will publish over time.

Now that you have some ideas for getting more people to interact with your Facebook status updates, it’s now your turn to go test out these suggestions and see what works for you. Feel free to let us know which components drove the best results for you, and if you have any other posting tips you’d like to share don’t hesitate to leave us a comment.

Done right, ‘tweeting’ will build your following, brand reputation, and customer’s trust. Using Twitter also allows you to engage with real people with specific interests, who are genuinely intrigued in what you have to say.

With any marketing strategy, you have to ask yourself what it is that your target market needs or wants from you, and then deliver exactly that. Twitter users prefer a genuine tone from the businesses they follow, so as you tweet, think about what your voice is and how you want your business to appear to the Twitter community.

Here are some tips to building a successful Twitter community:

1. Make a great profile

Make your picture interesting and distinctive – your picture can influence people to read your posts and follow you. Typically a self-portrait photo works best as people tend to be more receptive to messages if they’re coming from a real person. Next, be sure to decide on a username that will easily be found via a Twitter search or other search engines. Location is important to specify, especially if you want to get followers in your area, or if location is relevant to your posts. Another important step is to include a background visual that speaks to your audience and showcases your brand. Last but not least, your bio is the most important element of your profile, so write it to attract the right followers and be sure to include keywords that people will be searching when looking for influencers in their area of interest. Here is what it all should look like -

2. Create a reason to be followed

To be successful on Twitter, you’ll have to put forth your unique style. Contribute something original, valuable, funny or interesting to your ideal ‘follower’. The best way to get followers is to be useful, unique, topical, interactive and genuine. Don’t spam or get sucked into a numbers game. Most people will scan your profile before choosing to follow you, so make sure you’ve tweeted quality content to catch their interest. With millions of people on Twitter you have to create a distinctive voice for you brand that what will set you a part from competitors and help you launch a receptive community.

3. Put the word out!

Mention your Twitter account everywhere possible. Invite people to follow you on Twitter, blog about it, mention it in your newsletter, and add a Twitter widget to your website. Add your Twitter handle to your email signature, business cards, your company letterhead and other printed material.

4. Search for followers

Follow those that you want to follow you: prospects, clients, influencers, media contacts, etc. Use the search box at the top of your Twitter screen to search for current and potential customers. If you find them on Twitter, follow them! Look for authorities/leaders in your niche, blog authors you enjoy, people you connect with on other websites, etc. Twitter makes it easy to find people by suggesting “Who to Follow” and people “Similar to you”, which are curated by an algorithm that determines highly personalized suggestions based on the accounts you currently follow, the accounts followed by the users you follow, and how other users express interest in Tweets made from these accounts. Take advantage of this!

5. Tweet often

Make using Twitter a daily habit and be sure that you are tweeting multiple times a day. To assist in this ongoing venture, install a Twitter app into your phone and sign up for a Hootsuite account, which will help you schedule tweets while you’re on the go. Be sure to respond to any @mentions you get as fast as possible. Also, be sure to Retweet others as you’d expect them to Retweet your content. Communicating in a timely fashion on Twitter is the key to success and the simple fact is that the more you put into Twitter, the more you will get out.

6. Influence the influential

Look at profiles of the people who you want to follow you and then see who they follow. If you interact with these influencers they may follow you, and in turn their follower may follow you. Be sure to Retweet and share links and articles that your followers will benefit from. When Retweeting a tweet, add your own voice by including a question or comment, and don’t forget to reference your source by using “via”. You can also include a specific follower by adding them to your tweet with a “cc”. Once you have a built a relationship with your followers, don’t be shy to ask for a Retweet – Remember to stay cognoscente not to sound needy or too aggressive. Many influencers like to help newer users, especially if they feel that you are making a valiant effort to provide great content. If someone Retweets your tweet, your avatar will show up on their profile page which is a great way to get free publicity.

7. Get involved in trending discussions

A great way to see what’s happening right now is to go to twitter.com/search and explore your desired topic of interest. Through this search page you can also find out what people are saying about a specific news story. Just take the corresponding url link to the news story and search it to instantly see what is being shared. This is a fantastic way to use trending news topics and stories to find new followers and potential business leads. From here, take the initiative to jump into any conversation that you find appealing and offer up your distinctive standpoint. As best practice, always ask easy to answer questions to encourage a conversation, which will not only build that particular relationship, but will also show your community that you welcome open communication.

8. Special Offers, Competitions, Live Tweeting

These three tactics are great ways to build buzz around your topic or brand! Posting specials like this recent offer from @MLBNetwork is an example of a great way to increase follower engagement numbers, but it may not be the best way to build long-term relationship if communication is not reciprocated. These days, Live Tweeting is a big part of most conferences, webinars and other events. Whether you are attending the event or just following it on Twitter, posting about what is being said is a fantastic way to join the conversation and to get noticed by potential followers.

9. Use #Hashtags

Hashtags will help your post if the topic itself is not used in your message or you are posting about a specific event that has a hashtag. Be aware not to add too many hashtags in your post, as this will make your post difficult to read and may come across as spam. As a best practice, Twitter’s help center recommends that you use no more than three hashtags per tweet. When adding hashtags to your tweet it’s always helpful to tap into resources like Hashonomy.com, a site that finds hashtags that are relevant to your tweet.

10. Use Twitter directories

Twitter directories are a useful way to find new followers. These directories provide different ways of associating people with similar interests or topics. There are a lot of Twitter apps out there that can help you get more followers. A simple inquiry via you favorite search engine will bring up free and paid services. Here are a few resources to get you started:

· http://wefollow.com – directory of Twitter users tagged by topic

· http://www.twellow.com – a ‘Yellow Pages’ for Twitter users

· http://friendorfollow.com – shows you who you are following that is not following you

· http://tweeteffect.com – shows you what tweets caused you to gain or lose followers

· http://www.tweriod – tells you when your followers are online

· http://refollow.com – an app that helps you manage follows/followers

· http://twitaholic.com – ranks Twitter users by number of followers and also provides statistics on your followers if you sign up

· http://twiends.com – find users with similar interests

11. Advertise on Twitter

Twitter offers advertising opportunities to brands through the form of “Promoted Tweets” or “Promoted Accounted”. As advertisers we can promote our clients account or tweets by having them show up at the top of feeds when certain hashtags are used. We can also target potential followers by interest keywords or location. Twitter’s advertising is still in it’s beta stages and only available to a short list of advertisers. Twitter’s dashboard is still growing from it’s infancy stage and their advertising offering will without a doubt become more comprehensive as they continue to look to help brands reach a wider audience. Feel free to ask us how you can get started with advertising on Twitter.

Also check out Social Media Examiner’s recent article on 17 Twitter Marketing Tipsto see what other tactics are available for improving your marketing presence on Twitter.

If you’re not already using Twitter as part of your business marketing strategy you should definitely start. If you’re already finding success on Twitter, we’d like to know what has been your experience with getting new followers? Are there any additional tips or tricks you’d like to share?