Engaging your Facebook fans: 5 tips from Simphiwe Dana

On October 29th 2010, a fan posted on Afro-Soul singer Simphiwe Dana’s Facebook wall this message: “I love the fact that you actually interact with us. Happy to be your friend” With social media making it easier to reach superstars, the ones who see the value of interaction are the ones who reap the rewards of the medium.

Simphiwe recently posted an update on her Facebook status, lamenting the fact that she was finding it hard to find a good school in Cape Town that offered her children an indigenous language as a first or second language. The post trailed on with a long thread of comments from her fans.

This led The Sunday Times editor to ask her to write an article on a unifying African language (31 October 2010). The article caused much debate on various radio stations and escalated the interaction on Simphiwe’s Facebook page.

Weeks later people are still engaging her on the topic – she even posted an unedited version of the article in her Notes on Facebook. And a recent update she put up responding to the discussion on her Facebook page has close to 100 comments on it!

The journey of the story, from online to offline, then back online again is incredible. Most notable is Simphiwe’s consistent use of Facebook, which she says is: “A great way to get a sense of what the climate of the country’s mental state is, as well as a way I can get human contact with my fans.”

She also says that it has helped her ensure journalists don’t misquote her in articles, as she is able to let people know what the real story is. That’s the power of social media!

With that said, she gives some simple advice to other artists who are looking to also maximize on the power of interacting with fans.

1. Engage
I love that Facebook allows for me to take time and respond at length to people. It also allows me to pick their brains, get to know some people’s thoughts. You have to answer questions, taking in some feedback and engage people. You start getting to know the very active fans and conversation starts flowing more consistently.

2. Keep it topical
I usually throw a topic out there and wait for takers and then discuss. Sometimes I quote friends’ posts that I find interesting and make some meaningful conversation. Topics keep the discussions going.

3. Don’t take things too personally
You’re a natural target as a brand, people expect you not to have feeling and some will try to tear you apart. Know that you’re very vulnerable when you’re on social media so keep it light and temper free. Once you’re established some kind of community on your profile, you find that other people respond to the person who’s been abusive, instead of you having to entertain it.

4. Protect yourself
You don’t have to put out too much of yourself, just enough for them to know you’re human. I wouldn’t put up unnecessary pictures of my children though, you have to protect your loved ones too.

5. Don’t let it take up too much of your time
It can be addictive so check yourself! Let people know when you’re too busy to interact. Just be honest with them, they’ll know you’re also human and have a real life as well!