Last week, I talked about why the number of Facebook “likes” doesn’t really matter and offered an alternative to maintaining a Facebook page. But I still believe that having a business page is important to your business. And here’s why:
No Promo on Personal Pages
What many people don’t realize is that you can’t promote a business on a personal Facebook page. Do people still do it anyway? You bet! According to Facebook, “it’s against the Facebook Terms to use your personal account to represent something other than yourself (ex: your business).” And, if you decide to promote a business or sell items on your personal page, you risk losing your personal profile—and your friends list and all your photos along with it. It happens. I’ve seen it! On a side note, just because you and I are friends in real life doesn’t mean I have an interest in your business. Stop putting spammy marketing posts on your personal pages, thankyouverymuch.
[bctt tweet=”Using your personal FB profile to promote or sell is an invitation to lose your profile—and everything that goes with it.” username=””]
Establishes Some Authority
Having an online presence establishes some authority among your clients. Sure, you can do that with your website. But think about how much time you spend searching the internet vs. trolling through Facebook. (Scary, isn’t it?) Your audience is more likely to find you on Facebook. If you’re doing any interaction in groups, you’ll want to include a link to your Facebook page in the “Intro” section of your personal profile so people can find it. There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting to find out more about someone’s business on Facebook than not being able to find out anything about their business there.
[bctt tweet=”Link to your business page in the intro section of your Facebook profile. It helps people find you.” username=””]
A Place to Share Content
Even once you’ve launched your website, holding onto your Facebook page is a great place to share content—both your own blogs and content generated by others. Whatever your industry, find topics that are complementary to your business and include posts about those on your Facebook page. For example, I post about website design, search engine optimization and business ownership because my clients are interested in those and other similar topics. A personal trainer will likely post about racing etiquette, nutrition and healthy recipes. Someone who prepares taxes might post about retirement planning, budgeting and investments. You get the picture. In addition to your own posts, curate content from others to curate a well-rounded Facebook page.
[bctt tweet=”Your Facebook page is great for sharing content from complementary businesses.” username=””]
What to Watch Out For
While I recommend that all my clients have a business Facebook page, there are also things to watch out for.
- You don’t own your content on Facebook. You’re using a third-party platform to share your content. So if Facebook disappears someday, so does your content. If you don’t already have a website, invest in one.
- Facebook changes its rules and layout all the time, from what you can and can’t post to how you post to how you engage on your page. Stay informed.
- Posts to your Facebook page won’t reach everyone who follows your page. You must provide quality content that others want to engage in. The more people who engage in your content, the more people will see said content.
