Many solopreneurs, coaches, and heart-based business owners flock to Facebook to promote their business. Using Facebook for business is a great tool, but it is important to remember, that it’s only a tool. You do not have complete control here and are at their mercy, Therefore, I believe that it is imperative that you have at least a basic website.
Tips for using Facebook for Business:
Personal Page
A personal page is mandatory on Facebook and their rules forbid you to use your personal page solely for business. Some business owners prefer to use their personal pages for their family and friends only. However, this might be a downfall, because when people are researching you, they will search for your name. If you have a fan out there, it may be super cool to them to say they are your friend. I was super jazzed when Jack Canfield approved my friendship request. It helps your fans to trust you, as they see you as a real person.
There are ways that you can use your personal page for business. You can post about your business events, you can put your friends on lists – naming one of the list Fans, and post promotions that only they will see. One of the biggest mistakes I see solopreneurs make is putting Self-Employed in their profile. This links nowhere and looks kind of tacky. Create a business page and link your employment to it.
Business Page
Think of your business page as window dressing. It’s pretty and enticing, however, it does not provide for one-on-one communication. It is basically one-sided as posts by your fans are hidden over to the right of the page. One of the main purposes of a business page is to build brand awareness. It allows people to send you private messages. Remember that ALL posts on a business page are public.
It is important to have a business page! Some of the benefits of a page is that you can create a button for people to receive a gift and opt into your email list. You can also utilize the page for Facebook ads or for events that you are hosting. Fans are able to share your content which helps you gain more exposure. Get a feel for what your potential customers want by conducting polls on your page. Facebook business pages have built-in analytics. And, you can share your group on your page.
Group Page
You can create as many groups as you want on Facebook. You can list them as public, closed or private. A public group is open for anyone to see. A closed group allows anyone to see who is in it, however, only members of the group can see content within the group. Whereas if a group is private, the only people who can see the members or the content are the members themselves.
Groups are perfect for engaging with your fanbase. It encourages two-way communication and allows members to interact with one another. You can create private groups, for people in your programs, and a public or closed group to build a tribe of raving fans who love you. You can share files with the group, right from the page. Another benefit is the ability to search the group for people or topics.
Facebook Live
Facebook Live is all the rage right now. People love seeing what other people are doing and getting mini-lessons in real-time. Yes, there is software that allows you to pre-record Facebook live. Facebook Live can be used in groups as well as on your personal or business page. They are also shareable and editable – to an extent. One way to use the Live feature is to have Live Q&A for your fans in closed or secret groups. This gives people an incentive to join because they get to interact live with you. You might even want to deliver mini-lessons in your groups. It’s a great visibility tool. Think outside of the box and make it work for you.
Join the Get Seen, Get Known, Get Clients Facebook Group and get your questions answered during my weekly Q&A Live.
Facebook Ads
The way Facebook set up the platform, makes it one of the best ways to advertise because you can micro-target your ideal audience. This is a huge benefit to you because you will get a better return on your investment.
Facebook is definitely a great tool to build your credibility as an expert in your field and to find your ideal clients. There might be a learning curve, as Facebook has many features to help you grow and succeed. Once you have a system going on Facebook, you can repurpose the same content for other social media sites.
