Here’s Why Facebook is Important for Businesses

Because Facebook wasn’t just made for tweens and mums

OK, I admit it. If I visit Facebook on any given day, I’m instantly bombarded by ridiculous memes, gossip columns and incredible Taylor Swift videos, not to mention a plethora of baby photos that make me want to tie my tubes instantly. But Facebook isn’t just about appealing to tweens, teens and mums any more; Facebook is important for businesses too.

Let’s look at the numbers. Facebook now has a whopping 1.26 billion users, 1.23 billion of which actively use Facebook every month. In America along there are 128 million users who hang out on Facebook pretty much every day. In New Zealand, more than half of all Kiwis have a Facebook page, which makes a pretty darn significant number of people you could get your brand in front of.

For free.

Yep, that’s right, Facebook is one of the best online marketing tools ever invented because the potential audience is massive – and you don’t need to pay a thing for it. So is it worth setting up a Facebook page for your company? Here are five reasons why Facebook is important for businesses.

Facebook builds loyalty and relationship with your audience.

If someone likes, shares or comments on your post, they want some kind of relationship with your business. Facebook is important for businesses because it gives your business a personal touch and lets you interact with both your current and wannabe customers with news, photos and videos. And the more you do it, the more your business is established as a hip-with-it company that takes its audience seriously.

Facebook tells the world about your business.

In the Social Media Examiner’s 2013 End of Year Report, 89% of marketers stated that increased exposure was the number one benefit of social media marketing. As likes, shares or comments on your posts increase, more and more people will become aware of your business. For example, if one person who has 500 Facebook friends likes your page or post, their activity will also appear in their friends’ timelines, increasing the exposure of your business to hundreds of other people without you having to do very much at all.

Facebook gives you valuable marketing information.

Facebook’s insights page lets you dig deeper into the demographics of the people who like and interact with your page, giving you valuable information about the type of person your company is targeted to. For example, if mostly young mums engage with your posts yet your overall business plan focuses on males aged 45 and over, Facebook’s insights will tell you that you’ve got another market that has a lot of potential to be tapped.

Facebook lets you develop new products or ideas.

Facebook is important for businesses because if you’ve got a big Facebook audience, you can approach them directly for opinions on new products and ideas. For example, if you own a restaurant and Tuesday nights are traditionally pretty dead, open it up to your fanbase and ask for their suggestions. Yes, many of the ideas that will come through will be lame; but maybe you’ll stumble across an idea that reinvigorates your Tuesday nights and pushes your sales through the roof. Get your loyal audience involved in idea-generating and increase their emotional connection to your business at the same time.

Facebook helps increase your SEO rankings.

If you want to reach the top page of Google search, you need strong SEO support. Facebook can help with this. Google doesn’t just look at evergreen web pages to determine SEO strength; every link and post on your Facebook page is indexed by search engines as well. If your Facebook page is regularly updated and flows with continuous relevant content, you may see a jump in your search engine rankings.

Not sure where to start with your own business Facebook page? Contact Lingo; we can get you started no sweat.