Before we dive into the best ways to grow and engage your supporters, if you haven't read Getting Started with Fan Subscriptions
then you'll want to do that first. You can go do that now, we'll wait...
So now what? Your application is approved and activated, you've uploaded your promotional and thank you videos, and you've posted exclusive content in advance. Here's everything you need to know to [help] unlock fan subscription success.
Maximize your first few weeks
On your launch day, announce your subscription offer to all your fans! Share your promotional video and custom subscription link across all your social platforms. On Facebook, post a promotional post announcing your new Facebook subscription. This post will automatically include your promotional video and will have special promotional and distribution privileges (check glossary below for more details). Make sure you include your custom fan subscription signup link!
Note - To see the 'become a supporter' button, fans will need to download the latest version of the Facebook app or go to facebook.com on their desktop, so keep your audience informed!
Once you get the word out, here are tips to keep your followers coming back:
1
Welcome new supporters: Send your supporters a personalized message and respond to new supporter comments on public posts to show your fans the extra love you give to supporters.
2
Post frequently: Post to your supporters at least once per day. It can be exclusive content or something lightweight but meaningful such as behind the scenes photos or videos, Q&As or polls. Sharing regularly will help you engage fans and raise awareness of your subscription offering, especially in your first few weeks.
3
Ask for help: Be confident and ask your supporters to spread the word about your subscription and its exclusive benefits. You can also crowdsource things the audience wants to see you do next!
4
Go Live: Live is a powerful tool for connecting with your fans and gaining more supporters. Build excitement and answer any questions your fans may have about your subscription offer.
Once you've been using fan subscriptions for a bit, post a status to update everyone on how it's going. Invite fans to become supporters and thank those who have subscribed. To encourage more fans to sign up, consider enticing them with teasers of the exclusive content or benefits they'll receive.
Post supporter-only content regularly
You'll be able to create supporter-only posts as soon as soon you submit your Page for approval, giving you plenty of time to start creating exclusive content prior to launch.
Keep the momentum going by posting or going live 3 to 5 times per week, exclusively to your supporters. Think about how you can create new experiences that allow greater access or interaction for your supporters, and use these tips to plan your publishing schedule and create habitual viewership.
Pro tip: Poll your supporters to get feedback and discover what they'd like to see from you!
You'll need to turn on the ability to post to supporters only. Follow these steps to enable then option, you'll only need to do this once!
1
Navigate to your Page settings and select the edit button next to News Feed Audience and Visibility
2
Check the box to 'Allow News Feed audience selection and post visibility options for this Page' and press 'Save Changes'
3
Navigate back to your Page to the post composer box to draft your post
4
At the bottom of the composer box, select the dropdown next to Public and choose 'Supporters only'
Create supporter-only Live videos
Live videos uniquely allow for real time, intimate connections between you and your fans and positively impacts conversion.
Live currently works on iOS, Android, and desktop. This is how you do it:
1
On your Page, tap on the composer box
2
Select Live Video.
3
Tap “...”
4
Select Audience Restrictions
5
Turn on Supporters Only
6
Tap Done
7
Tap Start Live Video
Go live a few times with supporters to highlight the supporter-only benefits to fans. You can also go live on Facebook to garner excitement and answer any questions yours fans may have. Here are some useful tips for your regular Live sessions:
1
Pin a comment with your subscription link. This will maximize the visibility of the sign-up entry inside each livestream.
2
Always put your subscription link in the live description. This will maximize the visibility of the signup entry in news feed.
3
Calling out your supporters is the best organic promotion. Shout out your supporters who take the time to comment on your Live. Seeing existing supporters comment with an exclusive badge might also drive more fans to convert to supporters.
Continue to promote your subscriptions
It's important to continue driving awareness and interest in your subscription by posting about your subscriptions frequently and promoting your subscription link on your other social platforms. Pitch your subscriptions in an authentic way in your videos and Lives. When you engage fans, you'll also raise awareness of your new subscription offering and increase the likelihood that they will subscribe.
Keep engaging your supporters
It's super important to continue to create value for your supporters so that they want to keep supporting every month.
Create supporter goals and rewards: Detailing your goals can incentivize fans to subscribe. Stuff like, “If I reach 400 supporters by the end of the month, I'll be able to get a new piece of equipment to create more awesome, high-quality content for you.”
Create polls: Give your fans a way to provide feedback and suggest ideas.
Answer supporter comments: You'll see their badge, make sure to prioritize them. This helps create a virtuous cycle of appreciation that can boost supporter growth!
Check out your insights
Make sure to check your Page Insights to see what's resonating most with your supporters. Continue tracking active supporter count, new supporters vs. cancelled, and supporter growth trends to see how your effort is bearing fruit. Access your fan subscriptions insights at https://www.facebook.com/(YOUR_PAGE_NAME)/insights/?section=navSupporters.
Now that you've got the tips and tricks for building your Facebook subscription you're on your way to strengthening your community and growing an even stronger fan base. Consistently invest in connecting with your followers and be sure to have fun while you do!
Glossary
Fan Subscriptions: a form of monetization available for Page admins that enables fans to help fund them with recurring monthly payments. People with paid subscriptions become supporters and get access to special supporter benefits.
Supporters: people who purchase a monthly subscription to a Page.
Supporter Benefits: special perks that the Page admin can choose to offer to supporters. A supporter badge is automatically included as a supporter benefit for every fan subscription. Other supporter benefits include exclusive content, live videos, merchandise discounts, and more.
Supporter Badge: a badge that all supporters receive. It appears next to their name when they comment on the Page admin's posts or live videos. Supporters can remove this badge at any time.
Promotional Post: a post that can be published after a creator has uploaded promotional and thank you videos and has activated their subscription. This post will automatically include your promotional video and will have special promotional and distribution privileges: It will automatically have a button attached to it that allows people to become supporters. A notification will also be sent to your most engaged fans, telling them that you published a new video. It will also appear to relevant people in video feeds on Facebook.
Subscription Link: a link that allows people to become supporters. It links to the subscription experience, which will include descriptions of your supporter benefits and will often include your promotional and thank you videos.
Supporter-Only Content: content that is only shown to supporters.
Activate Subscription: This is the action that Page admins take to launch their fan subscriptions and allow people to become supporters.
Note: We are expanding Fan Subscriptions to more creators and countries. See current availability and eligibility here.
