Your business Facebook page is the key to reaching the billions of people on Facebook. Whether you like Facebook or not, it is the place to be in front of your customers. You don’t have to connect with people from high school if you don’t want to, simply create a business page.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hearing Livvie Matthews speak and invited her to share her knowledge about social media (Facebook in particular) with you.
The Importance of Your Business Facebook Page
In your social savvy webinar, you recommend starting with Facebook, Why do you think it’s important for small businesses to start with that network as opposed to others?
Good question, Sara. I recommend starting with Facebook for several of reasons.
In real estate you’ve heard, it said… it’s always about location, location, location. Well in online marketing it’s all about visibility, visibility, visibility!
You must be seen for your market to know about you, what you offer, and how you can solve their problems. And nothing…absolutely nothing gives you more visibility than social media!
Business Facebook Statistics You Need to Know
Currently, there are over 1.35 BILLION ACTIVE users on Facebook with 78% of them accessing by mobile. Just in mobile that’s 1053 MILLION people per day. In just a 24-hour time period there are over 2 BILLION people Liking, commenting, and liking comments on Facebook.
1.35 BILLION ACTIVE users on Facebook with 78% of them accessing by mobile.Click To TweetConsequently, when I say, whoever and whatever your market is…. it’s there on Facebook, Visibility!!
Social media, as you know Sara, has changed forever how we market. Therefore, we aren’t going to go back to the old style of traditional marketing. And now, with the social platforms, we don’t have to have a huge marketing budget like in the old days, so now a small business owner…even one just starting out…can (and should) utilize social media for their marketing.
Access For All Businesses Not Just Large Corporations
Incidentally, with the social platforms, we don’t have to have a huge marketing budget like in the old days. Now, a small business owner…even one just starting out…can (and should) utilize social media for their marketing.
As a matter of fact, all social platforms are free to open an account and free to use. That is unless you are paying a third party to manage your social media sites for you. Ultimately, you can do for free or very low cost what it used to cost thousands $$$$ to do in the past.
Business Facebook really is one of the easiest of the social platforms to learn. On the other hand, it’s constantly changing but once you learn the basics, the rest comes along fairly easy.
As a matter of fact, you have so many options available to you on Facebook. You get to meet people, locally and globally you would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise, some of whom are the leaders in your profession.
Business Facebook Page and Online Visibility
Build your community of people and start interacting with them to increase your Visibility! You see their information and they see your information.
What to share:
- Your own content
- Other’s posts
- Create and share videos
- Create and share images
- Create and share quotes
- Professional insights
- Livestream video
- User generated content
Consequently, what your viewers share goes out to all their viewers increasing your Visibility!!
Your Business Facebook page becomes almost like a second website
Above all, You are able to take your viewers anywhere you want them to go. Whether that is your website, your blog posts, your programs, your products, your events, or signing up for your newsletter. That’s visibility!
At the same time, you’re building relationships with your viewers and they come to know, like, and trust you. Starting with Facebook is an easy and very low-cost way for a small business to market their business.
Moreover, it’s also a great way to get in front of their ideal clients. Furthermore, I advise having a presence on all the major social platforms, but to definitely start out with and learn to utilize… Facebook.
Facebook really is one of the easiest of the social platforms to learnClick To Tweet
Your Personal Page vs. Your Business Facebook Page
Can you review why it is important to make a separate page for your business and why using your personal profile is not recommended?
First of all, it’s actually against Facebook regulations to use your Profile (personal) page as your primary business page. If discovered by Facebook, they can (and do) shut your page down permanently or at least temporarily. Ultimately, you want to do Business with Your Business Facebook page.
Another reason is we’re living in a Facebook-savvy world. Your viewers KNOW if it’s your personal page or a business Facebook page. All they have to do is look at your buttons. If it says Like it’s your business page. If it says Friend or Add Friend, they know you’re using your personal page as your business page which doesn’t make you look like a “tech savvy” person…Not a very good impression to give.
If it says Friend or Add Friend, they know you’re using your personal page as your business page which doesn’t make you look like a “tech savvy” person…Not a very good impression to give.
A Big Mistake You Want to Avoid
In Addition, all they have to do is look at your buttons. If it says Like it is your business page. If it says Friend or add Friend, they know you’re using your personal page. This doesn’t make you look like a “tech savvy” person…Not a very good impression to give.
As a consequence, viewers have to wait until you “approve” their friend request to see all of your information.
However, there is an option to click the “Follow” button for seeing all your “public” posts.
But, on your business page, they “Like” your page and walk right on in (see all your information) no waiting.
When was the last time you went to a local business and had to wait at the front door until someone “approved” you to come inside??
You’re in business…act like a business…create your business Facebook page.
As previously mentioned, your Facebook business page gives you so many more opportunities for building your business than your personal page does.
The Trick to No-Cost Advertising on Your Business Facebook Page
Now here is a trick with your personal page. Even though Facebook doesn’t allow your personal page to be your primary business page… you CAN do “soft promotions” for your business on your personal page. If you’re having an event, share it on your personal page.
In fact, you can even post it on your business Facebook page and then to your personal page. For example, if you’re working on creating a program or a product…mention on your personal page that you are working on it and maybe something about it.
Of course, You can do a survey from your personal page. For instance, if you’re going to be speaking someplace, mention (to) your personal page about how excited you are to have been invited to speak at so and so on such and such a date and then continue to mention it as it gets closer to time and of course mention it when traveling and when there.
Conversational Promotions on Your Business Facebook Page
Similarly, if you’re going to be speaking someplace, mention (to) your personal page about how excited you are to have been invited to speak. Additionally, mention where and when you’re speaking and continue to mention it as it gets closer to time. Highlight your traveling moments as well as featured moments of your speech.
Finally, snap photos of your traveling moments as well as featured moments of your speech. Make it “conversational promotions”.
Using your Facebook Business page as your primary page keeps you in Facebooks regulations.Click To TweetBenefits of Your Primary Business Facebook Page
Most importantly, using your Business Facebook page as your primary business page keeps you in Facebooks regulations. However, since Facebook has cut back on the % of how many people actually see your posts, unless you are using Facebook Ads, doing your “soft or conversational promotions” on your personal page increases your posts being seen by your viewers.
Want to give your Facebook Business Page a Makeover? Register for the Boost your FB Page email series.
Your Business Facebook Page As Your Mainline Distribution Channel
As an online marketing business coach and social media strategist, what do you offer your clients and why would a business secure your services?
Sara, I can’t tell you how many women I hear talk about the overwhelm and frustration they experience trying to figure out how to market their business online. I’m sure you hear that in your line of work as a virtual assistant quite often.
In any case, you know how crucial visibility is to online marketing. You need to understand that getting that visibility goes way beyond just using social media and that’s where I come in. I like to think of online marketing and social media as a train. And this train has to have an engine to pull it - but the train also has to run on a specific or main track.
In fact, I like to think of Social Media = Mainline Distribution Channel… the track, but Online Marketing = Publicity Engine…it’s pulling the train, with the many box cars, where it needs to go.
When was the last time you went to a local business and had to wait at the front door?Click To TweetTake Imperfect Action
Above all, I help my clients with loading their “box cars” …creating their key marketing essentials, lasering in on exactly who their ideal clients are, helping with creating their marketing wheel and fishing where their fish are, getting their marketing on autopilot so it’s working for them 24/7.
In other words, we address taking “imperfect” action, goal setting, creating their systems and strategies, how to stand out from the competition, creating “pull” marketing messages, creating a “working” website, and of course, we go deep into social media.
Your Personal Publicity Engine
Next, we hook those now loaded “box cars” to their Publicity Engine and go down the specific tracks taking them from stop to stop (website to social platforms and more) creating visibility everywhere it goes.
More over, I’ve helped to remove the frustration and overwhelm as they’ve discovered how to expand and leverage their online presence for more clients, more visibility, and more freedom in their business.
Tell us a little about yourself and where we can find you online?
Originally my focus was on monthly social media management for dental practices and other small businesses. I create their social platforms using online marketing. Be that as it may, they weren’t sure how to connect all the pieces of the online marketing puzzle. As a result, the questions started pouring in!
They were experiencing overwhelm! I knew my audience/market was changing!
In addition, I discovered a talent for coaching other small service based business professionals.
At this point, I set up my own business and I haven’t looked back!!
Your Complimentary Strategy Session with Livvie
If any of your readers are interested Sara, I’d love to offer them a Complimentary Strategy Session with me. We’ll come up with some strategies while on the phone to help with their business.
Just go to http://www.livviematthews.com/strategy complete steps 1 and 2 and choose a convenient time!! It’s that simple!
I can be found on the social platforms here:
Web site (just went live with re-branding and new website): www.LivvieMatthews.com
There is a FREE ebook TOP 10 Strategies To Attract Clients and Making $$$$ there for you to download!
Thank you so much for reaching out to me Sara!!!
You’re Welcome, it was a pleasure learning more about Facebook from you and how it plays into the marketing of a modern day business.
Linking up with Blogger’s Pit Stop. Join us.
Good interview on the importance of being seen on Facebook.
Kathleen
Bloggers Pit Stop
#YouAreLoved says
Thank you, Kathleen. Livvie knows her stuff. ^_^
JoJo Tabares says
I’ve noticed that Facebook keeps changing things limiting the number of fans who actually see posts. Also they are limiting links and posts with certain sales words even more. Trying to navigate this is getting harder.
Jojo, so true. It’s getting harder to do Facebook pages without spending money on advertising. It is possible, but it takes work.