You can’t be a proper web design company these days without insisting that your clients incorporate social media into their site content…just about everywhere! What started out as a fun way to stay in touch with friends is now an integral part of just about every kind of business marketing plan, and social media is clearly here to stay.
Facebook wasn’t developed with business in mind, but as its popularity exploded smart people in various industries began making Facebook pages for their companies. In an effort to keep business and personal life separate, Facebook introduced what are known as “Like” pages, where it’s made clearly apparent that the page owner is not a person, but a “thing” such as a company, non-profit, political entity and so on.
Social media marketing extends to Twitter, LinkedIn and other group sites, and it can be a great boon for your business. If used correctly, social media has the ability to improve your reputation and enhance your presence online. It can be difficult, though. Social media has a tendency to bring out the best AND worst in people, it it’s sometime tough to know how to react appropriately.
Calgary’s Emphasize Design Presents 6 Facebook Tips for Your Business
1. Play within the rules. Facebook guidelines for business pages are different than those for personal pages, and after you’ve accepted their terms and conditions they can reject your page at any time if you are found in violation of those rules. These sorts of no-nos include running a give-away or draw on your page using Facebook features, fibbing about what you do or calling yourself by a different name.
2. Always participate – but be positive! If someone posts on your board or asks you a question, absolutely respond. But don’t fall into the trap that often ensnares business owners when it comes to Facebook. Social media marketing is exactly that – marketing – and your business Facebook page should be as professional as possible. If someone was dissatisfied with their experience with your company and has declared their unhappiness on Facebook, face it head on, and always offer to speak in person about the incident.
3. Post often and post well. Make sure you keep up on your social media responsibilities. Posting irregularly gives the impression there’s nothing going on with your business, which can work against you. People may assume you’ve become complacent. As well, when you post, be sure to be relevant. Pick the brains of the sales people in your office – they are often treasure troves of good ideas for social media and blog content.
4. Be visual. Facebook posts with images simply look better than ones without, and provide added value to your comments…especially if they come for your company’s employees themselves! Arm your staff with cameras so that they can catch they everyday incidents that make your business what it is. Have you just started a new building project? Take a picture of the progress! Did you just make a really great sale? Grab a photo of you and the happy customer. It all works to presents your business in a casual way that personalizes it for the client.
5. Apply yourself. As discussed, Facebook frowns on using their application for contests and promotions, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done! You can use a third-party provider to add these features and also make your page stand out with nifty additions such as newsletters, calendars, reservation and appointment requests and a whole lot more.
6. Stay within your brand. If you are posting anonymously for a large corporation, then definitely avoid being overly familiar and first-person comments. But, if you head up a smaller company and often interact with customers, then feel free to chat about yourself. Just always be sure to respect the privacy of your clients!
