Get a jump start on website promotion when you utilize social media in a small business. Anyone with a Facebook account has been asked to participate in “likes”, “follows” and “comments” by vendors, service providers and blog sites. You feel you should be utilizing the new social technologies in your marketing efforts, but what do you do after opening your account?
Keeping it real on Facebook
Facebook has been described as the number-one time suck on the net. As a platform for families, extended families and friends, folks can be themselves, reveal their inner children, share the fun, and continue conversations. Facebook ‘friends’ were friends, the site was a neat place to meet, share the love, plan real get-togethers, and share pictures of vacation spots and the grandkids. Many offices have their staff wired to the internet, and many people keep their Facebook page open all day!
The environment for the entrepreneur and business, though, is not casual and carefree, and commentary is not always friendly. A spontaneous comment or shared political post potentially opens your thread to everyone, including people who can ruin your day!
In the summer of 2018 I found an award-winning social media marketing training resource which outlined the basic tenets of today’s major social media sites. My suggestion to merchants selling unique items, pedigreed puppies, antiques, and the like, should give Facebook group marketing serious consideration. Facebook has been around for quite a while, and even grandparents are familiar with it. Small businesses that engage Facebook groups are exploiting the medium for low-cost marketing. For antiques and one-of-a-kind sales, selling your heirloom products on Facebook is more cost-effective than brick and mortar and online stores. You can engage with new customers on your terms and really get people talking about you.
If you are like me and other busy sole-proprietors, you may have experienced “paralysis by analysis”. If you have a company Facebook page, a LinkedIn profile and a list of existing clients, I can help you learn the basics, and together we can map out a long-range plan to monetize your efforts or attract new clientele. Existing clients will be billed at my prevailing website design rates and may contract my services on a monthly basis.