The Agora [Weekly] Pulse – All you need to know about Facebook marketing this week (July 12th)

It’s summer and it’s getting HOT out there. Facebook marketers know that engagement drops during the summer months, so this week we have some inspiration on how to engage Fans and maintain EdgeRank. Facebook contests are one of the best ways to do this, so we look at some great contest apps and get some tips on how to make sure your contest attracts genuine Fans.

#1 Success! 12 Great Contests & the Apps Behind Them

Author: Ian Cleary, Razor Social
Why read this article?

Contests can be a great way to achieve your goals on Facebook. You might want a petition signed, to generate sales for a new product or to develop a targeted database. Here are some examples of organisations that ran very successful contests using some of the best contest apps on the market, including our own.

>> Check it out

#2 Inspired? – Attract Genuine Fans with Your Contest

Author: Emeric Ernoult, AgoraPulse
Why read this article?

Contests are hands-down one of the best ways to attract genuine Fans on Facebook, but only if they are run well. Here are the five steps-to-success for Facebook Marketers planning a contest.

>> Not to be missed

#3 Looking for Content Ideas? Help Is at Hand…

Author: Scott Ayres, Post Planner
Why read this article?

User engagement drops during the hot summer months – I know it’s hard to believe that Fans would prefer to be lying by a pool than commenting on your Posts! Scott Ayres comes to the rescue with some content ideas to protect EdgeRank and get you through the summer.

>> Content ideas here

#4 How to Use Hashtags for Events

Author: David Cohen, All Facebook
Why read this article?

Hashtags can be very powerful but unfortunately are oftentimes overused. This can make them difficult to manage effectively. Here are some great tips on how to use hashtags to promote an event, now that we are all comfortable with using them on Facebook.

>> Main event here

#5 Red Carpet Rollout for Graph Search

Author: David Cohen, All Facebook
Why read this article?

After months of waiting we are pleased to announce that Facebook Graph Search is finally being rolled out to all US English users in the coming weeks. Users may also see a notice on their Homepage reminding them about security settings in advance of the rollout, which will occur automatically.

>> It’s finally here

#6 Take a Peek at the New Page Insights Dashboard

Author: Justin Lafferty, Inside Facebook
Why read this article?

We can’t wait for the new Page Insights dashboard to be rolled out. We think it provides more in-depth and useful information. Here is a preview of how it will look and more importantly, what it can do for busy Page admins. Let us know what you think?

>> See it here

#7 How to Get Mobile App Installs with Facebook Ads?

Author: Blake Jamieson, for Jon Loomer Digital
Why read this article?

The mobile app market is flooded with developers competing for downloads. Here is a comprehensive article on how to use Facebook mobile app install ads, to give you the edge in this highly competitive market.

>> Get the full article here

#8 Here is Some More Content Inspiration

Author: Craig Carter, Ignite Social Media
Why read this article?

We believe that there is no such thing as too many ideas, especially when it comes to great content, so here is another example, with thanks to Wendy’s. We’re lovin’ it ☺
>> Inspiration here

Did we leave anything out? Why not let us know what you think of this week’s roundup? “Like” us on Facebook and leave your comments and if you would like to know more about your page reach, check out our cool [free] tool