How Can Facebook Help Your Business?

There has been a lot of talk about Facebook in the media recently. Facebook is a global social networking website and is one of the most popular places on the net, with over 300 million users. Many people use Facebook as a way to connect with old friends but it has also become a major part of many businesses as they use it to promote and share information.

The way Facebook works (if you don’t already know) is that a person joins, and then creates his or her own page which often includes basic information as well as a picture or two. The person then becomes friends with others that he or she knows, and can then communicate by leaving comments on each others pages (that everyone that is a friend can see).

Businesses have been using Facebook with much success. People spend a ton of time on this social network, and it can be a great way to get the word out about your business.
Let’s look at an example:

Sally loves getting her hair done at the local salon. Let’s say that the salon has their own Facebook page, and Sally is a member of it. The salon posts a comment on Sally’s page, and all of Sally’s friends can see it. The salon just exposed itself to ALL of Sally’s friends! Jessica, one of Sally’s friends sees the information on the salon, and gives the salon a call because she likes Sally’s hair.

Facebook can also help to add “social proof” to your business. Once you begin building a list of friends for your business, you can share this directly on your business website. This will help potential customers see that your business is thriving, and established.

Facebook works particularly well in niches such as restaurants and salons, but can be applied to just about any business.

 

How Can Twitter Help Your Business?

Twitter is the new buzzword. It seems one cannot turn on the news without it being mentioned. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service which allows its users to communicate with each other through short messages known as “tweets”. Though Twitter is not as popular as Facebook, it continues to grow very rapidly.

 

Twitter is quite a bit different than a place like Facebook or Myspace, as it is completely focused on the tweets that are sent out. It also features a very devoted fan-base.
Most people on Twitter are there to network, and it can be a very powerful way to share information about your business. Here are a few reasons why you should be using Twitter:

• Everyone Else is doing it: There are so many businesses using Twitter successfully. Don’t get left behind!
• Twitter is “Social Media”: Your business needs to be participating in social media, and this is a fantastic way to do it.
• Twitter Users are Very Devoted: When you send a tweet out to your list, you better believe people are going to see it.
• You can communicate with your “Followers” for Free: Whenever you want to get information out to your customers, typically you would need to spend money on sending a mailing through the post office. It doesn’t cost anything to send tweets out, and people receive them instantly!
• Twitter Allows You to Communicate Individually with your Customers: Twitter allows you to message all of your followers, but also gives you the ability to communicate directly with individual customers. This can give you valuable feedback as well as allows you to build relationships with them.
• Others Have Already Paved this Road: Chances are many other businesses like yours are already using Twitter successfully. You don’t need to stumble in the dark as you will have proven business models to follow.

There is no doubt about it; Twitter can help your business today!

If your not using Twitter you should be!