Business is about relationships. Social networking sites are about relationships, and Facebook is a great way to build consumer loyalty and engagement.

Facebook in its simple form is a way of connecting with like minded people, people who share your interests and who are potential consumers for your product and services. So what are 3 basic steps to start using Facebook as part of your marketing strategy?

 

1. Set up your personal profile. This is a window into you as a person. Ensure that the profile is professional and yet shows your personality. This will allow you to connect with friends and find new people who share your passions.

2. Get Networking! Facebook is a free tool that makes networking easy. There is no travel, no cost to connecting with people who share your interests. Key to creating a strong network is not just to “friend” people, but to make real personal contact. Visit their profiles, interact with their thoughts, and think of ways to start a conversation just like you would face to face.

3. Reach out and find your target market. You can do this in many ways, some to consider are

• Set up a group or a page for your company. Invite people to join and to collaborate on the future direction of your company. Consumers love to feel valued; they love to have their voice heard. Use groups or pages to start to build a community around your company.
• Spend time looking through your friends pages. Remember people connect with other like minded people. You can see their friends and find new people to connect with, there is also a recommendation feature so that you can connect with new people. It is not about the quantity for me, it is about finding the right people who share your interests.
• Why not set up an Facebook ad. This is an extremely cost effective way of building brand awareness. You have control over who sees the ad, being able to target by age, location, interests etc

Facebook should not be seen as your complete marketing strategy; however as part of your internet approach, can lead to creating a loyal customer base who move from connections or passive customers to loyal brand advocates. For me, the question is not why use Facebook but why not? It is free, easy to use, has millions of potential customers and after a small initial time investment, can become self sufficient.

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Anna Farmery runs the Engaging Brand and is a business coach and speaker. You can learn more about her at www.theengagingbrand.com