Changing the like button to a follow button on a Facebook page is a simple process that can help better engage your audience. Here are the steps to make this update to your Facebook page:
Why Change from Like to Follow?
Facebook introduced the Follow button for pages in 2018 as an alternative to the traditional Like button. There are a few key reasons why you may want to switch your Facebook page from Like to Follow:
- More appropriate engagement – People “like” personal posts from friends, but may want to “follow” brands and public figures to see updates in their feed.
- Drive visibility – Posts from pages users follow can appear higher in the News Feed. This gives your content wider reach.
- No approval needed – Users can follow a page with one click, without the page admin needed to approve it.
- Metrics – Seeing follower growth may better indicate how your community is growing versus just likes.
Overall, the Follow button leads to more relevant engagement from users. It takes their existing Facebook behavior (following friends and interests) and applies it to Pages as well.
Step 1: Go to Your Facebook Page
First, log into your Facebook account and navigate to your Facebook Page. This can be done either by:
- Going directly to the URL of your Facebook Page
- Clicking on the shortcut to your Facebook Page in the left menu of your Facebook account
- Searching for your Facebook Page name and visiting the page that way
You’ll need to access the page as the Admin so that you are able to make changes to the page settings.
Step 2: Click “Settings”
In the top right of your Facebook Page, click on the “Settings” button. It’s represented by a gear icon.
This will open up the Settings menu for your Page.
Step 3: Go to “Templates and Tabs”
In the left sidebar of the Settings menu, click on “Templates and Tabs.”
This section allows you to customize the tabs that appear on your Facebook Page, including changing the Call to Action button.
Step 4: Edit the Page Template
Under the Page Templates section, click on the dropdown next to where it says “Custom” and select “Custom (legacy).”
Then click the blue “Edit Page Template” button.
Step 5: Change the Call to Action
On the Edit Page Template screen, scroll down and locate the Call to Action section.
By default, this will be set to a Like button. Click on the dropdown and change it to Follow.
Step 6: Save Your Changes
At the very bottom of the screen, click the blue “Save Changes” button to save your new Page template settings.
Step 7: Preview and Publish
You will be brought back to the Templates and Tabs menu. At the top, toggle the slider on to enable your new Page template.
Preview the changes and once you are satisfied, click the “Publish Now” button to go live with the updated Page template.
Step 8: Ask Fans to Follow Your Page
After changing to a Follow button, your existing Page likes will not automatically convert to follows. You will need to start building followers from scratch.
Post an update asking current fans to go follow your page. Highlight that this will allow them to see more of your content.
Going forward, encourage new visitors to follow your page as well for the same benefits.
Other Ways to Get Followers
Here are some additional tips for gaining more Page followers:
- Engage followers in comments and respond to questions
- Run a Facebook ad campaign targeting potential interested followers
- Offer an incentive for current fans to follow your page, like a coupon or discount
- Cross-promote your page to followers on other social channels
- Create shareable content that fans will want to interact with
Track Page Insights
As you acquire Facebook Page followers, check your Facebook Insights to monitor how your changes are impacting engagement and reach. Compare to your previous metrics when you had a Like button.
Metrics to watch include:
- Follower count
- Post reach and impressions
- Content engagement rate
- Shares and link clicks
- Growth of followers over time
Optimizing these metrics will demonstrate the value gained from switching your Facebook Page to a Follow button. You’ll be able to deliver content to more users and cultivate an active audience.
Conclusion
Changing your Facebook Page from a Like to Follow button takes just a few steps, but can significantly improve how users engage with your brand. More relevant follows leads to greater reach and keeps fans coming back.
The follow model is more applicable to public Pages and works better for Facebook’s algorithm. Take advantage of this simple update to help your Facebook marketing strategy be more effective.
By following the steps outlined here, you can seamlessly switch your Page from Like to Follow. Focus on driving follower growth and engage these users with compelling content. Follow metrics over time to understand how this impacts reaching your target audience on Facebook.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to your Facebook Page while logged into the admin account |
| 2 | Click on the Settings button (gear icon) |
| 3 | Go to Templates and Tabs in the left menu |
| 4 | Edit the Page template, choose “Custom (legacy)” |
| 5 | Change the Call to Action to a Follow button |
| 6 | Save the changes to the Page template |
| 7 | Enable the template and publish changes |
| 8 | Ask existing fans to follow your Page |
Switching your Facebook Page to a Follow button provides a better experience for your audience while unlocking benefits for your brand. The steps to make the change are straightforward and seamless for existing fans. Focus on driving more relevant engagement through follows to achieve your Facebook marketing goals.
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Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2 billion monthly active users. For businesses and organizations, having an active Facebook Page is important for reaching customers online. To get the most value from a Facebook Page, it’s important to understand how to optimize your presence.
Choosing the right Page settings can impact how you engage users and promote content. One key option is whether to have a Like or Follow button on your Facebook Page. Here is some background on how Facebook’s Like and Follow options work for Pages:
Facebook Page Like Button
The Like button has been a core feature on Facebook for user profiles and Pages. Fans can like content to show their support and receive updates. When someone likes your Facebook Page:
- It will increase your Page’s like count
- Your Page updates may show higher in their news feed
- Their friends may see that they like your Page in their news feed
The term “like” fits better for personal profiles. But for businesses, having followers more accurately represents engaged customers.
Facebook Page Follow Button
With follow buttons now available, Facebook Page admins can choose to switch from Like to Follow. When a user follows a Page:
- They will automatically get updates from your Page in their feed
- It does not need to be approved by the Page admin
- The word “follow” is more commonly associated with brands
Follows represent a more intentional action than a like. Fans expect updates from brands they follow.
Looking at these two options, most businesses find the Follow button is a better fit. It leads to more relevant engagement on Facebook.
Fortunately, the process is quick and easy. You can seamlessly switch your Facebook Page from Like to Follow in just a few steps. Here is an overview of how to convert your Page:
Configure Follow Button in Page Settings
As the Page admin, go to your Facebook Page and click “Settings.” Go to the Templates and Tabs section and edit the Page template. Change the Call to Action from Like to Follow and save your changes.
Publish Page Template Update
With the updated template configured, publish the changes. This will replace the Like button with Follow site-wide.
Ask Fans to Follow Your Page
Likes do not automatically become follows. Post to current fans encouraging them to go follow your Page to keep seeing updates.
Promote Your Page to Gain New Followers
Create compelling content to attract new followers. Use Facebook ads and cross-promotion to build your audience. Track follows and engagement in Insights.
This quick update to replace your Page Like button with a Follow button can help boost engagement. It leads to a more natural experience where users follow brands and topics they are interested in.
Gaining more high-value followers means your content will be shown to more people interested in your brand. When paired with engaging content, the Follow button can take your Facebook marketing results to the next level.
Here are some additional tips for managing a Facebook Page to drive business growth:
Optimize Facebook Page Insights
Monitor your Facebook Insights on a regular basis to understand what content resonates with your audience and what could be improved.
Engage With Followers
Reply to comments, questions, and messages. Ask followers questions to spark two-way conversation.
Post Visually Appealing Content
Great images and video boost engagement. Ensure content looks polished and represents your brand.
Promote Content Across Channels
Cross-promote your best Facebook posts on other platforms like Instagram or Twitter.
Partner With Influencers
Work with influencers in your industry to expand your audience and get expert endorsements.
Run Targeted Facebook Ads
Create Facebook ad campaigns focused on getting more relevant followers and engagement.
Driving results on Facebook goes beyond just having a Page. You need to actively publish, promote, and analyze performance. Making small but strategic optimizations, like switching to a Follow button, can have a noticeable impact.
Here are some final tips for managing a successful Facebook presence:
- Post new content frequently, at least a few times per week
- Respond promptly to inquiries and comments
- Give followers reasons to engage like contests, discounts, and exclusive content
- Advertise your Facebook Page on your website and other marketing materials
- Analyze metrics each month and tweak your content strategy as needed
- Create shareable content like fun videos, inspiring stories, and useful tips
- Partner with other businesses to do cross-promotions and grow each of your audiences
With a strong strategy tailored to Facebook’s latest features, you can turn your Page into a follower magnet. Replacing the outdated Like button with a Follow button is one way to improve relevance and reach more of your target audience.
The key is testing and optimizing your Facebook presence based on data. Try switching your Page to a Follow button and track the results. Keep fine-tuning your approach to unlock the full potential of Facebook marketing.