How Facebook Grows My Business and Facebook For Business Tips

Here’s an article I’ve written for a Vancouver-based tech writer who’s asked me to share my experiences with Facebook, how it has benefited my business, and what tips I can offer other folks in using Facebook to promote their businesses. I’m confident you’ll gain insights that you can use – today.

1. How has Facebook helped me to grow my business?

When I first started out with my Facebook Profile, it was with the intention to connect with current and old friends and colleagues. It wasn’t till I tracked my Q3/Q4 statistics on my blog, did I realize that Facebook accounted for a decent and growing percentage of new visits to my ShermanLive.com blog, where I help business owners simplify and demystify technology so they can profit from it.

That was when I approached Facebook with more intentionality. This involved creating a Facebook Group as a beginner’s guide to help technophobes master the basics of the web. This group, with more than 350 members today, showcases more than 60 videos, teaching the basics like domain registration, hosting, creating web pages and blogs etc. In addition, I created a Facebook Group for members of my WordPressTutorials.com training site.

In being proactive in these groups and my profile, and engaging in dialogue with key contacts in my friend network, I’ve attracted hundreds of new visitors to my blog and my other web properties, attracting them to engage in my product and service offerings.

In addition, the conversations I’ve engaged in with new acquaintances and friends have sparked new business opportunities. These new opportunities have added to my bottom line in new alliances, new projects, new consulting and speaking gigs and new profits.

The networking opportunities are incredible on Facebook, as the platform offers you a sneak peek into the personal and business life of a Facebook ‘Friend’. At a glance, I can get a feel about a Facebook friend’s preferences, likes, dislikes and conversational style. These offer me very effective ice-breakers to engage in conversation with them. These conversations grow into stronger relationships, which may benefit both parties for business or personal interests.

In summary, Facebook has helped to enhance my business and personal life with new, enriching relationships and profits.

2. What recommendations do I have for other businesses in using Facebook to promote their products or services?

Put On Your Party Hat & Join The Party!

Quote from Wikipedia (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook)
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As of late November 2007, the website has the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites, with 55 million active members (including non-collegiate members) worldwide, with membership expected to surpass 60 million users by the end of the year. From September 2006 to September 2007 the site’s traffic ranking increased from 60th to 7th, according to Alexa. It is the number one site for photos in the United States, ahead of public sites such as Flickr, with over 60 million photos uploaded weekly.
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Its a party with close to 60 million users, and 200,000 new users joining everyday – what’s not to like?

Facebook users proactively use Facebook to connect with their current friends and find old friends, share picture and video galleries and communicate openly on their ‘Walls’ and private messages. There are also many business applications that add features to your profile. Facebook also offers Facebook Groups (interest groups that have grown to the thousands) and Facebook Ads, a very powerful demographically-targeted promotional service being offered to Facebook users. You can read more about other services that Facebook offers here.

With 1 million new post-college users joining every week, it should catch the attention of all businesses to dive into and research this phenomenon.

The least a business should do is to research interest groups (Facebook Groups) related to their product or service line or their ideal audience, and feel the pulse of the community. I would strongly suggest that new users put on their party hats, join several interest groups, add value to the ‘party’ with tips, advice, photos, videos and other helpful insights. As you gain trust, respect, influence and subject matter expertise, the users in those Facebook Groups will then seek out your Facebook Profile or your web properties to engage in your offerings.

Don’t Be A Social Dork!

There’s a reason why it’s called Social Media.

Keep it Social. Keep it Relational. Keep it Community-Centric.

Like in blogging, infuse your ‘speak’ and ‘conversations’ with your personal voice.

Don’t be a social dork by blatantly pitching your products and services – it’ll get you nowhere fast.

Create Your Own Party!

After you get your feet wet, you may want to consider creating your own Facebook Group or Facebook Page. It doesn’t have to be a topic that’s super-niched to your product or service, as it can be one that’s loosely related to your offerings.

For example, Dove could setup a Facebook Page about ‘Real Beauty’ – showing pictures, videos and posting notes about the power of ‘real beauty’. They don’t have to blatantly pitch their Dove products. Get it?

It’s Not A One Night Stand!

Keep in mind that you’re building a positive brand, a positive reputation, a positive community around your company, your products or your services.

This is relational, social, and about community.

Not a one-night stand. Not bam-bam-thank-you-ma’am.

It’s courtship. It’s dating. And it takes time. But its all worthwhile.

Where else can you find a party with 60 million users, offering you demographics, geographics, pyschographics and their conversations, pictures, videos and their likes/dislikes to begin a conversation, a relationship?

Where else can you setup a group around a relevant topic, attract Facebook users to participate in the conversation, and enjoy the benefits of knowing what your audience likes or dislikes.

In closing, be smart about Facebook. Throw on your party hat and join the party. Don’t be a social dork. Create your own party. And remember, it’s not a one night stand.

Would love your feedback and comments – simply click the ‘Comments’ link below. Thanks!