How to Increase Engagement on Your Team’s Facebook Page

In today’s day and age having a social media presence is a given for any brand, sports teams included. From Twitter and Facebook to Instagram and Snapchat, many sports teams are successfully engaging their fans across various social media networks.

If you already have a social media presence, you’re on the right track. But, opening up a social media account and tooting your own horn is not enough. In fact, sometimes it can do more harm than good.

In order to see the best results from your social media activity, you have to make a real connection with your fans. This requires interacting with them on a regular basis by asking questions and responding to comments, no matter which social media platform you prefer.

It also means employing your creativity and knowing what your fans like to help you establish a more personal relationship.

While the above is a great recipe for getting engagement on almost any social media platform, some of them, like Facebook, make it a little harder to reach your fans.

It’s no secret that Facebook likes to change their algorithm quite frequently, making it harder for your posts to be seen. However, there are ways to engage your fans and add visibility to your posts.

In today’s article, we’ll share eight tips for increasing engagement on your Facebook page.

Eight Tips to Boost Engagement on Your Team’s Facebook Page

1. Use the Power of Live Video

Video is a hot marketing trend nowadays. Videos are easy to consume and they can engage your fans on a more emotional level than images alone. You can use it in many different ways, from sharing moments before or after the game, letting your players appear on video to greet the fans, or to announce big events.

The Denver Broncos used Facebook Live to announce Peyton Manning was retiring from the NFL. The post received more than 40,000 shares and over 25,000 comments.

2. Let Your Fans Take Over For a Day

One of the most common pieces of advice you hear when it comes to social media engagement is to know your audience and speak their language. What better way to get to know your audience than to let your fans take over your page for a day and share their unique insights and message with the rest of the community?

You could run a contest on your page a few days prior and ask your fans to submit content examples or ideas. The winner gets to take over your Facebook page for a time period you designate. After that, you can remove their admin rights and repeat the process for another fan.

New Jersey Devils really took that advice to heart and launched their Mission Control – a digital communications center with the sole idea of more effective brand management on their Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts. Their accounts are managed by their fans and it’s totally paying off.

3. Organize a Scavenger Hunt

Did you win a big game? Consider using the goods from the game as items that need to be found. Scatter them around your town and share clues about their locations on your Facebook page.

St.Louis Cardinals did exactly that and launched a scavenger hunt after their big World Series win. They teamed up with the company, Louisville Slugger and hid 45 World Series commemorative bats at different locations then posted clues on Facebook.  Their fans loved it and it served as a nice way not only to increase their engagement but to make their fans feel special.

4. Feature a Fan

Another way to make your fans feel special is to feature them on your page. This shows the other fans that you do care about them personally, rather than just boosting your follower count.

This is another area where the St. Louis Cardinals win – they feature their fans regularly on their Facebook page and their fans can suggest a person to be featured along with sending a brief story and a photo why the person should be chosen.

5. Share Behind-the-Scenes Moments

Die-hard sports fans want to know everything there is to know about their favorite sports teams. They want to be on the inside and crave more information than what’s related to the latest game announcement, player transfers, or game statistics.

Show them what happens in the locker room, on the bus, or during training. Share personal information about your team members – their birthdays, how they spend their free time, etc. Show fans the person behind the player.

Don’t be afraid of sharing even the funny or embarrassing moments – it makes you and your team more relatable.

The LA Lakers share not only statuses about the games, but also game highlights and moments from the locker room, training, and images that show their players celebrating a win:

6. Run a Contest

Another thing sports fans love is winning sports-related goodies, especially if those goodies get them closer to their favorite players. Running contests has been a tried and true technique for many brands on Facebook, so there is absolutely no reason for your team not to jump on the bandwagon.

Winning tickets to your next game might seem like an obvious choice here, but there are other things you can turn into a prize. Consider giving out signed jerseys, hats, balls, bats, pucks, and other memorabilia. You could also offer a lunch date with one of the players or a surprise visit to the winner.

Carolina Hurricanes is one sports team that uses this strategy before every game which creates hype and interest in their fans as well as increases their engagement.

7. Ask for Engagement

There’s an old saying that says “If you want something, ask for it.” You can do the same by asking your fans for and encouraging engagement. Invite them to comment, ask what they thought about the game, and how would they change the game strategy.

You can also submit photos and ask fans to caption them or simply ask for recommendations about places to see and things to do the next time you’re going out of town or state for a game.

Even though they’re local, the New York Jets still wanted to know who makes the best pizza in NY or NJ and they took the question to their fans.

8. Promote Your Facebook Page On Other Networks

While Facebook is certainly a giant in the social media world, it’s not the only platform out there. There is no rule against promoting your page on other networks like Twitter or Instagram. In fact, you should invite your fans to like your page on Facebook so they don’t miss out on a live interview with your number one player or an exclusive contest to win tickets.

Make a Game Plan For Increasing Engagement

Just like in a sports game, social media is not something you can win without strategy. Use the tips above to create a game plan for your Facebook page marketing and stick to it. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try something new – the results might just surprise you.

And if you want to take your site to the next level, don’t forget to check out our SportsPress plugin and be sure to download our checklist of eight ways to increase engagement on your Facebook page, too. Good luck!

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