6 Steps to Promoting Your Small Business on Facebook

6 Steps to Promoting Your Small Business on Facebook

            If you are a small business owner you cannot afford to overlook Facebook and all it can do for you.  The website is always coming up with new components to make it easier for small businesses to be found and be connected with.  Almost all consumers use the internet to search for businesses and nearly all of them are on Facebook.  Facebook is still the largest social networking platform in the world, with over a billion active users.  Many people don’t realize the power of presence and how connecting with a small number of people can grow your business. These are the first 6 steps on how to use Facebook to help promote your small business.

1.Create your Page

To start you need a catchy Web address people will remember.  The Page is the same as a normal profile only altered to the company or business. This Page is the first thing the consumers will interact with so be sure it conveys the message and brand.  Use the business logo as the profile picture.

2. Share!

Having a Facebook Page will not be enough to reach everyone though; you will need to post a lot to get the content to your followers. Short and graphic posts are the ones that get shared the most because it is more appealing to the viewer.  The goal is to get users to comment, share, and like. Facebook created a new tool that provides information on the activity of your followers.  It can tell you when the most users view the content to help you better time when you post.

3. Start making connections

Facebook makes it as easy as possible to make connections even when you do not know where to start. To invite Facebook friends and email contacts to follow your page you can use the “Build Audience” tool.  Any materials you use to market your business you will want to put your Facebook Page’s Web address. 

4. Engage your followers

To have your followers share your content you should keep it interesting and post regularly. Update your audience on the most relevant information, and try to keep a friendly and inviting tone. Facebook Offers is a tool that allows you to make coupons that can be used in your store or online.

5. Leverage friends of fans

When fans have a good interaction with your Page they are more likely to tell their friends and family about it. When your followers are active on your Page it will show up on their follower’s newsfeed.   To get the most interaction create polls and ask questions on your Facebook Page that people will want to respond to. Also, a good way to create more activity is offering promotions to users that us the “check in” feature.

6. Consider Facebook ads

Facebook lets you target your audience and what you advertise to them. You can position and customize your ads and they appear as promotional posts for anyone who clicks straight to the website. The platform features uses analytics to help you recognize which ads drive the most interest and sales.

 http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2013/11/14/6-steps-to-promoting-your-small-business-on-facebook.html