Using Facebook for Small Businesses

With more than 1.18 billion monthly active users, Facebook is one of the largest social media networking services online – making it the prime platform to market for small businesses.

1. Create a Page

The first step to running a successful Facebook page is to create one. Your Facebook page gives your business the ability to become discoverable, connected, timely, and insightful.

When setting up a page, you have the option to request a customized web address like “facebook.com/yourawesomecompany,” making your business easy to find online. You should include this address on business cards, the company website, and any other marketing materials you may use.

Get started and set up your Facebook page today.

2. Identify your audience

After creating your page, you should start thinking about who your target audience is. Using Facebook as a marketing tool gives you the power to pick and choose a select group of people or a wide range of people to market your business to.

You should be asking yourself what your ideal customers have in common, what age range they fall within, where they live, and how your business can help them specifically.

To begin building an audience, encourage your current customers to “like” your Facebook Page, and invite your friends and business contacts to “like” your page as well. In addition to inviting contacts and mingling with customers at work, try “sharing” your business page via your personal Facebook timeline.

3. Captivate your audience with unique content

Once you’ve hammered out the aesthetics — logo, cover photo, about section, etc. – it’s time to make your business come alive through content.
As you post updates, photos, and even videos, you should be thinking about what your customers want to see from you. What do they find inspiring or interesting? This is your chance to experiment with different types of posts.

Keep in mind that a successful page is authentic, responsive, and consistent.

4. Advertise

Facebook Ads give you the opportunity to raise awareness, stay connected, and most importantly, drive traffic and sales. With the Facebook Ads Manager, you have the ability to boost specific posts or to create targeted ads for different audiences.

5. Pay attention

Facebook offers the tools you need to measure how your business is doing. Your page insights will keep you up to date on your page’s activity. Use these insights as a way to keep your targeted business market intact and your traffic up.

Editor’s Note: This post is attributed to Tabitha Shiflett and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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