How To Use Facebook to Market Your Small Business

Business owners have been loath to use Facebook as a marketing tool in the past. With the high instance of spam, Facebook had the potential to hurt a business much more quickly than it could help it. With the new revamping of business pages, Facebook has provided a safe platform from which businesses can market themselves effectively. Here are the top five ways to use Facebook to market your business.

1. Set Up a Page

The first step in using Facebook effectively is to set up a great page. Be sure to include your business's information including days and hours of operation, the services you offer and consider adding some photos of yourself and staff. Veterinary hospitals, for instance, can add pictures and brief bios of all of their doctors.

2. Keep It Updated

Nothing will hurt a business more than an outdated Facebook page. If your hours or services change, update your page! Too often businesses have old hours or services listed and, believe it or not, this simple lack of updating can turn customers off.

Why Use Social Media?

When I talk with business owners in my area, the main question I get is "Why should I use social media?"  Most businesses use Facebook, but they don't know why they should use it or why they should use more than just Facebook.  The answer is simple:  social media is the new word of mouth, and you need to be involved in the conversation.  Facebook and other social media sites are a perfect place to host a forum where customers can talk about your business.  People are going to be talking about your business online whether or not you are involved in social media.  I have seen many companies that do not even have a Facebook page, but customers are leaving comments on sites like Yelp, where anybody can add a business.

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See my 3-part Seminar on Social Media

I will be leading a three part seminar on Social Media for the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce in New Hampshire beginning on Wednesday, October 19 between 12 and 1pm.  The first subject will be Facebook, and I plan on videotaping the seminar to show on my blogs.  If you are in the area and wish to join me, you can go to http://www.plymouthnh.org/inner.php/Chamber+Events/Chamber+Brown+Bag+Lunch+Seminars/ to register.

I will be editing the videos to a shorter summary to post on my blog and on Youtube, but if you wish to see the videos in their entirety, you have to sign up for my email list to get that.  I am excited and honored to be hosting these seminars, and if you have a certain question you with to be answered, please leave a comment here and I will do my best to answer it.  If I cannot during the presentation I will do my best to answer them either here on the blog or via email if you provide me with that.