We’re all pretty familiar with social media these days. But it’s not just for socializing – you can take advantage of their native algorithms  do your marketing for you, as long as you know how to work with their systems. And each platform – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc – work in different ways. While it takes some investment of time and learning to figure out which work best for you, it’s well worth it. After a while, you’ll be able to make an educated decision on which one or two will work best for you.

Each platform deserves its own post. Let’s start with Facebook.

According to Forbes.com, it’s the #1 platform used by businesses – 47% of all businesses, in fact! Despite what seems like a slam dunk, owners are often disappointed by their marketing efforts in FB though. Why? Because they go in without a smart strategy.

 

Don’t Be Salesy

 

First, always keep in mind that FB is for socializing and having fun. Outright “selling” is a huge turn off. It comes across as “in your face” advertising, and makes you seem more interested in making a buck than making friends. It won’t give people a warm and fuzzy feeling for you or your business. So be a friend, be helpful, reach out and form relationships. Being a multi-dimensional human being who people can relate to will go a long way. Write posts regularly, let people get to know you like an old friend. Let them feel like part of your daily life, and always show your appreciation!

With that being said, don’t lose focus on your goals, and end up treating your business FB like a party. You’re the face of your business at all times! Write engaging posts that are valuable to your potential clients, and post often. Encourage engagement and sharing. Good will is the name of the game. Post often, and reply to comments quickly.

You’re not limited to writing posts, either. You can share photos – of your products, yes – but also “behind the scenes,” works in progress, you and your team doing what you do. You can also share videos, and hold Facebook Lives, where you interact with your followers in real time.

Always keep in mind, FB is about engagement and building relationships.

 

Setting Up Your Facebook Business Page

 

Use an image for your profile photo that people will associate with your business. Your logo or a head shot of yourself are good choices. It’s an image people will see over and over, every time you post. “A picture is worth a thousand words!”

Write a bang-up ad in your company’s “About” section. Here’s where good copywriting comes in. Make those words work hard for you; there’s not a lot of space, so get to the point.

Use FB’s targeting tools (more on these later) to write posts tailored to your audience. Always write for your ideal client, and that’s who you will attract. The Law of Attraction at work!

Quality over quantity. One engaging post a day is plenty. More than that, and people will start losing interest. Keep them hanging on your every word. You don’t want to come across like an annoying commercial. One effective post is better than five that are just fluff.

There are two types of posts for businesses: organic and paid. You can pay FB to boost your posts to more people. They’re pretty affordable, too. Organic posts are like posting in your personal account. They end up being found by chance. Marketing on FB is an entire industry unto itself.

 

So Why Facebook?

 

What makes FB such a great place to start with your advertising efforts? Well, it has 1.4 billion users encompassing all demographics. Pretty amazing, right? Users spend a lot of time there – more than any other platform, according to Web.com. Affordability of advertising, already mentioned, with lots of bang for your buck. FB ads are highly targeted for whatever demographic your clients might live in; The hard work is done for you.

If your business is local, the “check in” feature is very useful. Have customers “check in” every time they come to your business in exchange for a discount, or to enter a drawing to be featured on your Page. Or you can use it so people can see what you’re up to – always related to your business, of course!

So remember – always post for your ideal customer. Be engaging; be funny. Make friends!

Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov on Unsplash

 

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