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7 Steps to Getting Publicity for Your Small Business
By Marcia Passos Duffy
Part 7: The Best Way to Use Facebook for Your Business
You may already have a Facebook personal page.
But do you have a “page” for your business?
If you don’t, go to Facebook right now and create one. Here's the link:
www.facebook.com/pages/create.php. It’s free and only takes minutes to set up.
I'll wait ... ;)
Even if you've had a Facebook page for months, or even years, you may not know exactly
how to use it for your business. After all, isn’t Facebook for high school kids or people
with a lot of time on their hands?
True, Facebook’s demographics are weighted heavily toward young adults, but that is
changing, and more businesses are seeing the benefits of jumping aboard this social
media giant. After all, Facebook boasts more than 500 million users — half of whom log in
every day -- that means one out of every 13 people on earth have a Facebook account.
These are staggering statistics.
But how does a business capitalize on this trend? How can you get “likes” and encourage
people to “share” and publicize your services or products?
Here's how:
1. Avoid doing things that turn off Facebook users
Don't jump on Facebook just for the sake of hopping on the bandwagon. Don't post
random bits of information or use it as just an advertising medium ... people on social
media do not like to be "sold" to. Also, post relevant content. There's a balance between
posting too much and overdoing it.
2. Get "likes"
Put a "Facebook" icon on your website linking to your Facebook business account. You
can also run a campaign on your site that exchanges a "like" for a coupon or discount.
Remember you want to right people to "like" your page -- potential customers.
3. Encourage your followers to "like" and "share"
Studies have shown that photos are the most seen updates on Facebook. If you have a
visual business, such as a landscaping, interior design, craft or other kind of business that
makes for appealing pictures, post those on your page. Include a little comment or piece
of advice, such as "these earrings are ideal for the night out on the town." Remember, you
are not selling them the earrings, just offering suggestions. Most times your fans will then
like and repost your picture on their own personal pages -- which means they are doing
the marketing for you!
The best way to think of social media sites, such as Facebook (also Twitter, LinkedIn and
Pinterest) are simply the old fashioned "word-of-mouth" marketing, supercharged by
technology. What you want, most of all, is to post content that people who are on
Facebook to share with their circle of friends.
Note that the average Facebook user has 130 friends and accesses 80 community and event
pages. One or two "shares" from your fans can mean hundreds -- even thousands -- of
people see what you are all about. Plus, according to recent surveys, the average
Facebook user spends $71.84 on products they “like.” And the average fan is 41 percent
more likely to recommend the product or service on business pages they “like” to friends.
And that, folks, is the best result from publicity that I can think of!
Hope you enjoyed reading this series on getting publicity for your small business! If you
like this series, feel free to share these pages on Facebook!
Do you have any questions or need help in any way getting your own publicity plan off
the ground? Contact me today: marcia@backporchpublishing.com
Marcia Passos Duffy is an independent writer and publicity consultant. Learn more
about how she can help your small business get recognized!
By Marcia Passos Duffy
Part 7: The Best Way to Use Facebook for Your Business
You may already have a Facebook personal page.
But do you have a “page” for your business?
If you don’t, go to Facebook right now and create one. Here's the link:
www.facebook.com/pages/create.php. It’s free and only takes minutes to set up.
I'll wait ... ;)
Even if you've had a Facebook page for months, or even years, you may not know exactly
how to use it for your business. After all, isn’t Facebook for high school kids or people
with a lot of time on their hands?
True, Facebook’s demographics are weighted heavily toward young adults, but that is
changing, and more businesses are seeing the benefits of jumping aboard this social
media giant. After all, Facebook boasts more than 500 million users — half of whom log in
every day -- that means one out of every 13 people on earth have a Facebook account.
These are staggering statistics.
But how does a business capitalize on this trend? How can you get “likes” and encourage
people to “share” and publicize your services or products?
Here's how:
1. Avoid doing things that turn off Facebook users
Don't jump on Facebook just for the sake of hopping on the bandwagon. Don't post
random bits of information or use it as just an advertising medium ... people on social
media do not like to be "sold" to. Also, post relevant content. There's a balance between
posting too much and overdoing it.
2. Get "likes"
Put a "Facebook" icon on your website linking to your Facebook business account. You
can also run a campaign on your site that exchanges a "like" for a coupon or discount.
Remember you want to right people to "like" your page -- potential customers.
3. Encourage your followers to "like" and "share"
Studies have shown that photos are the most seen updates on Facebook. If you have a
visual business, such as a landscaping, interior design, craft or other kind of business that
makes for appealing pictures, post those on your page. Include a little comment or piece
of advice, such as "these earrings are ideal for the night out on the town." Remember, you
are not selling them the earrings, just offering suggestions. Most times your fans will then
like and repost your picture on their own personal pages -- which means they are doing
the marketing for you!
The best way to think of social media sites, such as Facebook (also Twitter, LinkedIn and
Pinterest) are simply the old fashioned "word-of-mouth" marketing, supercharged by
technology. What you want, most of all, is to post content that people who are on
Facebook to share with their circle of friends.
Note that the average Facebook user has 130 friends and accesses 80 community and event
pages. One or two "shares" from your fans can mean hundreds -- even thousands -- of
people see what you are all about. Plus, according to recent surveys, the average
Facebook user spends $71.84 on products they “like.” And the average fan is 41 percent
more likely to recommend the product or service on business pages they “like” to friends.
And that, folks, is the best result from publicity that I can think of!
Hope you enjoyed reading this series on getting publicity for your small business! If you
like this series, feel free to share these pages on Facebook!
Do you have any questions or need help in any way getting your own publicity plan off
the ground? Contact me today: marcia@backporchpublishing.com
Marcia Passos Duffy is an independent writer and publicity consultant. Learn more
about how she can help your small business get recognized!
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