10 Facebook Tips for Small Businesses

Want to Facebook, but don't know how to make it work for your small business? Glen Stansberry, Creativity Sparker, from Wise Bread has 10 tips to get you started. For the full text, go to 10 Superb Ways For A Small Business To Friend Facebook.


June 21, 2011 (Excerpt)
Love it or hate it, Facebook has proven to be a major source of traffic and income for small business websites. A recent study showed that Facebook shares are worth almost three times as much as a tweet. And these nuggets from this compelling infographic ought to give a good indication as to how important Facebook has become to e-commerce in general:

•90 percent of consumers trust recommendations from people they know
•67 percent spend more online after recommendations.
If your small business is selling products online, then Facebook can be a fantastic way to add social proof and find more leads. Here are a few ways to snag some of that Facebook traffic for your small business website.

Will Facebook Fade?

There’s a rumor floating around that Facebook will go public in the first quarter of 2012. This has caused some to speculate whether it’s a wise move to invest, considering it could burn bright then fade fast like MySpace. But just like we now Google things and a Kleenex is commonly misused term instead of the word tissue, Facebook has ingrained itself deeply into the fabric of our culture.

Businesses are hopping on, teachers are sending out assignments through it, and proud parents and grandparents can share photos. The platform is continually evolving and users are continuing to evolve in the way they utilize it.

Recently, SmartPulse did a “non-scientific poll” that asked, “Who do you think has benefited from social media engagement the most?” Results were interesting to say the least and obviously didn’t just relate to FB.

• Business-to-consumer companies – 32.08%
• Celebrities – 31.13%
• Media – 10.38%
• Not-for-profit organizations – 9.91%
• All have equally benefited – 6.60%
• Politicians/governments – 5.19%
• Business-to-business companies – 2.83%
• Some other group – 1.89%

But it does speak to the fact that if you know how to use it correctly, FB and other social media outlets can be your friend and a powerful sales tool. Look at the Old Spice resurgence or Betty White’s thunderbolt back to fame on the back of a 'lil old Snickers commercial.

Just make sure you know what you are doing and consider your audience. Once something is out there, it’s out there and can go viral in a heartbeat. Just ask some of the recent blushing and scandalized public figures how they feel about social media’s reaches.

Do Phone Calls Beat Social Media?

Recently, there has been a lot of chatter about the best way to reach your customers. Some claim the speed and instant gratification of Twitter and Facebook are the best way to handle PR and respond to clients. Others angrily shout true customer service can only be given with human contact.

While both have their pros and cons, you must use your best judgment on how to respond to customers. For example, social media is great way to promote upcoming sales, events, and generally keep your customers informed. But nothing can beat the calming, effective way of diffusing a problem one-on-one.

Or, consider combining the two for the best results. Shout good news from the mountain tops with Twitter teases and phone calls to your best customers. Or, if you are trying to turn a prospect, lead with your accomplishments on the call.

Lastly, you can test out what works best for your market. Offer a specific deal for FB and Twitter followers, then a separate one to only those customers who you speak with on the phone or in the office. Assign each one a specific code and track what gets the best results.

Whatever you do, do not to put all your eggs in one basket. There isn’t an exact science to the perfect customer service. People will respond to different campaigns and may turn to another business if you don’t offer options.

Let us know what you think?