Among all social networking sites or social media platforms, Facebook is the most popular and is mainly used by people worldwide because of its features. It makes it easier for people to connect with family and friends online.
Although Mark Zuckerberg initially created it in 2004 for college students while he was enrolled at Harvard University. Two years after its creation, Facebook can already be used by anyone with age 13 and has a valid email address. With more than 1 billion users worldwide, Facebook is now the world’s largest social network.
Today, people use Facebook to connect with people and with marketing and doing business online. In addition, other websites have worked to integrate Facebook, which allows you to sign in to different services across the Web with just your Facebook account.
People are naturally social beings; that’s why no wonder they love using Facebook mainly to connect with other people anywhere, anytime. Although there are various messaging and communication apps, Facebook is still unique as it can connect and share with people at the same time.
Facebook has grown exponentially since its inception. With its added features, people have found its usefulness in selling or promoting services or products online. Online businesses can save a lot of money from expenses such as setting up a physical store, salary for salespersons and staff, maintenance, etc.
The good thing about Facebook is that it offers free membership, no subscription to pay. The platform can generate most of its revenue from paid advertisers, who can reach clients and customers in an engaging and highly targeted way.
So, “Is Facebook still effective in promoting business?” the answer is ‘yes.’ As long as many people still use the platform, there is still a huge potential of the visibility of your business- the products or service that you offer to your target customers. According to statistics, Facebook currently has roughly 2.85 billion monthly active users as of the first quarter of 2021, according to Statista.com.
WHAT MAKES FACEBOOK EFFECTIVE IN PROMOTING A BUSINESS
In any niche or industry, it has been proven that Facebook helps generate leads and boost sales.
Facebook advertising is relatively easier than other platforms and can be highly targeted. However, a solid marketing strategy is still needed to maximize your return on investment (ROI) and connect with your specific customer group.
Share Basic Information of Your Business
Setting up a Facebook Page is your first step. It should be a place to publicize your business details like business name, address, and contact details. Also, you must include a short description of your products and services.
Share Pictures, Videos, and Update about your Business
There is no limit to what you can share on Facebook about your business. As long as you don’t violate Facebook Community Standards. You can post anything except content with:
- Nudity or other sexually suggestive content.
- Hate speech, credible threats, or direct attacks on an individual or group.
- Content that contains self-harm or excessive violence.
- Fake or impostor profiles.
- Spam
You can also upload videos and photos and post text about your business. This allows customers or prospective clients to see your product or service without having to visit your premises. You can also tag people when posting to make sure they see your post and appear on their timeline.
Facebook is a Low-cost Marketing Strategy
Marketing or advertising is one of the biggest expenses in a business. Some spend thousands of dollars on business promotion. Facebook is a big help, especially to start-ups and small businesses with a limited budget for advertising and promotional materials. On the other hand, larger businesses may use the platform for trial marketing concepts and themes before committing to bigger campaigns.
Targeted Advertising
Despite its billion users, Facebook can analyze all pieces of information that the users are entering into their profiles. If you use the platform for your business promotion and marketing, you can use this information to deliver targeted advertising to a specific and desired group of people.
Provide Customer Support
Customer feedback and questions can be posted on your Facebook wall or comment on your product or service. This allows other prospects to have an idea about the quality and nature of your business. The good thing about Facebook, you can set up an auto-reply to all inquiring customers via Facebook Messenger. This gives you the chance to entertain them once you have the time, without hiring any staff to answer queries.
Promote Brand Awareness
By encouraging more people to ‘like’ your Facebook page, you are expanding your reach. The more people like your business page on Facebook, the more chances that your posts about your business will be seen by more people, especially by those who clicked the ‘Like’ button.
Once you post updates, they will automatically be updated, and they can also share your posts that make their friends see them. In addition, you can ask previous customers to give feedback and reviews about your product or service to add to your credibility.
Facebook can Steer Traffic to Your Website
Of course, some people choose to have a website besides social media platforms for their business. Facebook can also generate traffic to your website. You can share posts on Facebook inviting people to your website once they click the link to it.