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We offer tips on adding value to your business using Facebook

5 Ways Small Businesses Add Value with Facebook

January 19, 2012

1. Talk to customers on Facebook's level

Facebook is built on connecting, sharing, and interacting with other people. Your Facebook Page is a unique place where they can do those things as they pertain to your business. Its a place where you can send your customers a quick message to kick start discussion and get some valuable feedback. Ask open ended questions like "What would you like to see on our menu?" or "What was your favorite concert here this year and why?". This puts the human face on your business that customers crave.

2. Share photos that build your brand

Don't just tell customers and prospective customers why your business is great, show them. Show them why its a fun place to eat, or only top-tier professionals work there, or your food has the most gourmet ingredients. Show them that your bar puts on the best Halloween party, or that people actually attend and learn at the classes you put on. Upload photos which exemplify your brand and evoke particular emotions in prospective customers.

3. Leverage Facebook's innate word of mouth

Facebook provides built "word of mouth" that marketers salivate over. When someone clicks the "Like button" on something you've posted, all of their friends see it. Best of all, this property is central to how Facebook works and allows the simplest of messages to be spread like wildfire to thousands of eyes of prospective customers. The key here is to post something that people will be interested in, and interested in sharing with their friends. Some examples are: coupons, funny photos, stories of customers or employees doing something difficult or awesome, etc.

4. Attract new customers by offering a coupon

Information on Facebook is typically consumed "at-a-glance" (i.e. they are scrolling through 50 one line updates from friends and businesses they like). What better way, from the consumer's perspective, to discover coupons and specials? There are a few strategies to employ when offering coupons: you can offer something small for free if they Like you, which increases the connections to your page; or you can offer something to everyone, whether they Like you or not, to increase traffic and revenue.

5. Show love to your community

Facebook is an online extension of real world communities. Participate in the communities that your business does in real life. Common examples are downtown associations, chamber of commerce pages, restaurant associations, 20-30/Rotary clubs, etc. Participating in these communities on Facebook gets your business’ name out there and provides another post that someone can spread to their friends