Ten Ways to Grow Your Business With Facebook
By Laurel R. Lindsay
As a business, you are always looking for ways to reach new markets. Bigger markets.
Markets full of people who will sit up and take note or your message or product. Well,
Facebook is just that market. With over 600 million active users and counting, it is open
for business 24⁄7 so user can play, share, network, shop and research businesses like
yours. So how do you harness the potential of this huge social network? Easy. Start with
these ten tips.
1. Create a Fan Page for your Business
Step one for growing your business on Facebook is getting a interesting and targeted
fan page up and running. It doesn't have to be gimmicky or over the top. It just has to
speak to your audience and be there. Facebook isn't about big publicity stunts; it's about
using the right way.
2. Be Active on your Fan Page
Once you start getting fans, they want to see your presence on your Facebook page.
Generate lots of content, make announcements, comment on their pages or posts. Let them
know you're there and interested in them.
3. Offer Exclusive Offers, Discounts or Loyalty Cards to Facebook Fans
If you want people to like your page, give them a little incentive. Free swag, great
contests, valuable coupons or loyalty cards that are exclusive to fans of your page will
keep them searching for you in their newsfeed.
4. Generate Useful, Timely and/or Controversial Content
To grow your network, generate content that your audience will want to share with all
of their friends. Whether it's a hilarious video, fascinating news article, exciting press
release or controversial product, content that your fans find valuable will go viral and
make your business a Facebook sensation.
5. Develop Games or Apps for your Business
Does the word Farmville mean anything to you? How about Word Scramble? A lot of
Facebook users are playing the thousands of games and apps available to them as a way to
beat boredom. If your business has a branded game, quiz or app that focuses on your
messaging and provides a little fun, it's a unique marketing vehicle that will help grow
your fan base.
6. Facebook Advertising
It's surprisingly affordable and extremely targeted. Just set your budget, pick your
audience and enjoy the pay-per-click advertising that will only show up for people who may
have an interest in your product or service.
7. Cozy Up to your Competition
Social networks are surprisingly friendly. It's a great opportunity for your to make
friends with your competition, use them as a sounding board and have open communication
with them on neutral ground. Don't worry about creating an alias to check them out. Friend
them, like them and message them. They're a great place to learn what works and what
doesn't on Facebook in your industry.
8. Facebook SEO Tactics
Use your Info and About pages to create keyword-rich content that will help drive web
traffic to your Facebook page as well as your webpage. It's the only two places you have
an opportunity to do this- make it count!
9. Give Back to your Fans
Link to and promote others that fit well with your business or messaging. It shows you
are an engaged and giving member of the Facebook community, builds trust and credibility
and ultimately increases your fans.
10. Use Facebook Insight for Valuable Metrics
If you're using the tool, you should be measuring it's impact. Use Facebook Insight to
gain information such as who is following you, where they're from, what they're habits are
and other helpful information for learning to target your messaging. It's like Google
Analytics for Facebook.
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