Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past three years, you’ve heard about Facebook and probably have better things to do anyway like protecting your family from a T-Rex or something. For the rest of us who can’t help but check our walls every five minutes of the day and feel compelled to let the world know that we ate too much Chinese food for lunch, Facebook is more than just another website it’s our way of constantly staying in touch with the pulse of the world. Imagine a day very soon in our children’s lives in which they literally never lose touch with anyone. For us adults high school friends haven’t been seen in twenty years; for our children, friends new and old will always only be a click away. If you’re a small business owner looking to promote yourself in this tough economy Facebook may just be the answer to those prayers.
Five Ways To Promote Via Facebook
Let the world know you have arrived- You just got to that trade show event that has been hyped so much only to find that A) it’s sooooo crowded nobody can find anyone in the maze of booths or B) it’s dead and nobody is walking the isles. Luckily you’ve just started up a Facebook page and over the past few months have been collecting a steady stream of followers which can also be considered potential customers. Immediately you pull out your smartphone and start taking pictures of your custom designed trade show exhibit complete with hanging banners and large video monitors. Within seconds you’ve told the world where you are and what to look forward when they arrive.
Videos can be instant commercials- For those that are unable to make it to that trade show or for simply showing off your new portable showroom designs, Facebook allows you to post video of your company in action. Plus Facebook is essentially an internet phone tree. For example say you post a video and one of your 300 followers says they liked it. Now not only have you shown that new showroom interior to your 300 followers, but that instantly doubles to include the 300 followers of the person that left the comment, then the number doubles again as more and more people comment on your original video.
Give customers 15 minutes of fame- While at that trade show posting videos about how great and exciting your trade show display looks, take the time to catch some visitors on camera and let them share in the limelight. There’s nothing people like more than some individual attention and getting on the on the web is the same as putting that spotlight right on them.
Don’t discount the power of Facebook- One new trend in business in terms of using Facebook to gain a competitive edge, is the concept of offering followers Facebook only discounts. From an extra 10% off on football tickets to free appetizers at your favorite restaurant, retailers big and small are learning that rewarding their loyal followers can quickly mean big business.