The Importance of Building an Audience on Facebook
Building an audience on Facebook can be very valuable for a business. I learned early on that building an audience and providing value in general is crucial for business success. It’s best to let your audience get to know you so they eventually know, like, and trust you. Being personable helps in forming genuine connections that can lead to long-term success.
Embracing Anonymity on Facebook
When I first started online marketing, I wanted to remain anonymous. I saw a YouTube video where the person explained things on screen with just their voice. Even sharing my voice was, and still is, uncomfortable for me, but I thought I could eventually work up to that level. The idea of maintaining some anonymity while still delivering value seemed appealing at the start.
Finding the Courage to Start on Facebook
After experimenting with paid advertising, I decided to try organic marketing, especially on Facebook. This meant building relationships and trust without the immediate visibility of ads.
I mustered the courage to share parts of myself online, starting with writing posts and gradually moving to audio and video as I became more comfortable. Organic marketing allowed me to connect more deeply with my audience.
Defining My Brand on Facebook
Before tackling audio and video, I needed to figure out my branding. In the corporate world, I was very conservative, but that wasn’t who I wanted to be online. I had t
o decide who I wanted to attract and work with—maybe single dad’s like me or people wanting to quit their day-jobs. This branding process took longer than expected, leading to at least a year-long pause as I struggled with these questions. I asked myself:
- Who did I want to be?
- How would I balance my online persona with my day job?
- What type of people did I want to attract and help?
Overcoming Doubts and Taking a Pause
These questions, unfortunately, derailed my progress for at least a year. I spent far longer on these questions than I could have ever imagined. Every time I would take a step forward, I would run into another question I couldn’t answer. When I asked mentors for help, I received conflicting information, which made it even harder for me. It was really frustrating. I was at a fork in the road and felt the wrong path would be disastrous. Then, of course, life got busy. So, I took some time away to deal with my personal life and let my thoughts marinate and simmer.
Reignit
ing the Spark
Several factors reignited my efforts: settling things at home, discovering artificial intelligence, and realizing I needed to take accountability and push forward without perfect answers. I also understood that mistakes could be fixed. This new mindset was liberating and gave me the confidence to move forward.
Finding Domain Names
It was important to find a domain name that was congruent with my Facebook profiles. Finding a domain name was challenging due to my common name. I used AI to get advice on domain names and found several similar ones to consider. Partnering with Michael Cheyney helped me secure a .net domain (michaelthompsononline.net), which was contrary to the advice I had received but turned out to be a practical solution. This step was crucial in establishing my online presence.
Creating Facebook Profiles
I faced mixed messages from mentors about using personal profiles on Facebook versus business pages. Initially, based on advice I received; I created a business page. Then I was advised that marketing from my personal profile was the thing to do. As a result, I created a personal profile to market from. Now, I also have a business page, Michael Thompson Online, which is currently in my second Likes/Followers campaign. In my first campaign, I was able to reach my first 1,000 Likes/Followers within 7 days. The decision to use both types of profiles has allowed me to engage with a broader audience.
Results and Future Plans
I created this blog a few months ago and have spent the last month studying different experts on growing social media audiences. With a clear path and plan, I expect my Facebook audience to grow rapidly.
You can check out my pages: My Facebook profile is Michael Laurent, with the website mlaurentthompson.com/7streams, and my business page is Michael Thompson Online, with the website michaelthompsononline.net.
The journey has been challenging but rewarding, and I look forward to sharing more of my experiences and insights with you.
Please comment, like me on Facebook, and subscribe to my newsletter. As always, your support means the world.
To your success,
Mike
14 replies to "Facebook – Starting My Profile and Page"
Mike, your journey of starting your Facebook profile and getting the balance between personal and business profiles is a great approach. How did you overcome the year-long pause, and what tips do you have for staying focused amidst conflicting advice? I’m excited to see where your determination takes you next. Keep pushing forward—your efforts are truly paying off! “
After being away for awhile, any email list you have becomes virtually a dead list. I pretty much had to start over. It was a gut punch. Goals ultimately drive me, though. I knew that if I had the right direction, whatever happened in the past didn’t matter. Building an audience that likes and trusts me was more valuable than losing a list of non-buyers.
Now, when I get conflicting information from people I am following, and maybe I’m in a better place than I was back then, I just test and see which one works best for me if I’m not sure.
Hi Mike,
Great post! I appreciate your honesty about the challenges of building an audience on Facebook. Your journey from wanting to remain anonymous to embracing organic marketing is inspiring. The detailed steps you took, from defining your brand to creating your profiles, provide valuable insights for anyone starting out. Congratulations on reaching 1,000 followers in just seven days! Looking forward to more of your content and learning from your experiences. Keep up the great work!
Meredith
Thank you Meredith. I’m glad the content has been valuable so far.
Mike, Your journey in building an audience on Facebook is inspiring and shows great perseverance. It’s helpful to hear how you overcame initial fears and confusion about branding and marketing strategies. Your honesty about the challenges you faced and the practical steps you took, like using AI for domain names, is valuable advice for others. I appreciate the insights you’ve shared and look forward to following your continued progress. Thank you for sharing your story! Thanks, Atif
Thank you, Atif. I’m glad my venture out of my comfort zone is paying off.
Michael, Thanks for sharing your journey so far. Sounds like your moving in the right direction with your strategies concerning branding. I look forward to hearing more from you as you continue moving along in FB. Let us know about some of your wins along the way!
Thank you Ken, I will.
Congratulations on achieving 1000+ followers on your FB business account. You are evidently well on your way to online success. I look forward to seeing you thrive! Good luck and all the best.
Thank you very much!
Hi Mike,
It looks like you have had a rough journey thus far. But at least you are still going.
I understand those conflicting answers can get annoying. I have experienced those myself in the past.
I guess it’s because every person experiences different things, and we all see the world differently based on our past experiences.
Congratulations on keeping at it and not giving up. Good luck with Facebook. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. Yes, I realized that people can have differing preferences of online methods and both can be “right”. You ultimately have to find what works for you, sometimes by trial and error.
Your journey into building an audience on Facebook is so relatable. It’s incredible how you’ve embraced stepping out of your comfort zone, starting with writing posts and gradually moving to audio and video. Finding your branding amidst corporate conservatism must have been a journey in itself, but it’s inspiring how you’ve navigated through doubts and found renewed motivation.
Congrats on hitting your milestone of 1,000 Likes/Followers so quickly!
Keep sharing your insights and experiences—I’m sure they’ll resonate with many others navigating their own online journeys. Looking forward to following your progress!
Thank you. I did my best to convey what it was like, but I truly don’t know if words can capture it.