Just as the advent of the internet led companies to build websites, the popularity of Facebook is causing many marketers to want to build Facebook business pages. With over 500 million users (larger than the population of the United States) Facebook has become the number one social networking site in the world. Even so, many companies don’t have a Facebook business page. Why? The reasons vary. For some, they don’t understand the true value of having a Facebook business page. For others, it’s because they simply don’t have the time, resources, or knowledge needed to build an engaging page.
Whatever the reason, they may want to reconsider after reviewing these four reasons why your business needs a Facebook page.
1. Increased consumer engagement
Facebook helps businesses turn a transaction into an ongoing customer relationship by building and maintaining a loyal consumer following with consumers who are most likely to buy again and again. It is a great vehicle for businesses that offer products or services that may not be purchased on a regular basis, and are looking for ways to stay connected until the next need arises. It is also non-intrusive, as users opt-in by “Liking” a page.
2. Improved exposure and SEO rankings
Facebook business pages are public, meaning they are indexed by search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Facebook business pages regularly appear on the first page of search results, providing businesses even greater exposure. Consumers don’t have to be a member of Facebook to view a fan page, anyone can click on a fan page and see the content.
3. True word of mouth marketing
Marketers know that there is nothing more valuable for a brand than a personal recommendation from one friend to another. A study by ExactTarget found that 38% of online U.S. consumers “Like” a brand on the social networking site. And the average fan likes nine different brands, giving clients plenty of opportunity to find their way into potential customers’ news feeds. This is what makes Facebook the ultimate word of mouth marketing platform. Whenever a consumer “Likes” a page or posts a comment on a page, that information is shared on the consumer’s wall and in their news feed for all of their friends to see, allowing likes and comments to go viral.
4. It’s expected
Facebook has become such a big part of consumers’ lives that many expect their favorite brands to have a business page that they can “Like” and follow. Businesses run the risk of being perceived as non-relevant if they do not have a Facebook page.
What’s holding your company back from building a Facebook business page? Please share your comments.
