Promote your Business-It’s a simple fact that Facebook is now a pay-to-play marketing platform. Despite all of the moaning and whining marketers made when it became evident that free Facebook marketing was no longer an option, they’re all still using Facebook to promote. Why is this the case? Because, even as a paid network, Facebook has a phenomenal marketing ROI. In other words, it’s completely worthwhile.
We at Zen Media have managed hundreds of paid Facebook ads for our customers, so we have firsthand knowledge of the ROI that can be achieved with this marketing strategy.
Having said that, there are still several effective free ways for businesses to use Facebook.
Still don’t believe us? Here are some methods to use Facebook to advertise your business for free!
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1. Establish a personal business presence through the use of a fan page.
One of social media marketing’s key assets is its capacity to foster relationships between businesses and their target audiences. The person-to-person engagement that can occur on social media gives consumers the impression that they have encountered a brand in a meaningful way and now have a special relationship with that company. Imagine how much more intense this feeling is when that consumer interacts not just with “the brand,” but with the person behind that brand!
You may or may not already have a personal Facebook account, depending on your social media habits. If you do, and choose to keep your personal profile private, Facebook will also allow you to build a page for your public, professional persona. Otherwise, you can communicate with customers through your personal profile.
2. Keep a strong brand presence.
While your company’s Facebook postings are unlikely to appear in your audience’s news feeds unless you pay to promote them, that doesn’t mean you should stop posting them on your brand’s page. People today frequently use Facebook as a search engine to learn more about a company, whether it’s fundamental information like contact information and operating hours, or what customers have to say about them. A vibrant, active page with regular posts and lots of audience involvement is a terrific approach to demonstrate that your consumers aren’t just satisfied – they’re ecstatic!
3. Participate in Facebook groups.
While most people associate online networking with LinkedIn, Facebook groups provide a similar possibility for professionals. There are several Facebook groups dedicated to different businesses, professions, and interests. Your personal account can be used to join groups of colleagues as well as groups where your target audience is likely to be found.
The more you contribute to the discussions in these groups, the more your name will become known — and associated with industry leadership and knowledge. The one thing to be careful of is coming across as salesy in your talks — the quickest way to turn off this potential stream of leads and contacts is to start marketing your business instead of sharing genuine advise and ideas.
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4. Form your own group.
Can’t seem to discover a Facebook group that’s exactly what you’re looking for? Make your own! You can add members, publish articles, hold debates, and most likely meet a lot of prospects. You automatically gain industry leadership status in the eyes of your members because you run the group and dominate the talks, which can only assist when they realise they need the product or service you supply.
5. Organize your events
Are you hosting a webinar or giving a speech somewhere? Make an event page and invite your friends and members of the groups you belong to. You may also view how many people have RSVPed and get comments from attendees.
6. Distribute your blog.
You can automate the task if you know you won’t remember or have time to share your company’s blog posts on your Facebook page or profile each week. There are numerous online solutions available to help you with this, ranging from basic WordPress plugins to suites of digital marketing software that will automatically post each new blog article to your Facebook page for you. More exposure equals more traffic, which equals more leads.
7. Request that your network share blog entries.
In addition to sharing your company’s blog entries on your personal Facebook page or profile, you should also ask your team of employees and partners, current customers, and even personal friends and family to share your company’s postings on their personal Facebook pages. Cross-pollination is one of the Five Principles of Momentum described in Shama’s new book, Momentum: How to Propel Your Marketing and Transform Your Brand in the Digital Age. Shama claims that:
“Cross-pollination entails using every single resource available to your organisation into your marketing plan, allowing each to inform your usage of the others.” With each of these previously untapped resources contributing to the mix, the synergy creates something fresh and strong, and your marketing momentum develops tremendously as a result.”
8. Make contact! Are you a fan or admirer of another person’s work?
Contact them on Facebook! Many people check Facebook messages more frequently than they check email. They are also more inclined to respond to communications on Facebook. Don’t feel comfortable sending a message to someone you’ve never met? Not to worry! Leave a note on their wall that says, “I admire your effort!” When posting on other pages, make sure you’re posting as your company, not your personal account.
9. Use Facebook Live to broadcast live video.
Because of the unpredictability of live video, the closeness and immediacy of live video give your viewers the impression that they are getting a behind-the-scenes look at the real you – as well as tempting them to stick around to watch much longer than they would a regular video. For more information, see our blog piece Why Facebook Live Will Be Hotter Than YouTube for Your Business.
10. Form a community.
The ability to form a community is maybe Facebook’s most valuable feature. It connects you to a network of people that are always linked to you and receptive to hearing your message. Engage with individuals in a real way, whether it’s through posting on their walls, reacting to their remarks on your own, conversing in groups, or introducing people to one another. Before you know it, you’ll have built a network of people that support you and your business — all for free.
As you can see, while Facebook marketing is now pay-to-play, it is still about building connections, developing relationships, and sharing your knowledge with others. You only need to know the appropriate tactics to be able to continue doing so for free.
