How to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business
Posted by: Adriana Post date: February 17th, 2010
Facebook is a rapidly growing and boasts 175 million users with about five million new users a week. This makes it a ripe opportunity toboost your business
The first step to promote your business with Facebook is to create a business profile. Facebook offers you the ability to separate your personal and professional social networking activities and offers a number of settings, which you can adjust to meet your needs. To set your privacy settings, visit http://www.facebook.com/privacy/
Next, just like Twitter, you’ll be connecting with people and also like Twitter, you can import your email list and connect with those people first. You can also search for friends using the Friend Finder feature and Facebook also suggests friends based on people you’ve connected with, items in your profile and groups you’ve joined.
And make the necessary changes. For example, you may only want friends to view photos and videos tagged with you in them.
The next step, which again will feel similar to Twitter, and most other social networking tools is to begin interacting and promoting your business with the tips and strategies we’ve already mentioned. Upload videos, announce promotions, share links to interesting and relevant sites, share your experiences and get involved.
What is unique to Facebook are the applications, fan pages and groups.
Promoting with Facebook Applications
Facebook offers a number of applications including creating and joining groups. Adding and joining groups is another way to connect with a very specific target audience. If, for example, you are a dog trainer and your market are new dog owners, you could create a group for puppy owners and share helpful tips, links and information with them. The group function allows you to also see the groups your friends and associates are participating in so you can make the decision about whether or not it’s a group you too want to participate in.
There are a large number of applications and with Facebook continually growing new applications will be added every day. A few great applications to consider include:
• Twitter – Allows you to publish your Twitter posts on Facebook.
• BlogNetwork – This application is a great way to publicize your blog and gain new followers.
• Advertising – Facebook allows you to advertise on their site and to also sell ad space on your profile/fan pages.
• Facebook Pages – A Facebook Page is a public profile that makes it possible for you to essentially create a business profile page right on the site. You can share products, sell ad space and market to your audience. You can also invite people to become a “Fan” (through PPC ads). Each fan is now someone you can market to directly by sending them messages, promotions, information, downloads and so on – much like you would an opt-in list.
• Mobile Facebook – allows you to use Facebook from your mobile phone. Great for sending on the fly messages but also good to remember that many people use this feature on their mobile phone and you can market to them specifically.
Facebook is an active, thriving and growing community and it’s not just for teenagers anymore. In fact, middle-aged men and women are one of the largest growing communities online and they’re a lucrative audience.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Gosh, is there really any hope for someone who doesn't like all the social media? I think not, in today's world! uugghh! got any suggestions for someone who doesn't?
thanks for your in site tho, I look forward to it every day!
Tess
February 17th, 2010 at 9:41 PM
Thanks for your kind words about my blog. Social media is hard for me too, but with some planing, you can make it work without letting it take over your life. Plan 15 30 minutes a day for your social media networking and you should see great results. And of course, there is always outsourcing, LOL.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:52 PM
This article offers a valuable insight on how to maximize the use of Facebook for marketing. Facebook is definitely a viral marketing strategy tool all on its own and with the information given, it would definitely generate, not only a high marketing potential, but it will also boost power to influence and will build a trusting relationship with potential and existing customers.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:54 PM
This article offers a valuable insight on how to maximize the use of Facebook for marketing. Facebook is definitely a viral marketing strategy tool all on its own and with the information given, it would definitely generate, not only a high marketing potential, but it will also boost power to influence and will build a trusting relationship with potential and existing customers.
February 19th, 2010 at 7:11 PM
Excellent stuff, Adriana. I deleted my FB account sometime back; essentially I didn't know then that you could separate.
My real-world friends found me and just cluttered me up with all sorts of garbage I didn't want…I basically said, hey man, just CALL ME. lol
February 19th, 2010 at 7:12 PM
Why is my name linked to a profile and not my site? It's linked to my site on other Discus powered comments…
February 19th, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Excellent stuff, Adriana. I deleted my FB account sometime back; essentially I didn't know then that you could separate.
My real-world friends found me and just cluttered me up with all sorts of garbage I didn't want…I basically said, hey man, just CALL ME. lol
February 19th, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Why is my name linked to a profile and not my site? It's linked to my site on other Discus powered comments…