Using Facebook for your business is a great way to get your business noticed without spending a fortune. Don’t think of it as “one more place you have to advertise” because it really can be fun and easy. By keeping your Facebook page current and informative, your business can create a great online presence in conjunction with your website.
Do’s
Showcase your business by creating a great Facebook page. Your Facebook page is just as important as your website. Make sure you portray your business well on Facebook by making it easy to understand, honest, and relevant. When users “Like” your page, you want them to get a good impression about who you are and what you’re all about. Keeping an informative page helps users understand what your business does and how to access your services.
Keep your information up-to-date. Make sure to update your Facebook regularly for many reasons. First, by keeping things current, your content is fresh. Also, as you update your information, this gets your message in the users’ news feeds and keeps them involved. Create activity on your page for others to see.
Portray a friendly and fun internet personality. Facebook is a place for friends and fun. By creating a fun personality on your Facebook page, unlike your website, you offer a different kind of connection with your fans and friends. No one wants to be friends with someone uptight or too serious. Keep your content fun so users will keep visiting. Even if your business is serious, like a law firm or an ambulance company, there are ways to keep content positive and fun. Consider offering “Did You Know?” facts and other ways to create a positive light around your business.
Advertise tastefully. Create online contests, polls, and other ways users can be interactive. Get other Facebook users involved. By having fun contests, your users can enter and participate in fun challenges. Facebook is a great solution for affordable advertising and getting to know your customers better. Consider creating polls for users to rate your products and services. When users share their feedback on your products or services, other users see this as well.
Acknowledge your customers. Reply when a visitor posts a comment, link or picture on your page. A simple “Thanks!” or “Great idea!” creates a positive line of communication between your business and your customers. People love to be interact. That is why they are on Facebook in the first place. You create a positive connection when you keep your customers involved in your business.
Follow other great businesses. Facebook is still new to a lot of people and everyone is still navigating how to make the most of it. By following other businesses on Facebook, you may be able to get ideas to improve your Facebook. Some great ones are Netflix, The Grass Pad, Oklahoma Joe’s and Chik-fil-a.
Don’ts
No spam.Annoying posts and advertisements will only irritate your fans. They’ll only continue to “Like” you if you give them something to like.
Don’t repeat yourself. Businesses who continue to post the same content will eventually be ignored. Even if you are committed to sending the same message, you can still create different ways to present things. Be creative and keep your content fresh and relevant.
Don’t be boring. Don’t just post ‘text’ updates. On Facebook, people don’t want to read a novel. Keep your posts simple and easy with pictures and different forms of media. Think about the things you like to see on Facebook and give users what they want.
Don’t give up! Most importantly, don’t quit before Facebook begins to work for you. Every single Facebook user starts out with no friends or fans. Developing your business Facebook page can be a slow process. Continue to be persistent and keep a positive attitude. You and your customers will be glad you did.
You can LIKE my facebook page at www.facebook.com/davidknowssearch
For more advanced facebook strategies, read How to Get Your Facebook Posts to Populate in the News Feed More Often
Great tips! I agree with everything that is on your post. A Facebook page is as important as your site since you are actually able to communicate with your fans more and it lets you build an image of yourself. These two things can really help out with your site.
David, first of all I really need to change my user name if I am to be taken seriously in these discussions.
From my experience I think the big challenge with B2B on Facebook is that generally the decision makers at businesses are older and may not have a Facebook account or at least don't use it in a business sense. If they are in need of a service they feel more comfortable searching on Google than finding them on a site where the biggest thing is Justin Bieber and the Jersey Shore.
I did say generally in the above paragraph so IMO there is still potential to earn sales even in a B2B market. However, I would bet that even if people find you on Facebook as an internet marketer/ad agency/design firm etc. they are going to check out your website either through a link you posted or by finding it on your page/profile before deciding to do business with you.
So my point is that the website is still vastly more important but there is a place for Facebook and social media.
theStever, I didn't used to think facebook pages were as important as your website and maybe that is a bit of a stretch. But I can't help but think of how much money we spent on our Cancun vacation and how they probably wouldn't have gotten our business without a facebook page. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that facebook pages are BECOMING just as important as websites.
As for B2B, you're always going to have struggles online because it's a real B2C environment. But remember, even the 2nd B in B2B is still a consumer at heart and uses the web the same as everyone else.
thanks for your comments!
David
I agree with all your main points but I feel that saying your Facebook page is just as important as your website is a stretch to say the least especially for B2B companies.
The biggest challenge with Facebook and other social media sites is how much time and attention is required to make them a successful tool. You almost need someone dedicated to this to do it right. But most business owners just want to tack it on to the responsibilities of an employee who has more important tasks to accomplish.
Regard2011,
Thanks!
-David
I enjoy you because of all of your effort on this site. Its been an motivation for me. I've passed this onto a friend of mine.
Regard2011
Actually, I don't think a debate is in order. I'd rather just have a conversation so I could learn from you. I'm all about getting around people who are smarter than me.
I do not claim to be an expert on these topics (Note this comment in my blog intro: “There are definitely more knowledgeable people out there and probably better explanations. If the info here is too simplistic, I encourage you to seek out more in depth explanations.”)
Truth is, my posts are meant to be high level. That's kinda the point. So many business owners are trying to navigate the worlds of SEO, PPC, Social Media, Internet Marketing… I just want to help those that are new to the space to get a basic understanding. I encourage everyone to “graduate” to blogs that are more specialized and educational when they are ready.
As for my understanding of the subjects being generic – I think you might be surprised. Just because I don't write more elaborate posts about SEO, PPC and Social Media doesn't mean I don't get them. My relationships with some of the smartest people in internet marketing have taught me a lot. Not to mention the fact that I get my clients RESULTS.
Regard2011, I do appreciate your comment. My best guess – I could learn a lot from you, and I would surprise you in person. Maybe some day we'll get the chance to find out. 🙂
What I wouldnt give to have a debate with you about this. You just say so many things that arrive from nowhere that Im fairly certain Id have a fair shot. Your blog is wonderful visually, I mean people wont be bored. But others who can see past the videos and the layout wont be so impressed together with your generic understanding of this subject.
Regard2011