Social Media 101: How to use Facebook for business

She recently wrote about the importance of blogging in social media. Today Amanda Patterson is going to talk about Facebook.

What is Facebook?

The network allows users to share content and conversations, create events and, more recently, add targeted advertisements. A public page allows you to establish a direct link to your readers through wall posts, discussions, and polls.

Why is it important?

Facebook is the world’s largest social network and it is one of the most powerful social media platforms because of this. [On Thursday, founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that one billion people used the platform in one day.]

We find that our Facebook page generates the most business for Writers Write.

How to set up a Facebook page

1. Go to facebook.com/pages/create.
2. Click to choose a Page category.
3. Select a more specific category from the dropdown menu and fill out the required information.
4. Click Get Started and follow the on-screen instructions.

Or visit How do I create a Page? on Facebook

How to use Facebook

You should generate new and nurture existing relationships with followers. Because users choose what to look at and what to share, you can grow a loyal, relevant, industry-specific fan base. Facebook is about a long-term commitment and you will have to work hard and spend time before you reap the rewards.

You can use it to:

1. Link to your blog posts, videos, and website content.
2. Create discussions around your products and services.
3. Read and respond directly to comments and questions from people all over the world.
4. Post external links to news that will be of interest to your followers.
5. Target specific demographics with Facebook advertising. You can track the advert with Facebook analytics, which are available to every Facebook page, and are easy to use and understand.

To succeed on Facebook

Make use of the Insights section for your page. You will have access to all the information you want, including where followers find your page, which countries and cities they come from, gender breakdowns, which posts are successful, how many new followers you have, and how many click through links your post has generated.

Facebook tips

Facebook is not about selling. It really is about sharing your stories. Your goal is to let customers get to know your brand, and sometimes the people behind the logo. Show your business in a friendly light. Show it as a place where customers are treated well.

1. Give your followers lots of free information. Entertain them with links to blog posts that amuse, inspire and inform.
2. Focus each post on a single subject and include a question, link, or call to action to boost engagement.
3. Share quotations that are relevant to your brand.
4. Share cartoons and pictures that relate to your industry. Ask users for feedback.
5. Post regularly. A week-long absence is a lifetime in social media.
6. Use a conversational tone and avoid marketing and sales jargon. Do not flood your page with special offers or advertise directly on your page.
7. Make sure every link or post is valuable in some way for your followers. Your blog needs to be continually updated so that you can share posts about your brand on this page.
8. Add appropriate comments when linking to anything.
9. Address customer complaints quickly and cleanly. Take lengthy back-and-forth type of complaints to email, or offer to call the customer. If the discussion turns negative, then it is open to the trolls and it degenerates into a bloodbath.

Do you have any tips on how you have used Facebook to promote your business and brands? Share them with us in the comments below.

Amanda Patterson – If you want to learn how to write for social media, email news@writerswrite.co.za for more information.