Social Media Part 2: Why Facebook?

In September 2012, Facebook crossed a milestone when the billionth person joined the fun. One billion users! That’s a whole lot of potential customers and prospects, some small business owners might say. Traditionally, Facebook has served as a social platform to catch up with old friends, meet new friends, share personal stories, triumphs, tragedies, videos, pictures and general information that might be helpful for others to know. Making the switch from simply being social to creating a business page can be tricky. However, the key to having a successful Facebook business page is engagement. So ask yourself, will I take the time to stay engaged, respond to customer inquiries and keep information updated in a timely manner?

Here are some pros & cons to consider:

Pros:
• Provides an opportunities to interact with customers and potential customers
• Offers broader exposure of your brand
• Ability to share photos and videos about a product or service
• Allows another avenue for advertising (free and paid)
• Ability to promote special deals/events and invite people to become engaged

Cons:
• Takes time, energy and effort to keep your page up-to-date and robust
• It may be hard to attract new fans, they have to initiate contact
• Building your following requires time and creativity
• A “like” doesn’t necessarily mean a sale
• Facebook users tend to connect with people and groups they already know

After weighing your options, Facebook may be the right fit for your business. But if it’s not, don’t fret, there are plenty of other social networking tools to consider. Stay tuned for more reviews!