Any small business can have a Facebook page, but just creating a page most likely won’t benefit your business. To promote your business and marketing, you need a dynamic page that represents your brand and engages your audience. Follow these tips to reap the benefits your Facebook business page has to offer.
1: Engaging Cover & Familiar Profile Photos and Videos
Your cover photo or video is the first thing a visitor will see when visiting your Facebook page and so it is important to make a great first impression.
Many small business owners believe once they put a cover photo up they just keep it there forever. Big mistake! Just like it’s important to constantly create engaging material for your page, it is just as critical to keep your cover page fresh.
Use your cover photo or video to advertise an upcoming event, offer a discount code, or show the benefits of your service. Do you own a cleaning service? Create a cover photo that promotes one free hour of cleaning or 20% off the first cleaning. Are you an interior decorator? Create a video featuring a beautiful living area you have recently decorated.
Unfortunately, due to the size restrictions set by Facebook it doesn’t allow for quite as much creativity with your profile picture. This is a perfect place for your company logo. Most visitors won’t even notice your profile picture because they will be drawn to your large engaging cover photo. Your profile picture needs to be familiar, that is it. There is no need to change your profile picture.
2: Write an Appealing About Section
Your About section is where you tell your company story, showcase service and products offered, and give visitors your contact information.
Highlight your accomplishments and achievements in your About section. Tell visitors how long you have been in service and how your business is different from others. Let the world know why your business is special; this is where you can brag about your company!
Visitors need to know what services and products your small business provides. They are on your page for a reason, they need your services. Sell yourself, your services, and your products in your About section.
How can customers reach you? Put your contact information in your About section. Add your phone number, email, and website. Facebook also offers the option for visitors to send you a Facebook message. When you receive a Facebook message you must answer it as soon as possible because Facebook gives an average time of reply in your About section. The last thing you want is prospective customers to see that it takes you days to reply to messages.
3: Create a Call-To-Action Button
Directly beneath your cover photo or video is where you can select a Call-To-Action (CTA) button. This is a simple way for visitors to contact you. Facebook offers the following choices for your CTA button:
- Call Now
- Contact Us
- Send Message (this will be a Facebook message)
- Sign Up
- Shop Now
- Buy Now
You will then either link the button to a web page (your home page, a product page, or a landing page) or enter the phone number you want customers to call. Having a CTA button makes contacting you as simple as one click!
4: Integrate With Instagram
If your small business uses Instagram it is a great idea to link your Instagram account to your Facebook business page. Since Facebook owns Instagram they make this process very easy. Once you have linked the two social media platforms together any images you add to Instagram will automatically be posted to your Facebook page. This is an easy way to cross-promote your social media platforms.
5: Pin Your Posts
To keep your most current post at the top of your timeline click on the three dots on the right-hand side of your post. This is where you have options to edit and delete as well. In that area you will see an image of a thumbtack, click on it and that post will be “pinned” to the top of your timeline. If there is a post that you want to stay at the top of your timeline you can keep that image pinned so visitors will always see that post first. However, pinned posts only stay there for 7 days before returning to their original position on your timeline. After 7 days you will need to repin your post. Posts that have high engagement and resonate with your audience are posts you may want to keep pinned to the top of your page.
Your Facebook business page is a free and essential marketing tool. However, it is only as good as you make it. Follow these five tips to advance the success of your small business. Looking for more tips on how to leverage social media for your small business? Check out our virtual courses and offers!