02/ 11/ 2008
Boost business on Facebook
If you run a small business, you should set up a Facebook account. Here's why:
If you have a college or high-school student in your family, you've no doubt heard of Facebook. In fewer than three years, the social networking service has become one of the most visited Web sites on the Internet, with more than 40 billion page views per month.
While other social networking services like LinkedIn and Plaxo (both of which you should join) are more focused on business connections, Facebook is rapidly growing beyond its focus as a student-oriented community, adding potential new customers of all ages and interests by the minute. Today, the service is used by nearly 30 million individuals as a primary focus for their online identity and Web use. For many, Facebook accounts are replacing e-mail for online correspondence, and new Facebook applications are helping the Web site evolve into a personal hub for organizing and conducting a variety of online activities.
So, how did the student community Web site evolve into such a popular platform?
First, Facebook made setting up a personal identity easy and transparent. Unlike other services, there were no anonymous users among the early adopters, as Facebook required a ".edu" e-mail account to join. (Now, anyone with an e-mail account can sign up.) Second, a fast "network effect" occurred when early-joining students recognized intuitively that it would be more helpful to them if they recruited all their friends to join.
For small businesses, all of this means that Facebook now provides an efficient means of reaching out to existing and new customers in a variety of ways. Take these steps to maximize Facebook for your small business:
- Sign up for an account by following the easy directions at www.facebook.com.
- Add a photo to your profile and then add the type of information you would like to share with others. Unlike a typical Web site, you have a lot of control over who can see information on your profile.
- Create a business page for your company. Encourage your customers to add a "fan" link to your company page.
- Add some "friends" to your account to get an idea of how the networking features work. Hint: Don't ask your teenage children to friend you, as it's very un-cool to friend one's parents.
- Join a Facebook group—one related to your industry, hometown or a special interest. Better yet, create your own group related to your industry or professional focus.
