2. Facebook

            In the year 2017, if you are not easily found on the internet, you do not exist.  This is the second in a series of articles; “How to Create and Maintain a Social Media Brand – the Lecture Series”.   This is all you need to know to create a social media presence for the independent consumer based business.     Enjoy, and Happy New Year 2017.

Facebook has been written off by many professionals as a personal space.   Nothing is personal in 2017.  Everything is public.   So is your professional life. 

Facebook is useful for businesses because it has

• a search engine
• business pages where you can promote your business activities or at least publish them at no charge 
• paid ads to target audiences
• boost posts for pay, to a  pre-selected audience.

So create a page about yourself with tasteful photos of you.   Some of these should be personal and some of these purely professional.   Give people a glimpse of your true self and your many aspects. 

Publish updates weekly or bi-weekly.   These are gentle touches to your network.

Create a business page with address, phone, email and any other important contact information so that people can search and find your business easily using the search engine. 

Publish regular (bi-weekly or monthly) business updates on the business page.   Again, these are gentle touches.

Consider paying for an ad or two.  The ad should be interesting, innovative and entertain your intended audience.   The ad should most of all entertain.  Facebook is a leisure activity. The ad will increase your page likes and followers.

When something interesting or extraordinary happens for your business, publish these events and boost the post to ensure that as many people as possible in the public learn about it.  This will also serve to increase your network and your reach.

Privacy and Security

If you think of these Facebook pages as places to promote your professional self and business, then you will realize that privacy is really not very necessary.   Most of your posts should be public.  However, you should ensure that you get to review anything that anyone writes on your wall or shares on your timeline.  Do not re-share personal information or posts from your Facebook friends.  Do not include personal information on this site that you wish to keep personal or only share with close friends and family. 

Ending on a positive note:

Facebook can extend your network by leaps and bounds.  You can gently remind people that you are the trusted professional of choice for the myriad of services that you provide. 

Social Media for Business Workshops