If you’ve been watching any portion of popular media lately, there are two important things you’ve recently seen with regard to Facebook:
- The Social Network, story of Mark Zuckerburg and Facebook, won 4 Golden Globes
- Facebook was the most visited site in 2010, outranking Google.
Why all the hubbub about this place where people play games and connect with old college friends?
Facebook Is More Thank Social Nonsense
Social Networking has often been looked at as a waste of time where people gripe about work and life, or play games and other unproductive activities. When we look at the potential impact Facebook offers to businesses, here are some vital statistics you should know:
- Facebook currently boasts more than 500 million users worldwide, about 70% in the United States
- About 50% of Facebook users log on in any given day (that’s roughly 175 million in the US)
- The average user has 130 friend and connects with 80 pages, groups, and/or events
Great, so it’s apparent there are a lot of people on Facebook, but consider what people are going to Facebook for:
- Connect with others
- Connect with brands
- Relaxation and recreation
- Make purchases
- Get reviews/opinions on products/services/brands
- Voice opinions on products/services/brands
Facebook is quickly becoming a hub, not a fab, of information. With more companies making their presence known on Facebook, consumers are increasingly looking for a way to connect with the companies they either do business with currently or want to through this virtual world.
Making The Most of “The Social Network”
There are a couple of ways to make the most of Facebook, and both should be researched and implemented carefully:
- Well Developed Fan Page: This is where companies can directly interact with customers/clients. You can sell your product through a Facebook page, as well as communicate and engage with your target audience.
- Dominating Search: Aside from being visible directly on Facebook, by having a well developed page, you begin to dominate search results. Your company website should already be performing well for targeted keywords, which is accomplished through Search Engine Optimization, but your Facebook Page can also perform well for these keywords when done correctly. This means you begin not only appearing in search results, but having multiple listings performing well, driving your competition even further down.
The Key To Success
If you’re going to leverage Facebook effectively, you need to have a thorough understanding of how to do it. Many companies try the Do-It-Yourself method and don’t succeed. Internet marketing firms, like DirectiveGroup, know how to help not only develop a good looking social profile, but how to guide you to continued success through social engagement and marketing.
