Facebook 101

During your lunch break, when bored at home, or just killing time in between appointments, you are like 2.2 billion daily users who might be scrolling through Facebook.

Given the amount of time you and so many others spend on this venerable platform, you may feel like you’re pretty handy with it, but when it comes to promoting your business, how big of an expert are you really??

26% of Facebook users who click on an ad end up making a purchase, and you are also likely to have access to the widest range of demographics of any platform, most of us repeatedly show our interests, likes, shares, comments, and express our most delicious thoughts & opinions, so as a business or cause, how do you get in on all the opportunities that Facebook has to offer you and your business?

Facebook does a pretty good job of being user-friendly for the average scroller, but when you start to dive into the mechanics of Facebook for Business, Ad Manager, and Groups it can feel a little intimidating, and that’s okay!

First, Let’s fast-track you to the top of the Facebook learning curve and m with Facebook 101, and then make sure to come back for Facebook 201.

Walk Before you Run.?

Social Media has become not an “if” but a “how” kind of marketing tool for businesses, individuals, and organizations. How do you know you are doing it “right,” and how do you take advantage of all its advanced features to target, engage, and convert your audiences? Let’s start with the basics, and work you up from there.?

1. Create a Facebook Business Page.?

This is different from a Facebook profile, as it provides you with a host of different tools, options, insights, and the ability to promote content, and makes it super easy for your audience to connect with or contact you.?

https://www.facebook.com/business/

2. Personalize your Facebook Business Profile

Personalize with your brand collateral, all about your business, hours, ways to contact you, hours of operation, website URL, etc.?

Facebook does a pretty good job walking you through the process of setting up your page, with prompts and reminders (that are so consistent/insistent) you may even get annoyed with them after a while).??

We recommend you get familiar with your page’s operations, settings, etc on both desktop and mobile, so you are comfortable and familiar with either application. Practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to put in the time to make Facebook your best friend!?

3. Start Posting!?

Your customers are looking for consistent, relevant, informative, or entertaining content that stays clear (most of the time!) of selling. Social media is where your company’s brand, culture, and people can shine, so keep in mind “people first,” because humans like looking at pictures of and hearing stories about other humans, and how your product or service is making their life better, happier, wealthier or healthier.

Power Walking, Slow Jog.?

So now that you have got your business profile all set up, and you’re posting cute pictures of the office dog, you’re all set, right?

Nope, now you are ready to start really striding out, and using Facebook like you really mean it.?

1. Content calendar you will create, use it you must.

If you haven’t already discovered this for yourself, writing content, sourcing images, creating posts, and publishing them take a lot of time. And it’s easy to get behind, put it off, and forget about it when you are running a business. So in order to publish good content CONSISTENTLY (which is one of the golden rules of successful social media strategies)

2. Use an app like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Cloud Campaign to schedule posts.?

While posting in the moment, known as “native posting” is great, it’s oftentimes difficult to do daily, at the right times, so using a scheduler will save you time, and frustration, and help you avoid content gaps.

3. Enlist an army, and get some Generals.?

Facebook for Business allows you to assign page roles, which means that you can assign others to help you post, monitor, and manage your page. Many hands make light work!?

Also, remember to invite your friends, family, associates, customers, and employees to like, follow, and share your page! Every little bit helps, and when you are trying to get the word out, every little bit adds up to a lot!?

You’re off and running!?

See, wasn’t that easy? You’re well on your way, with the basics at your fingertips, and the big bright blue world of Facebook at your disposal. We know you have many, many more questions, and we know we didn’t talk about ads or boosting content yet, but you need to master walking before you jump into parkour!

Ready to move up to the front of the pack? Check out Facebook 201

View Facebook 201

But before you jump ahead, let’s go over a few more tips and best practices.?

Facebook algorithms, tools, and technologies are changing daily, but here are some evergreen tips to keep your social media at a high level of quality.

1. Post consistently, at LEAST 3x a week, and don’t be afraid to recycle (or UPcycle good content.

2. Don’t always be selling. People buy from people they know, like, and trust, and social media is no place for pushy or tone-deaf sales copy.

3. Know your audience, write and post for THEM. Not your grandma, or yourself, but for your audience (if you need help identifying who that is, we can help!).

4. Facebook is SOCIAL. That means you have to like, follow, reply, engage, and share in order for it to work! It can be said, you could post the location of Jimmy Hoffa’s body, and nobody would see it if you don’t like, share and engage to have the law of reciprocity work to your advantage!

5. Keep up with what’s happening on Facebook! Take a few minutes every week to research trends, new tools, and tricks (Facebook Groups?are popping up right now, for instance).

6. Have fun! If you aren’t enjoying it, your audience won’t be enjoying it. Involve your team, make it a company effort, and get ready to reap the rewards.