Saving Face on Facebook – For Business

So you’ve dabbled on Facebook, creating a personal account and have even become fans of a few businesses. But have you taken your business to the next level by incorporating a Facebook page into your business’ marketing and operational plan?

Now is not the time to hesitate. Facebook is ripe for opportunity with people who are searching for your products and services, for connecting and engaging with current and prospective customers, for creating a community around your business and to promote other content you create (including Web pages, blogs, ads, etc.).

Today, more than 450 million people are burning up Facebook, averaging almost an hour a day on the site. In addition, Facebook offers the unique opportunity to target people down to the smallest detail. In April, Facebook announced new “like” buttons that are anticipated to put more added interests in Facebook members’ profiles – data that advertisers can then use to more finely target their ads. For just a few dollars a day, a Facebook ad can attract new customers, patients, donors, prospects or whomever your target audience is.

Here are a few tips to consider as you wade into the social media pool:

• Start by creating a page. Unlike people, who create profiles, businesses need to create a page. While it may sound like common sense, choose who creates the page carefully since the site keeps the creator of your business fan page as an administrator for the life of the page. Populate your page with your business’ brands and personality through comments, questions, blogs and more.
• Claim your name. Many businesses have Facebook pages, but are remiss to take it to the next level. Using the facebook.com/username tool, be sure to claim your user name on facebook. If your website is bobbysbits.com, you claim the facebook name facebook.com/bobbysbits. Telling that to your customers is a sure way to get them to your page and generate more fans.
• Launch conversations. Facebook, by its very nature, is a great feedback loop. You can carry on discussions with customers, introduce surveys and feedback. Get your fans to post memories, pictures, videos and more. Remember, it’s about engagement and interaction, not one-way broadcast.
• Connect to your Web site, blogs, etc., and tell people you’re on Facebook. The name of the game is promote, promote, promote! Facebook is an excellent tool for finding your customers. Rather than investing big bucks to locate your target markets, set a strategy to tap potential customers where they’are already hanging out. You can not only tap your devoted followers but also reach potential customers – using existing customers to spread the word for you through useful content, contests and more. Do this by including your Facebook page on your business cards, posters, products and more. Start by promoting it with your customer list. Create events, discussion boards and news tidbits about your business and community.
• Set a strategy. Think about how you want to use Facebook as a tool for connecting with customers and/or potential customers. Without a strategy, you face just another marketing tool to maintain. It’s worth your while — If you’ve got a facebook page, you’ll enjoy more attention from search engines than if you don’t. Applications and “It’s About” pages are indexed and considered a strong source of relevant content in the eyes of search engines.
• Put everything on Facebook – Another thing overlooked by businesses is the content requirements to keep up a good Facebook presence. Think of everything going on at your company that’s worth of public sharing. New business, upcoming events (and posts on events in progress), press releases, new hires and everything else that happens. Remember, these are your fans that really like you. Give them the news and updates they need. By synchronizing your company news and blog with your Facebook page, you’ll increase the content your Facebook audience will read and will connect with customers regularly just when posting news.
• Advertise. As mentioned above, one of the major benefits of Facebook is that its advertising model uses targeting based on demographic data. So you can target a very narrow, defined audience.

By following a few simple best practices, you can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your Facebook presence. To download a Facebook marketing checklist and view instructional videos on Facebook, visit www.marketingsavant.com/facebook.