By Evan Vitale
Many businesses continue to struggle with how to deal with Facebook when it comes to using it within their social media strategy.
Let’s go ahead and get this thought aside: Facebook isn’t for kids or millennials. In fact, more older adults are on Facebook than ever before. They are using the tool in order to reconnect with friends and to stay in touch with their children and grandchildren.
Therefore, in almost every case, Facebook can definitely be used for every business.
Here are some ideas on how you can use Facebook with your business’ social media strategy:
- Inform and educate your “Fans.” Let them know what’s going on with your business, with your staff, new products and services, etc. For example, tell your customers how to save money, how one of your products solves a problem, what’s new in your industry, introduce an employee, etc.
- Post photos. This is always a winner. Take pictures of your business; your staff, events; conferences, trade shows and things in your community.
- Write about your location, your town, your neighborhood, businesses near you, etc. This not only creates goodwill, but it will also help your Facebook page rank higher on searches for town and city names.
- Have a contest. This can be a weekly trivia contest or a photo contest. Contests always do well, even if the prize is minimal.
- Share your YouTube videos; any new blog posts or press releases.
- Try to have one Facebook post per day; perhaps two. I’ve seen some businesses post the weather for the day or a famous quote first thing in the morning, followed by a more specific business-related post in the afternoon.
Don’t:
- Write how awesome your business is or how your company has the best products or services. People don’t want a sales pitch. That’s not informative.
- Overdo it with sales. While it’s OK to tell your customers that you are having a sale, don’t blast out sales pitches every day.
- Post more than 1 or 2 updates or posts per day. If you overdo it, your customers will become a little annoyed and will “un-Fan” your business.
When you’re just starting out, it will take a while for people to find your Facebook Page and for you to build your Fan base. Once your Facebook Page has been created, make sure to share it on your website (add a Facebook icon), on your blog and, perhaps, write a press release for your website. Add it to your business cards and to invoices and statements.