Social media is hands down one of (if not) THE best way to advertise in today’s economy.
Not only is it fast, easy, and able to reach millions at the click of a button, but 9 times out of 10 it’s all absolutely free!
So there has to be a catch, right? I mean, not just any poor sap can start a business and start posting their products on Facebook and get a thousand followers and become a millionaire overnight, can they? Well, the easy and frankly honest answer to that question is “No.”
Sadly, you can not simply start a company and start marketing yourself and become an instant success.
You CAN, however, start a company and become a surprising success within a matter of weeks! It may not be as simple as clicking a button and becoming rich, but by following 5 basic rules of Facebook marketing, you can find yourself having the next best thing to a “get rich quick” scheme.
And it won’t even cost you a penny.
1. Be More Human Than Human
Any average Joe can pick up a laptop at the local electronic store and start typing, but it takes a true artist to make miracles with a blog.
Fortunately, it doesn’t necessarily take a true artist to be able to relate to people and write decent, clear, and concise content that is going to keep the reader coming back for more.
All too often, especially in new business, the marketing access will focus too much on the product and not enough on the client.
Always remember, these are average, everyday folk that are reading your content. Don’t be afraid to talk to them as if they were a close friend rather than a stranger you are just trying to get money from.
Believe it or not, people can spot the difference between a sales pitch and a conversation a mile away so don’t be afraid to get personable and really talk to your potential clientele.
You don’t always have to talk about your business, after all. This is social media, so be sociable.
Post vacation pictures Have small comment contest. Try and respond to as many posts as you possibly can. Interact with your fanbase. Trust me, a little personality goes a very long way.
2. Never Be Content With Too Little Content
This is your social media site, and, as such, should have as much media as you can cram in it. Just because you are running a business here doesn’t mean you can’t keep people entertained and informed.
If you have a pet supply site, why not share some articles about the most recent pet studies done by local vets? Do you do taxes? Why not post some videos on the latest trends in state taxation reforms?
Even if you provide a simple service such as mowing lawns, post some funny pictures and captions of lawnmowers in ridiculous places.
Mind you, if you are wanting to run a proper business you may want to keep it family friendly, but that doesn’t stop you from having a bit of fun with it all.
After all, this is YOUR social media site and the more you can post on it, the more people are going to find it interesting.
And, chances are, the more people that find it interesting, the more readers (and thus clients) you are going to have.
3. Connect Fans With Friends
Another great way to interact with your clients is to have them interact with each other. Responding personally to each and every single comment on your Facebook page can be a bit daunting, but, by opening up a line of communication not only between your fans but between themselves, you open up a whole new world.
This not only gives more opportunity to interact but is a huge opportunity to advocate word of mouth sales as well.
By doing something as simple as a weekly questionnaire or a sort of “friend of the week” posting, you will have friends telling friends about you and your goods and services faster than you ever could on your own.
4. Make a Plan Before Your Break a Plan
Having a game plan and a strategy is never a bad idea, especially when it comes to marketing.
By asking yourself point blank “What is it that I want to achieve through my Facebook page?” you will give yourself a clue as to what it actually is that you are wanting to accomplish.
Sure, it may be easy enough to simply start up a Facebook page, make a few updates, and share a few posts, but is that really what you want to get out of it?
Try asking yourself “How many people do I want to reach?” or “Who exactly am a wanting to connect with?”
Start with a mission statement and stick with it. You will be surprised and what focusing on a group of likeminded individuals will do for your marketing and sales.
5. Monitor, Track, Never Look Back
Let’s face it, being sociable is going to make your customers talk. That is literally the point of social media.
The question is, what are they saying? Are your comments mostly positive or negative? Are there things you could improve? Are there things you are already excellent at and the customers want to see more?
The wonderful (and yes, sometimes ugly) part of Facebook and social media is that you have instant and direct access to your consumers. This means if you need to fix something, you are likely going to hear about it.
It also means, however, that by hearing about it directly, you can do more to fix it more quickly. You can keep a sharp eye on exactly how you and are your staff are viewed in the business world.
This also means you can keep a close eye on your competitors and see just what you can offer that they can’t. Don’t forget, however, this means they can watch you as well.
Always stay vigilant and never be afraid to stay in loop!
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