Wriiten by Ted Nguyen
After becoming a Facebook fan of a business, 56 percent of customers report that they are more likely to recommend that company or brand to their friends and family . They are also more likely to make a repeat purchase, reports Social Media Today.
As a small business owner, that means a lot. Theoretically, it means you simply have to set up a Facebook page, invite old clients to like you, and wait for the recommendations to pour in your front door. Casting Facebook as your rainmaker isn’t necessarily as simple as it sounds, but with the right approach, it can be.
Who?
To be effective, you need a solid fan base. Email your client base and invite them to like your page. Remind them that they will get access to fan-only special offers, promos, and content.
You can also print off cards that advertise your Facebook page. Keep a pile of these near your cash register and give them to customers as they shop.
What?
When posting, Facebook advises businesses to post rich media like videos and photos . This gets you more attention, and helps your message stand out in your fans’ news feed. Short posts are easier for scrolling fans to digest, so keep your posts between 100 and 250 characters.
Keep in mind that you are starting a conversation, so ask for feedback. This is a critical opportunity to reach out to your clients and get their feedback on your products and services. If you have a blog, provide a link to it. As your fans click on that, it will take them away from Facebook and to your primary site, making them even more likely to utilize your products or services.
In addition to starting the conversation on Facebook, you can close the deal there as well. Although Facebook does not include e-commerce capabilities, many entrepreneurs are still selling products there. Have your clients submit their order through the comments field.
As long as they include their email address, you can easily invoice them using invoicing software like Intuit.com ‘s Quickbooks. Customize the invoice, send a bill to their email address, and collect the payment via credit card, PayPal, or a mailed paper check.
When?
Follow your fans as well. Figure out when they are on Facebook, and post around that time. Are they home and posting on Sunday nights or Saturday mornings? Are they more active on Monday mornings when they first get into their cubicles? The answer will vary depending on your demographic.
Posting when your fans are active ensures that your content is fresh when they see it, and this makes your customers more likely to interact with your posts. As your posts get likes, comments, and interaction, it increases the number of people (including non-fans) who may see it in their sidebar or in their newsfeed.