Facebook is a giant. I don't know of any one place where
you can network with as many people in the same "room", and learn more
about them in 10 minutes than what otherwise takes a lifetime. It's one
of the best networking tools on the planet, and if you learn how to
market on Facebook properly, your business could really take a turn for
the better. Let's get to the basics.
market on Facebook
How To Market On Facebook - Determine Your Purpose
The first thing you want to ask yourself is why are you on
Facebook. This seems like an obvious question, but all too often there
is no focus on an end result.
If you choose to market on Facebook with yourself first,
then a personal page is a great step in that direction. People will
expect to get to know you, your passion, and your attitude. This will
allow them to make a choice as to whether to actively follow you or not.
From there, you can develop networks of people who like and trust you.
If you choose to market on Facebook with your products
consistently, then you need to set up a fan page that is clear about
what it is you're marketing. People that "like" your fan page could
arguably be considered interested and aware of your intentions, so your
constant marketing efforts don't come off like a slap chop presentation
at a friends and family dinner party.
So decide on how to market on Facebook based on if you are
marketing yourself, and/or your products/services, then create the
page(s) and content with your
audience in mind and what they expect from you.
How To Market On Facebook - Create Your Brand
Creating your brand is more like discovering what's very interesting or appealing about you, and magnifying it.
A brand should not be something that is fabricated or
fake. People are very weary about trusting people they don't know,
especially sales people, so a sure way to destroy your image is to
create one that is not you.
Once you "discover" your brand, adhere to it with the
highest standard. Your ability to cement into people's mind that this
is the "real you", and there is little to no wavering, is required if
you want to market on Facebook properly and be heard and acted upon by
your target market.
How To Market On Facebook - Make Friends
This may seem obvious but people often choose to market on
Facebook to a small group of people, who are not even their target
market. It's simply a waste of time.
When you make friends, do it with people who have similar
interests. People that will enjoy your posts, and will post things you
will be able to comment on and provide
value to is a good example.
So if you love horseback riding, but despise football,
chances are you shouldn't go make friends with a bunch of football
players or groups. Sure you may get a teeny cross over, but your
networking results are much more magnified when you friend people that
have similar interests.
Go for quality when you market on Facebook, over sheer quantity.
How To Market On Facebook - Post Valuable Content
Your value (or knowledge) will go a long ways to attracting
people to you that have similar thoughts or simply respect an honest,
intelligent opinion. For this reason, posting valuable content is a
core requirement when you market on Facebook.
People don't read things they have no interest in. They
search for comments, quotes, or news that resonates with them. In other
words, things that they feel provide value to their lives.
So once you decide how you will market on Facebook, and who
you are marketing to, be sure to post content that will be valuable to
them. This solicits likes, comments, and attracts real online
friendships. This then establishes trust, which is required before most
people will even investigate your product with any level of interest.
How To Market On Facebook - Network
I often have people ask me how they use Facebook for
networking and marketing. I simply tell them Facebook is a giant
networking event that's online 24-7. You "work the room" (post and
make comments on others posts), introduce yourself (add friends from
interest groups or other friends), and connect with people by providing
them with some type of value.
It's very simple to market on Facebook, so don't make it complicated.
How To Market on Facebook - Don't Get Distracted and Don't Spam
Facebook is a great tool but can also be a great
distraction. You need to decide when you are networking and marketing
effectively, and when you are just wasting your time.
Each time you post or comment on Facebook, ask yourself if
it is furthering your brand and network in a market that is useful to
your business. If it is not, chances are your time is better spent on
other endeavors.
Also, don't use your personal Facebook page to "scream"
about your business and it's products every single day. You may be
excited, but chances are your Facebook friends are not that interested.
There's something powerful about subtle marketing techniques, and
spamming is definitely not a recommended method when you market on
Facebook.
Bottom line, when learning how to market on Facebook, stick
to the basic fundamentals and your marketing efforts will go a long
way. Once you have that mastered, then you can incorporate ninja tools
and tricks to take it to the next level, but never before.
Good luck!
market on Facebook