Facebook Boosts Businesses in an Unusual Way

Business leaders are fond of banning Facebook and other social networks. Indeed, I met a security expert the other day who told me that some firms even ban people from using their personal mobiles from accessing Facebook during office hours - either by confiscating all mobiles at the start of the working day, or by installing "blocking" radio waves, which prevent the mobiles from receiving a signal. What jolly workplaces they must be.

Some business leaders appear to think that social networking is a distraction. That's in spite of several studies which show that office productivity FALLS once you ban the likes of Facebook. Furthermore, companies that institute Facebook bans also find they lose the benefit of staff giving their company free marketing support.

But why are businesses happy to let their company lose out on the marketing potential of their staff talking about them on Facebook? The issue, it seems, is that they cannot trust their staff to say positive things about the firm. Oh dear. If you cannot trust your own staff to say good things about your company that says a great deal about your employment practices and your relationship with your workers. This is not a Facebook problem; instead, Facebook bans reveal more about inadequate senior management in businesses than anything else.

Now, a new research study emphasises this issue. Psychologists have discovered that Facebook usage during studying has no impact on the students who use Facebook, compared with those who do not. The fear was that Facebook would contribute to lower grades because of the distraction. However, this is not the case.

What is interesting in this research, however, is the fact that students who were good multi-taskers and who had good relationships with their parents tended to to better if they also used Facebook. For businesses this has important implications.

It suggests that the selection of staff is important - and that if a company has "issues" with social networks like Facebook it could mean they really need to look at staff selection, rather than banning Facebook. Ultimately, what this new research suggests is that if you select people who are good at multitasking (why wouldn't you want them anyway?) and who are well-rounded with solid family relationships (who wouldn't want that either?) then you are much more likely to be choosing people who will actually do better for your business if they use Facebook.

In other words, many business leaders need to look at themselves and how they select their staff, rather than simply banning social networks. Indeed, choose the right people and your business will benefit significantly in more ways than you think from using social networks.

Making Social and E-Mail Calls to Action More Effective   Social Networking - A Beginners Guide to LinkedIn   Making Efficient Use of Your Social Media Campaign - A Debut Into Social Media Marketing   Top Reasons to Engage on Twitter   How Are You Leveraging Your LinkedIn Groups to Build Your Empire?   How Online Social Networks Help Build Businesses   

Understanding the Facebook Timeline Elements for Creating a Successful Fan Page

Now that the Facebook Timeline and cover photo feature has already been introduced, what's next? What should this mean for every business? Can companies gain a more positive social experience from the feature? The answer is yes, and much more! New directional strategy for any social network always brings new opportunities, and the Facebook Timeline and cover photo features boasts unique characteristics and elements to take full advantage of the changes.

Take Advantage of Timeline Capabilities

The researcher, Simply Measured, drew its results from an impressively small sample: just 15 Facebook Fan pages. Doing so may have generated a fabricated sense of buzz, especially since the ultimate beneficiaries, Livestrong and Toyota, saw their engagement rates skyrocket 161% and 156%, respectively. Diving deeper into the data exposes that replies to status updates in fact fell with Timeline, but engagement with videos and photos were up an unexpectedly 65%. Adam Schoenfeld, CEO of Simply Measured expressed his theory that the bigger images on Timeline are leading to more engagement with vibrant material. That will inform marketers to post additional videos and photos.

With Facebook filled with all kinds of products, brands, and companies, before implementing a Facebook strategy, companies want to know whether it would beneficial to invest in a Facebook marketing campaign for the new timeline and professional cover photo. Moreover, they want to know whether they can deliver their company message professionally and appropriately. Businesses also at the same time look forward to impressing their customers with the cover photo and timeline strategy.

A thoughtful cover photo and distinct approach to the timeline is proving to be an advantage for businesses in this regard. The timeline change has progressed from an obvious pitch opt in Fan page front end, to a non-aggressive visual representation to standout, communicating a simple message. Neither old nor new Fan page layout is the same as before. For Facebook, the design layout is the initiative.

Change is an ever constant in this world; we all know that. We are also aware that change can sometimes be painful too. Now that your business has finally acquired your very own Facebook marketing strategy to work for you, the creators at Facebook began the inevitable - changing the rules! The reality, however, remains; if you want to keep engaging with your audiences and prospects on the social network, you have to learn to adapt with any changes especially the timeline and cover photo. You just cannot ignore these important elements. Thankfully, there are smart tactics regarding how you can make this timeline dilemma work for your business effectively.

For starters, embrace the visual focus Facebook offers by brainstorming a subtle message comprised with professional design skills to enhance your company brand. The 850x315 pixels of cover photo image space with timeline layout, allows you to create a viral recognizable brand of your business on Facebook.

In addition to the cover photo, Facebook timeline Fan pages, groups, and profiles have upgraded the following:

A vertical timeline (wall) that posts status updates, highlights, and the ability to change dates in a two-way downward column A timeline to be sociable by sharing remarkable content exceptionally A larger layout design dedicated for applications, including editorial photos, and even dynamic videos The cover photo feature is a professional and unique element where a company or brand can display a creative photo that represents the company or brand characteristics

It would be in a company's best interest to shape an eye-catching message, symbol, brand, or identifiable picture to choose for their cover photo. Delivering a clear message in a professional manner for potential customers and clients to see is a positive representation of the company image. An important game changing strategy is to update your cover photo from time to time to keep your Facebook page fresh and upbeat.

Companies must understand that web users engage more with visual content naturally; which draws users in to anything interesting they can look at. Planning your editorial images comprehensively will generate the best engagement with fans, while attracting more followers that want to share your message.

Unique and entertainingly written posts will remain crucial as well; you may also want to provide subtle yet detailed correlation to compliment your visual content. The visually focused Facebook has provided the features necessary to create the best conditions for greater engagement. Visual focus is what companies and brands needed according to Facebook.

Always aim to be creative with the images you plan to display, because these dynamics either make a good or bad impression to your business from visitors and prospects point of view. With the new Fan page cover photo feature, including the thumbnail photos intended for the applications, you are now empowered to conceptualize an impressive page and implement it for effective Facebook results.

Conclusion

In this article you have learned the easiest ways to increase your exposure, gain, traffic, and create greater engagement with your Fan page or profile. By doing so, you will increase Facebook traffic flow through your site, and optimistically increase your search engine rankings as well. Minor adjustments like those you learned today can make a big transformation to your Facebook marketing campaign.

To review, make certain that you create a remarkable Fan page or profile cover photo that stands out. Also, give thoughtful time to mapping out your design, be unique and entertaining, and aim for creativity, avoid blatant promotion, selling, or calls to action and keep good standing with Facebook.

Making Social and E-Mail Calls to Action More Effective   Social Networking - A Beginners Guide to LinkedIn   Making Efficient Use of Your Social Media Campaign - A Debut Into Social Media Marketing   Top Reasons to Engage on Twitter   How Are You Leveraging Your LinkedIn Groups to Build Your Empire?   

10 Questions a Business Owner Needs to Ask Before Using Facebook Advertising

Have you tried to use Facebook advertising and had no luck? I have spoken to a lot of business owners the last couple of years that have said to me that I tried to advertise on Facebook and it was a waste of time. First of all, I will be the first one to say that Facebook Advertising is not for every business and if people can easily buy your product elsewhere, or can compare prices easily online, then selling your product on Facebook is going to be difficult. However, on the flip side if your product is unique or personalized then Facebook advertising is for you. Facebook is the worldwide capital of individual expression and it is perfect to sell customized and personalized products. Here are ten questions every business owner needs to ask before advertising on Facebook.

1.) Can people buy a product very similar to yours at a big box store, i.e Walmart?

If you sell a product that can be bought easily in a brick and mortar store and at a lower price like a discount store like Walmart then it is going to be harder to sell your product and make money with Facebook advertising unless you are the lowest price.

2.) Do you sell to consumers? (B2C)

Facebook advertising is for you if you sell to consumers and not businesses. Remember Facebook is a place to socialize and hang out with friends and family and if a friend or family member talks or brags about something new they just bought you have a potential new client.

3.) Do you sell to other businesses?

As I just mentioned if you are a business selling to other businesses then Facebook advertising is not for you. However, and exception can sometimes be if you sell to small businesses with few employees because at those types of businesses work and home are sometimes mixed and blended together.

4.) Is your product technical, industrial, process oriented and/ or academic?

If your product is highly technical and process oriented it will be tougher to sell and make money using Facebook advertising.

5.) Do you sell events, memberships, experiences, and/ or entertainment?

If you sell "fun" Facebook Advertising is a great place to promote your product. Products that appeal to a person's core identity are great products to sell on Facebook. Because Facebook is social people are always asking "Where have you been?" What clubs do you belong to?" and "Where do you want to go?"

6.) Do you sell personal improvement products or travel?

Again, products that get to an individuals core identity and emotions are really good products to use Facebook advertising.

7.) Are your products or services customized, delivered in person or personalized?

Answering yes to this questions puts you right in the sweet spot to use Facebook advertising. The more your product is personalized and customized the higher your chances of getting people to click your ad and purchase from you.

8.) Does your market have strong preconceived notions about what your prices "should" be?

If your product or service is easily defined in the market place on price it will be more challenging to use Facebook advertising. However, if your product or service is one that the marketplace really does not know what it costs then you probably have a real good chance of profiting from Facebook advertising.

9.) Does your business harmonize with political, religious convictions, beliefs or social movements?

If you answered "yes" to this question then you hit another sweet spot because if your product or service harmonizes with a person's identity - political affiliations, religious convictions, beliefs, or social movements then you will have a significant advantage using Facebook advertising.

10.) Is your business local or national?

In a previous post I wrote about Facebook advertising - I mentioned that if your business is local and someone can turn a door knob then you have a really good shot at getting new clients from your Facebook advertising. There is one caveat and that is you need to have answered yes to at least questions #2, #5, #6, #7 and possibly #9. If you were able to answer yes to all of them then I would say Facebook advertising is for you.

I hope these 10 questions help clarify for you on whether or not Facebook  is right for you. Also, just so we are straight just because you may have a product that does not sell well using Facebook advertising that does not mean that you can't use it to build your brand and awareness of your product.

If you would like to learn more on how to use Facebook to get traffic and customers to your site I have developed a course for business owners that helps walk them through the process step by step. You can learn more about it at www.gettingfbtrafficsystem.com.

Making Social and E-Mail Calls to Action More Effective   Social Networking - A Beginners Guide to LinkedIn   Making Efficient Use of Your Social Media Campaign - A Debut Into Social Media Marketing   Top Reasons to Engage on Twitter   How Are You Leveraging Your LinkedIn Groups to Build Your Empire?