Is Facebook For Business?

What is Facebook and Why does my Business Need It?

Facebook is a social networking website, founded in 2004, originally known as The Facebook. It’s an online meeting area, where you can connect with your friends, business associates and your customers; and with their friends. Facebook allows you to make new connections who share similar interests, expanding your personal network exponentially.

Facebook users are able to search for friends and acquaintances by e-mail address, school, university, or just by typing in a name or location for search. When people become friends, they are able to see others’ posts and view parts of their profiles including contact information. However, different privacy settings can be customised by each Facebook User.. E-mail notifications let users know when new friends have chosen to add them to their list or when someone has sent a message to them within the system.

Facebook Users can share stories, video, photographs, web links and other files with friends with a click of a button. You can also send personal notes to selected friends. Another great feature is the ability to ‘tag’ friends in photos that are uploaded.

So, you can probably tell already that Facebook is a great way for people to keep in touch, but why do I need it in my business? This is a question facing many business owners, do they really need Facebook and what can it really do for their business.
So, why does business need Facebook?

Well why does business need any advertising? Part of any good business plan includes some form of advertising. Usually it’s a variety of ways combined to make it easier for customers to find the business. It’s why businesses have a website and put ads in the yellow pages, newspapers and on TV and Radio.

The answer is “to get in front of potential customers“. The life blood of any business is customers and the best way to market a business is to get ‘in front’ of potential customers. There are over 500 million people on Facebook, that’s a pretty big audience of potential customers, wouldn’t you think.

Another reason why business needs Facebook is that there is currently a shift in the marketing paradigm. Marketing is moving away from the old fashioned “one-way” broadcasting by business to get attention of potential customers. The future will require businesses to prove their ability and quality by being involved in conversations, gaining credibility in the market place, and by fostering quality word-of-word referrals.

Most advertising strategies don’t just focus on one outlet. They try to mix it up by using different newspapers, radio or coupons. Facebook is just another advertising opportunity. You don’t have to think of it as replacing your other advertising, it’s a way to reach this segment of your customer base that is using Facebook on a regular basis. On top of thinking of this as an advertising tool it’s also a customer service component. You can get immediate feedback from customers on your products, service or other questions and use this to respond quickly.

Other Reasons Facebook makes great Business Sense:-

• Facebook Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon – so why fight it, just join it
• Facebook Fans Become Brand Referees
• Facebook Fans Increase Organic Traffic
• Facebook Engages With Customers on Their Turf
• Fans Interacting With Fans
• Fans are Qualified Leads

Many business owners view Facebook as a waste of time, and if they do see value in Facebook, then it is another task added to an already busy day. Their focus is on running their business and servicing customers. They don’t have a huge staff that gives them the opportunity to have an employee do the daily updates on a consistent basis. This is where we can help by setting up and maintaining businesses social media marketing campaigns. Call us for a free consultation and proposal.

As a small business owner you shouldn’t look at Facebook as extra work instead you should look at it as an opportunity to grow your business.