How SMEs Can Utilise Facebook for Business

 Facebook, Online Content, Online Marketing, Small Business, SMEs, Social Media, Social Media Tips  No Responses »
Aug 062012
 

Although primarily a social platform, Facebook can be utilised effectively as a business tool.  Here are 4 key fundamentals that need to be put in place to support the process.

Have a Goal

Anyone who establishes a Facebook page for business purposes needs to have a goal for what they want their page to achieve.  By creating a clear objective, this can be used to assist in shaping online perceptions about your business.

Some examples of goals to aim for include:

o        Building community

o        Raising brand awareness

o        Enhancing customer service

Create a Publishing Schedule

Publishing content is time consuming and repetitive.  Content needs to be published regularly to have any impact.  However, posting too much may annoy your Fans.  A schedule allows you to track your activities and strike a balance in terms of content upload as well as consider topics of interest, research and creation of content in a strategic way.

Link your Facebook Profile

If you have other social media profiles, then link these to your Facebook page.  A blog, Twitter account or LinkedIn page should all be connected.  These interrelated platforms are a great way to promote your business across platforms and establish a presence.

Create a Resource

Use your Facebook page to “add value” to your customers.  Offer information, create contests, offer deals and provide solutions to customer issues.  Post questions on your ‘wall’ so that your Fans can respond and be interactive.  Get them to share insights, opinions and reward them for their feedback.

But more importantly have some fun!

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this article or leave your comments….

 Posted by on 6 August, 2012 at 12:47 pm

Strengthening Your Social Media Profiles

 Facebook, Online Marketing, SMEs, Social Media, Social Media Tips, Social Network Sites, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Apr 192012
 

Given the amount of time people spend on their social network sites, building their connections and growing their network, it is surprising when their profiles don’t get as much attention as they should.  If the aim is to increase your brand’s visibility, both personal and business, then having a strong profile is key.  A profile that ranks highly in searches is important to improving online presence.

Here are 4 ways to strengthen your profile.

Maintain Your Identity

With so many social media platforms, each with its own uniqueness, it is important to create and maintain a consistent identity or brand.  Use the same tone throughout each profile, as this will ensure that your profile is delivering the same message throughout.  If a potential client searches for you online through Facebook and LinkedIn the profiles need to say the same thing otherwise the message is not clear.

Something else to consider with your identify, is your photo.  Make sure that the image you choose is consistent throughout all your profiles and enhances your credibility not detracts from it.  That means you need an update to date and professional image, not one from a party last week.

Content is Important

What you write about yourself is vital so consider your profile a CV summary.  Tell people about the services you offer and the skills your have.  Sell yourself in a few short sentences so be clear, brief and to the point.  People need to be able to understand what you do immediately and the message needs to be the same throughout all profiles.

Although the aim is to be professional, allow your personality to come out so that people can gain an insight into your individuality.

Keywords

Keywords are important in your profile as social media profiles are highly searchable and have greater chance of being at the top end of search engine results.

It is, therefore, important to think about what keywords best describe what you do.  Ask yourself what keywords you would use to search for your business.  It may also be useful to ask other people you know what keywords they would use.  Then incorporate a mixture of words that are both specific and general so that you can optimise connecting with your target audience.

Consistency

Google loves regularly updated content so to be successful in social media consistency is key.  This means being active and having a planned approach with postings everyday or least every couple of days.  This way you can engage with your fans, connections or followers and stay regularly in contact.

Having multiple accounts is very time consuming so it is better to have fewer platforms than more if you can’t regularly post in all of them.  Choose the ones that you believe will connect with your target audience and start there.  You can always increase the platforms once you find a structured approach that works for you.

Today, social media profiles are more important than ever.  So when you create a platform, know that you are creating an identity.  Hopefully it is one that people will want to connect with so that the benefits will flow.

What are your thoughts?

This article was published in Dynamic Business.

 

 Posted by on 19 April, 2012 at 2:31 pm

Hand Over your Facebook Password if you Want a Job!!

 Facebook, Privacy, Social Media, Social Media in the Workplace  No Responses »
Mar 222012
 

It seems that job seekers are being asked for their Facebook passwords as part of the interview process.  Read more here.

In their efforts to scrutinise candidates, some companies and government agencies are going beyond the glance of a Facebook page and asking for passwords so that employers can log in while the interview is being conducted.  This is particularly the case where profiles are set to private making them available only to certain people.

Although some candidates refuse and withdraw their application, others can ill afford to.  Candidates obviously are able to say no but the pressure being applied on them could almost be classed as bullying.  Some say yes as they feel they can’t say no because they need the job.  This places individuals in a challenging position particularly when they require the employment opportunity.

The fact that employers are asking this question raises so many issues – whether it is legal to do and whether it violates the privacy of an individual to mention just two points.  These issues remain murky as we enter unchartered territory in terms of social network sites.  We are entering a new era in terms of public versus private information.  Is something still private if we post it on Facebook or Twitter?  Should employers be able to access this information to examine prospective employees?

These are interesting times!!

What do others think?

Is it okay for employers to ask to access your Facebook page?

 Posted by on 22 March, 2012 at 1:21 pm