The attached article offers some very good insight on creating a Facebook Fan Page that your listeners will actually want to join.  Too many radio station/show fan pages consist of nothing more than  plugs for upcoming show segments, news headlines or half-hearted attempts to generate listener comments on a news story or issue.  Some appear to be complete afterthoughts.  I recently came across a station fan page that hadn’t been updated since January.  On another station’s fan page, listeners who posted questions or comments about  programming decisions received no answer — or a terse response.  Both of these Facebook miscreants are in Top 10 markets.

A Facebook fan page isn’t mandatory, but once you put it up, the page becomes part of your brand.  Its content needs to reflect the standards you want people to associate with your station or show. That’s why one of my clients has its marketing director approve and oversee all fan pages associated with the station.

But a fan page can do more than expose your brand.  It can be a powerful tool for building a connection with your most loyal listeners — but only if you are willing to provide real value, including a willingness to engage them in a good-faith two-way conversation.  Think of your fan page as a cross between a Loyal Listeners Club and “Ask The Manager” and you’ll start to see the real value.