From www.powerculturemag.com Issue 3 ” The Power Writer’s Manual” 

By: Kristi L. Jackson

 

Don’t get me wrong, Facebook’s one of the BEST, most innovative platforms created. It allows small businesses, including Women CEO Project, to build local and global brands and reach far beyond what we could’ve imagined a few years ago.  We build and grow these awesome fanpages, we ask and cajole friends to follow us. Then we fill that sucker with content, news, tips- as much as we can.  We all know the stats about Facebook- how long people spend on the platform and how our ideal client is more than likely logging on at minimum, a few times a week. 

 But here’s the problem. Facebook’s made us lazy.  How did we connect before? How did we get our business in 2007? How did we market to and gain our ideal client before Facebook? Is this the main resource we’re using to communicate with our audience?

 This platform is absolutely freaking useful. It’s leverage is global………but, it should not be the end all be all of your marketing strategy.  Keep in mind, no matter how many fans you have, only about 10% of them see your fabulous content. Do you realize that to successfully market your business, products and services, that you will have to go beyond Facebook- that it’s only a part of your marketing strategy and not the whole?

 Many of my clients come to me with their entire marketing strategy surrounding this free platform. This is not smart. With all the restrictions and changes on Facebook, and the occasional hiccup landing you in Facebook jail, it’s wise to build your brand but to gather your contacts off this platform and get them to subscribe to your website, blog or newsletter. Get your tribe OFF of Facebook and onto your blog.

 Joke. Facebook doesn’t suck, but our reliance on it does. All of these social media platforms have evolved to be some of the most useful business tools available, but we must be smart and leverage them. Here’s how.

Be Smart Tips:

• Consider adding the Mailchimp app to your fanpage to gather new newsletter subscribers
• Don’t paste your entire blog post on Facebook. Give a teaser, then lead them to your website or blog
• Keep your eye on your insights tab and learn what content your fans respond to and hone in on these subjects but again, pulling them to your blog
• Consider using contests to pull more data from your fans and engage your followers
• Build a marketing strategy that leverages Facebook, Linkedin and other social media platform BUT also includes:

• Face to face meetings, events and conferences
• A monthly email or newsletter
• One on one connecting with your clients
• And offering content through ebooks, articles, and blogs

 Facebook is an excellent platform to “meet” your potential client, but you must learn how to use, how to leverage, and how to truly get the business results you need using this piece of your marketing pie. 

Get creative with tools techniques and learn how to “pull and gather” your tribe as much as possible to a platform that YOU control.