Calculate the value of your Facebook Fan Page

Maintaining a Facebook Fan Page is a lot of work.

You need to attract targeted fans who care about your topic. You must consistently provide compelling content. And you should respond to every person who responds to you.

So how much is all this work really worth?

Find out with the Social Page Evaluator, which helps marketers determine the value of a page. Type your Fan Page URL into the window and it will calculate the valuation based on factors such as the number of fans, how often you post each day, and the number of times you interact with your fans.

A  chart lets you compare the current value and the potential value, based on activity from the last 30 days.  I measured the value of my publicity tips fan page and here’s what it’s worth:

I like the fact that they make suggestions on best practices that can improve the value of your page.

Post frequency: “You may be posting too often or not often enough. Be aware of what content you would like users to see from your brand and how frequently you are posting.” (I post several times a week, and I’m guessing that they think that isn’t often enough.)

Post type: “You are already making effective use of multimedia and dynamic wall posts. The next step for you could be the use of wall apps for heightened engagement.”

Short URL: “Having a branded, shortened URL would give your links more credibility and assurance to users that the link will redirect to a relevant page.”

A”Fan-tasize” section lets you manipulate other features like number of posts per day, how often you reply to your fans, and the number of fans, to see how that will affect the value of your page. If you’re looking for more ways to attract fans, see 11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook.

Curious about how your page stacks up to those of your competitors?  You can compare your page to up to three other brands at a time.

Be sure to sign up for email updates on your page’s value.

The evaluator tool was created by Vitrue, the social media management company.

Contact information for this blog

If you’re interested in submitting a guest blog post, or you have other questions about this blog, here’s where to contact us:

Joan Stewart
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
262-284-7451
JStewart@PublicityHound.com
PublicityHound.info

Customer support:
619-955-5772
chris@serenityva.com

Fiction authors: Blog about these 19 topics

The most fun thing in my office: A miniature replica of my first car, nicknamed “The White Tornado”

Fiction writers often struggle with what to write about at their blogs.

Help is on the way.

Check out these five ideas specifically for fiction writers, at the Writer’s Digest blog. Be sure read all the comments where more ideas are buried.
Here are 19 of my own ideas, most of which work just as well for  non-fiction writers.
Print this list and tack it to your bulletin board, so you’ll never be lacking for something to write about:
  1. What writing problems do you struggle with, and how do you solve them?
  2. Share fun facts about geographic locations where your romance novels or other fiction takes place.
  3. Pay attention to questions people are emailing you. Often, these are great fodder for a blog. (Excerpted from the handout “101 Ways to Find Content for Your Blog” from the teleseminar Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging.)
  4. What’s the most unusual thing in your office that inspires, entertains or humors you?  Make sure to include the photograph when you post.  Mine is a miniature replica of my first car: a 1962 white Chevy Nova we affectionately nicknamed “The White Tornado.”
  5. What sparks your creativity?
  6. Who is your hero?  And why?
  7. What one event in your childhood had the greatest effect on your writing career?
  8. If you weren’t doing what you do today, what other job would you have?
  9. Who is your best friend, and what do you like best about him or her?  List your best friend’s favorite books. How do they compare to yours?
  10. What “lesson from mom” do you still live by today?
  11. What’s the one thing you want to accomplish, or write about, before you die?
  12. If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Would you write or read there, or do something else?
  13. Do you have a pet that keeps you company when you write?  If so, write about him or her.  Has your pet taught you anything about writing?  If so, what?
  14. What’s the worst writing mistake you ever made that taught you a valuable lesson?
  15. What’s the most unusual place you have visited?
  16. What’s the most unusual book you’ve read that’s made a lasting impression on you?
  17. If you could have a quiet dinner with just one author, who would you choose?
  18. Create a survey that’s related to the topic of your book and share it with readers.  Report the results.
  19. Create a fun quiz about one of your books and award a cool prize.

Finally, the very best free tool for finding content for your blog is Google Alerts. Create one or more alerts using keywords or keyword phrases that tie into the topics you write about. You’ll have so many ideas for blog posts that you’ll wonder how you ever worried about finding enough.

Authors, what do you blog about? Which posts elicit the greatest number of comments from your readers?

Syndicated columnists need sources; you can be one

stilleto shoeSyndicated columnists can be valuable connections for a publicity campaign because they have such a far reach.

To find them, you can do your homework, consult media directories and search online for columnists who cover your topic.

But don’t forget about the free and fee-based services that can feed you leads several times a day on exactly what types of sources columnists and other journalists, broadcasters and bloggers are seeking.

For instance, today’s feed from Reporter Connection, includes two leads for these columnists:

  • Workplace columnist Mildred Culp is seeking job-related questions from job-hunters who can’t get hired.
  • Syndicated columnist Lisa McLeod wants to know: are women being hobbled by their wardrobes? She’s looking for shoes and bags that give you an edge without killing your feet, neck, knees and back. “These will be road-tested at an upcoming women’s conference, and we will include images and links to websites when we run the article. We’ll only report on the ones that worked.” Her column is printed in 10 daily newspapers, the Huffington Post, and several top business women’s sites.

If you’re not subscribing to these free leads services, including PitchRate.com and  Help a Reporter Out, start.

PR Leads, a fee-based service, is a great time-saver because it delivers only leads in your area of expertise. ProfNet, the granddaddy of leads services, is a much pricier alternative that delivers several feeds per day.

(Shutterstock photo)

Wanted: Tips to publicize ebook for college students

College woman resting her head on a pile of booksKatie Schwartz Chattanooga, TN, asks:

“What are some ways to reach education reporters, or parents of students about to enter college?

“I have written an ebook called Portable Parent for parents and college students, with advice the students need on life skills such as time and money management, as well as much more.  Parents download it, add their input and upload it to the students’ computers so the advice is ready when they are.  Instant info, with a parent’s input, 24/7.  How can I publicize this?”

(Shutterstock photo)