If you’re not already using Facebook as a promotional tool for your blog, you might be overlooking a very simple opportunity to expose your content to many potential new readers.

Chances are most of your readers and potential readers already use Facebook more than any other site on the Internet other than email. This volume of usage makes it an ideal resource to reach and engage with them in a place where they are already spending their time.

Connecting with readers and distributing your content in places where they like to communicate is one of the best ways to get exposure. It’s also a lot easier than you may think.

Here are three simple things you can do today to promote your blog with Facebook.

Add a Facebook “Like” button to your blog and blog posts. With the click of a button your readers can share your content, via their Facebook News Feeds, across their network. Most blogging platforms offer tools or plugins and provide simple instructions on how to add this functionality to your site.

Include your blog content on your Facebook profile. You can use third-party tools to automatically post links to new blog posts as they are published or you can manually post them to Facebook with a personalized message to your News Feed.

The personalized message comes off as more genuine and will often result in more interaction. This approach is a great way to update your friends, family, and colleagues about your blog, and leverage your network and theirs to help spread the word and attract new readers. You can also easily see comments or feedback about your content on Facebook.

Also be sure to include an image in your blog post. The image will appear in your Facebook post and make it more attractive.

Create a separate Facebook page for your blog. This is a good idea if you want to keep your blogging identity separate from your personal one, or if your blog is about a specific topic that is not familiar to your network.

Creating a separate Facebook page allows you to connect with like-minded people and engage in conversations related specifically to your blog or your blog’s area of interest. Readers who like the Facebook page will be alerted on their Facebook News Feed whenever there are updates. They can also share your content with their Facebook network, leave feedback in the form of comments, or even connect with other readers on your blog’s Facebook page.

You may find that because people are more comfortable and personally connected with Facebook, they will more likely engage with you there than through your blog. All conversations about your blog don’t have to happen on your site. Just remember to monitor and quickly respond to comments and questions wherever they are posted. The more you engage with your readers, the more they’ll help you build your community.

How are you using Facebook and other social media to promote your blog?

[Photo: CC BY 2.0 by iluvcocacola]