Why would you spend time and money on a Facebook Fan Page when it’s not an online shopping network, and perhaps your business doesn’t even sell online? It’s all about engagement! Facebook is a social network that allows your business to reach wider, build relationships and really engage with your target audience.
Here are the top 9 ways that your business can utilise the benefits of Facebook:
- Facebook acts like another branch of your business
Your Fan Page can be another branch of your business that’s open 24/7 where customers, potential customers, potential employees, suppliers, networkers, partners and even the media can connect. A Fan Page is public facing by default so anyone can access it regardless of whether or not they are even logged into Facebook – this means that practically everyone on the Internet has access to the information you post here.
- Facebook drives traffic to your website
Rather than restrict website traffic from your Facebook Fan Page to your business’ website, Facebook actually encourages it – there are no restriction of driving traffic from Facebook to your site.
- Facebook is cost-effective
Now some would say Facebook is free but we all know that nothing in business is free. There is a cost associated with your time or the time of your staff (or social media specialist) but it is definitely a cost-effective way to engage in better customer service and engagement.
- Facebook is great for SEO
Google is indexing content created on Facebook so your Fan Page content now has the potential to generate nice search engine results for your brand and your business. Using Google’s new Social Search feature and linking your Fan Page and your website you have the opportunity to drive even more Facebook traffic back to your site.
- Facebook is friends with your competition
Facebook is a little fickle and will be friends with anyone and everyone but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – it makes it essentially a level playing field. If just one of your competitors sets up and runs a successful Fan Page then they could corner the market and build a following on Facebook before you do – Facebook allows you to get in first and establish yourself a business leader.
- Facebook connects you directly
Facebook gives you direct access to your fans and even allows you to target your audience for events or special promotions based on age, gender, location or even specific individuals.
- Facebook is now expected
While your fans will not have the expectation of shopping on Facebook, 90% of them do expect a business they deal with to have a Fan Page. This is where they will connect with your business and your brand in a social setting rather than a sales setting. Here is where you have an opportunity to build a deeper and long-lasting relationship.
- Facebook builds a cheer squad for your business
Fans can easily become your brand ambassadors – while only 25% of fans want to be sold to, many of them are willing to tell everyone about a quality product, service or business. Build a strong relationship with these people and they will essentially market and sell your business for you. And the more they share and interact the more people will learn about you – interactions appearing in their news feed will show in their friend’s feed and so on, meaning a much wider reach than just your direct fans.
- Facebook metrics are available to you
The Page Insights tools and dashboard give you access to information about your interactions. Using this data about ‘likes, comments, shares, mentions’ you can build a picture of who your fans are and what they are interested in. You will be able to gauge ROI and target specific demographics.
If you need help to develop a Facebook marketing strategy, set up a Facebook Fan Page or maintain your Facebook presence just get in touch with the Website Design Centre team today.
