Is Facebook Still Relevant?

This is a question many small business owners ask themselves. They are aware of the massive amounts of people on Instagram and have even been able to increase Facebook likes. Even so, it still doesn’t seem like anyone is reaping the benefits or maybe they’ve noticed an overall drop in sales and posts engagements.

What does research say?

According to Pew Research Center, Facebook continues to dominate the online landscape. However, it seems that user demographics have shifted over the past five years. Among US adults who use Facebook, more than half of current users are between the ages of 30-49. Within all users, seven out of ten Facebook users say they use the site daily; 49% of users check the site several times a day.

It is still a social website

Remember that Facebook is a social website, not a marketing campaign. You should always consider yourself part of the community and regularly post about things you find interesting or funny. People love to see what everyone is up to. If you are constantly posting new content, you can expect more traffic to your Facebook page.

Another important aspect of being on Facebook is the constant flow of information. The more you post, the better your chances are of getting someone’s attention. You never know who might need your product or service – keep an open mind when posting. It’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see results. If you stick with it, hopefully your business page will gain recognition.

Personalize your page

Creating a Facebook fan page is also another great way for people to become aware of your business. Just like having an official website, others can share it with their friends or print coupons/discounts to hand out. You can even track whether your fans are actively using the page by using Facebook Insights.

The biggest problem you will probably face is getting enough likes for your page so that it is seen by others. Many people have resorted to offering products and services for free to do this, but that may not work for everyone. The best way to do this I’ve found is by using an ad.

Is the $$ worth it?

Facebook ads are great because all you have to do is put it into your budget and let Facebook know what you’re looking for (precise demographics, age, gender). What makes them even better is that they allow you to limit your results to a particular location or even a radius around that area. This way you only reach people who have the potential to be interested in your product/service.

What will most likely happen is that Facebook will limit the number of likes you can get based on the budget you entered for your ad. If this happens, you should try to increase your budget by a certain amount or decrease your reach. You can still get people interested in your product/service even if they don’t like it in the end. They’ll be more likely to see what you have to offer if they see that their friends are fans of your business page.

It may take time, but Facebook continues to be a great way for small businesses to gain recognition and (potentially) new customers. It’s definitely worth it. Good luck!

Source: jumpstart video