5 TIPS FOR FACEBOOK

We recently attended a seminar on the evolution of Facebook and how to leverage this social media outlet for small businesses. Before the event, there was an opportunity to chat and have coffee with the other attendees. Many of the people we spoke with were starting a new business and were overwhelmed with the task of managing and leveraging social media, especially the beastly Facebook site. Since they had already sunk most of their money into starting their new businesses, it left their advertising budgets in a diminished state.

The good news is that this social media beast is easy to tame, and a valuable investment for those with minimal advertising dollars available. The average person checks their Facebook page at least 14 times a day, and for many; the Facebook NewsFeed is the first thing they see in the morning! So leveraging the enormous Facebook audience is a must for most business owners.

Here are our top 5 ways to use Facebook for your small business:

1. Figure out your demographics

Just like with traditional advertising streams, you better know your target audience. Once you have created your Facebook page, you can use the Facebook insights to report on who your “fans” are- the people that like the page and engage with it on a weekly basis.

2. Create a clear strategy

Don’t just wake up in the morning and post whatever is on your mind at the time. While you want your posts to look authentic and relaxed, there should be a concise social media strategy that reflects your brand image and mission.

3. Boost posts

Because Facebook went public, they have to answer to their shareholders. This meant that business pages are rarely showing up in Newsfeeds unless you are spending money to boost your post. Yes, boosting posts costs money, but it is the best way to ensure that people see the posts you have spent so much time creating. When you have a post that seems well liked by your fans, invest the money required to boost engagement.

4. Focus on photos

Keep your word usage short and sweet, even in the photos. Your audience is scrolling through a newsfeed where you are competing with other companies, your fan’s family photos and your fan’s best friends. They want to see a photo that is intriguing and beautiful to capture their attention. You can add a call to action into the post once you have captured their attention. Also, your profile pic and cover pic should tell the story of your business without jamming up the message with too many words.

5. Connection is key

Monitor your page and if a fan is interacting, interact back in a timely manner. Start a conversation and keep it going. And with any Facebook page, there is bound to be some negative posts by fans…DO NOT let them sit there without a response. You can respond in a public manner and then reach out to them privately to ensure loyalty. Online Reputation Management (ORM) is essential in today’s business world! Even if you are not online your target audience is!

When managed correctly, Facebook is like a trained dog rather than an intimidating beast. Develop a loyal and engaged audience with creative and strategic posts.