I’m on Facebook. So are more than 80 million people at last estimate. At 37-years-old, I’m in the estimated 40% of Facebook users over age 35.
I’m not as skilled at using it yet as the 60% using Facebook who are 35 and under, but it is the future for social networking. And “old” guys like me are involved in figuring it out, not just for personal use and getting in touch with friends…
But for business.
Specifically growing your business or inspiring brand loyalty. I listened in on a Webinar on this topic over the weekend. Good stuff from The AppGap. Audio from the Webinar is there and the slides are here:
The Webinar featured extensive research on business-related groups in Facebook. They studied several possible uses and purposes of groups.
Among the points I found interesting:
- The length of time it takes to build a group and get them engaged varies, but a viral hit on Facebook is not likely
- You can create a community that supports your business, especially for small businesses, but it takes active facilitation of the group
- Many business leaders need to lose the predetermined perception that Facebook is just for “fun” by young people
Bottom line… Facebook is not an easy way to get more customers or even engage in discussion with your customers but it can be worth it. It can be a marketing/PR channel but like everything in social media you have to go about that carefully and be transparent about your intentions.
Forming groups for business is just one potential use. There are of course ads, video and news feed possibilities to reach people you consider your key demographic.
It’s definitely worth trying as a method to enter the scene of social networking for business.
There’s a lot to Facebook. Take the time to learn more about it, to use it and embrace what it could do for your business.
Thanks to Lois Kelly at Bloghound for giving the heads-up on this Webinar. I’ve read her blog since meeting her at an IABC Minnesota conference and picked up a copy of her book, Beyond Buzz, which is a great overview of the new strategies in communications.
