How to Get New Followers on Facebook

Growing your Facebook follower count can feel like a slow, uphill battle. You’re posting consistently, but the numbers just aren't moving the way you want. This guide cuts through the noise and provides clear, actionable strategies to attract new followers who genuinely want to connect with your brand. We'll cover everything from optimizing your page for discovery to creating content people love and using smart, low-cost promotional tactics.

Foundation First: Optimize Your Facebook Page for Discovery

Before you spend any time creating content, your Facebook Page needs to be a welcoming and informative destination for potential followers. Think of it as your digital storefront. If a new visitor lands on your page and it's incomplete or confusing, they’re unlikely to stick around, let alone hit the "Follow" button. Here’s how to set your page up for success.

Choose the Right Category and Template

This is a small step with a big impact. When you select a specific category for your business (e.g., "Restaurant," "Local Service," "Digital Creator"), you’re giving Facebook important signals about what you do. This helps the platform suggest your page to users interested in that category. Facebook also provides different page templates with default tabs and buttons suited for that category. For example, a restaurant template might feature a "Menu" tab, while a services template might highlight "Reviews."

To check or change yours, go to your Page Settings >, Templates and Tabs. Make sure the template aligns with your business goals.

Complete Every Single Section

An incomplete profile looks unprofessional and untrustworthy. Go through every section of your page and fill it out completely. Here's a quick checklist:

• About/Bio: Write a clear, concise description of what you do and who you serve. Use keywords your ideal follower might search for.
• Contact Information: Add your website, phone number, and email. If you have a physical location, add the address and hours of operation.
• Story: A great place for longer-form storytelling. Share your mission, your brand story, or how you got started. This builds a deeper connection with new visitors.

The more information you provide, the easier it is for people to find you through search - both on and off Facebook - and for them to understand your brand instantly.

Set a Custom Page URL (Vanity URL)

Instead of a generic URL with a long string of numbers, create a custom URL that’s clean and memorable. Your vanity URL should be www.facebook.com/YourBrandName. This looks far more professional when you share it in your email signature, on business cards, or on other social profiles. You can set this up in your Page's "General" settings under "Username."

Create Content That Captivates an Audience

Once your page is optimized, your focus should shift to creating content that stops the scroll. The goal isn’t an audience, it’s the right audience - people who will engage with your content, cheer for your brand, and eventually become customers. Here’s how to create content that builds that loyal following.

Prioritize Short-Form Video (Especially Reels)

If you do one thing to grow your page, make it this. Facebook and Instagram are heavily prioritizing short-form video in the feed. Reels, in particular, have tremendous potential to reach people who don't already follow you. Unlike regular posts, which are mainly shown to your existing followers, Reels are distributed based on interest, opening the door to a massive new audience.

Focus on creating Reels that are:

• Educational: Quick tips, "how-to" demonstrations, or busting common myths in your industry.
• Entertaining: Something fun, relatable, or that leverages a trending audio clip.
• Inspiring: Share a customer success story or a behind-the-scenes look at your brand's mission in action.

You don't need a professional camera crew. A modern smartphone, good lighting, and clear audio are all you need to get started. Just be authentic and provide value.

Follow the 80/20 Rule: Value Over Promotion

Nobody wants to follow a page that feels like one long commercial. A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule: 80% of your content should provide value to your audience (educate, entertain, inspire), and only 20% should be directly promotional. When you give more than you ask, people learn to trust a page and look forward to your posts rather than tuning them out.

Show the Human Side of Your Brand

People connect with people, not logos. Pull back the curtain and show the real faces behind your brand. This type of content builds community and trust better than almost anything else. Some ideas include:

• Team Spotlights: Introduce your team members and share a fun fact about them.
• Behind-the-Scenes: Show how a product is made, how you prepare for a client project, or what a typical day at the office looks like.
• User-Generated Content (UGC): Reshare photos, videos, or testimonials from your happy customers. It’s both social proof and great content you don't have to create from scratch.

Engage Like a Community Manager, Not a Broadcaster

Social media is a two-way conversation. So many brands treat Facebook as a billboard where they just blast out their message. Thriving pages treat it like a community gathering where they actively participate. The Facebook algorithm rewards this behavior with increased visibility.

Write Captions That Start a Conversation

Don't just describe the photo or video you're posting. Your caption is an opportunity to generate engagement. End your posts with an open-ended question to encourage comments. For example, instead of saying, "Here’s our new coffee flavor," try, "Our new vanilla lavender latte is here for spring! What's your go-to coffee order?" This simple shift invites a response.

Respond to Every Comment and Message

This is non-negotiable. When someone takes the time to leave a comment on your post or send you a message, responding shows that you’re listening. Quick, friendly responses build strong relationships and signal to the algorithm that your page is active and creating positive interactions. Even a simple "Thanks so much!" can make a world of difference.

Leverage Facebook Groups Strategically

Facebook Groups are a goldmine for finding your target audience where they're already spending their time. Join groups related to your industry or niche - not with your personal profile, but as your Facebook Page (an option enabled in most groups). Don't just jump in and post links to your website. Spend time in the group providing genuine value:

• Answer other members' questions.
• Share helpful advice and insights.
• Participate in relevant discussions.

By establishing yourself as a helpful expert, people will naturally become curious and click through to your Page to see what you're all about.

Use Low-Cost, High-Impact Promotional Strategies

While organic efforts are the foundation of a healthy follower base, a few strategic promotional tactics can significantly speed up your growth without breaking the bank.

The Best Kept Secret: Invite Post-Engagers to Follow You

This is the most effective and underutilized tactic for getting new followers. When someone who doesn't follow you likes or reacts to one of your posts (perhaps after seeing it shared by a friend), Facebook allows you to send them an invitation to follow your page. Here’s how:

1. Click on the like/reaction counter on any of your posts.
2. A list of everyone who reacted will pop up.
3. Next to the names of people who don't already follow your page, you’ll see an "Invite" button.
4. Click "Invite" for each person.

These people have already shown interest in your content, so they are highly likely to convert into followers. Make a habit of doing this once a week on your most popular posts.

Promote Your Page Everywhere Else

Don’t operate in a silo. Promote your Facebook Page across all of your other marketing channels:

• Add a social icon linking to your Facebook Page in your website footer.
• Include a link within your email signature.
• Regularly cross-promote your Facebook Page on your other social media accounts like Instagram, TikTok, or X. Give people a reason to follow you on Facebook specifically, like "Follow us on Facebook for exclusive behind-the-scenes content!"

Run a Contest or Giveaway

A well-run giveaway is a fantastic way to generate excitement and attract new followers quickly. The prize should be something relevant to your brand to attract the right people, not just freebie-seekers.

To enter, you can ask participants to:

1. Follow your Page.
2. Like the giveaway post.
3. Comment by tagging a friend (which expands your reach even further).

Just make sure to follow Facebook's promotion guidelines to stay in compliance.

Final Thoughts

Growing a following on Facebook requires a mix of thoughtful strategy and consistent effort. By optimizing your page, creating content that truly connects with your target audience, engaging in real conversations, and using a few smart promotional tactics, you can turn a stagnant page into a thriving community.

Consistently managing all of this can be challenging, but an effective workflow makes all the difference. As a team of social media managers ourselves, that's precisely why we built our tool. With a visual content calendar, you can plan everything ahead without messy spreadsheets. With our reliable scheduler, you can trust your content - especially video - goes live every time. And our unified inbox brings all your comments and DMs into one place so you never miss another conversation. With Postbase, you can spend less time juggling tabs and more time growing your brand.