Clever use of a Facebook Page

[RadiusBPO]

Hi

I'm just browsing through Facebook and I see someone I know has liked this page = http://www.facebook.com/torbayiphone = So I check it out and I was quite impressed!

This person has built up a local business serving local customers using just an FB page for marketing. If you look at their wall they get a couple of enquires per day and have over 600 likes (new version of Fans).

It's a great example of how a small business can be up and running without paying £300 for a website, £500 per month for SEO, £10 per month on hosting etc etc.

This might even be a great little side earner for anyone technical enough to supplement their main business.

I'd love to see more examples of this, do you know of any?

 

[DotNetWebs]

...This person has built up a local business serving local customers using just an FB page for marketing...

I don't believe it. It's not possible to use a Facebook page for business. It's only kids that use it and they haven't got any money. They would be better of matketing on Google.

At least that's what all the 'experts' on this forum keep telling me!

Regards

Dotty

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

Couple of enquiries a day? It looks like a few a week to me. How many of those become sales?

It can work very well as a money-on-the-side hobby business. However, is this person earning a decent wage from his Facebook campaign alone? I highly doubt it.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...However, is this person earning a decent wage from his Facebook campaign alone? I highly doubt it.

I am sure you are right.

But given the same start date and same budget would he be earning any more using a website reliant on Google?

Regards

Dotty

 

[RadiusBPO]

To me it looked like a couple per day. But yeah maybe it is a couple per week. But for a guy around here where the average wage is just £6-700 per month and extra few hundred per month makes a lot of difference.
This guy may have separate pages for all types of repairs. iPod, computers, tv, satellite, modem etc etc. He may even have these pages set up for other local towns and local cities. He may even use Gumtree?

I didn't post this as an example of how you can be become a millionaire more how you can start a small business and if running a business is their aim why not start small like this?

I think this could help cleaners, small web designers (for clubs and other micro biz), a printers, photographers, cafes etc etc there are loads.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...I didn't post this as an example of how you can be become a millionaire more how you can start a small business and if running a business is their aim why not start small like this? ...

I have said many times IMO facebook it still in a 'land grab' phase.

This person already has people who have found his page via 'social recommendations' and is benefiting from this phenomena.

If he can continue to grow his business and become known as THE person to deal with 'all things iPhone' in Torbay he may well end up with an established business that provides a living.

And as an aside. He's not doing to bad on Google either:

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&xhr=...phone+repair+torbay&pbx=1&fp=ac65c6cb9805fcf7

Regards

Dotty

 

[An Oasis]

How long do you think FB will remain free to businesses Dotty?

 

[mconridge]

We've put a selection of product on facebook recently. We've also managed to set up a promo where if somebody 'likes' us it reveals a discount voucher.

Only launched it fully on Tuesday so it wil interesting to see the results.

www.facebook.com/outdoorleisuredirect if anybody wants to take a peek

 

[RadiusBPO]

We've put a selection of product on facebook recently. We've also manages to set up a promo where if somebody 'likes' us it reveals a discount voucher.

Only launched it fully on Tuesday so it wil interesting to see the results.

www.facebook.com/outdoorleisuredirect if anybod wants to take a peek

Nice way to track conversions as well. Will be interesting to hear how it works out!

 

[DotNetWebs]

How long do you think FB will remain free to businesses Dotty?

Personally I can't see Facebook charging businesses for this sort of activity.

And even if they did they did the business could revert to a 'regular' fan page and perhaps use a 'Connect' interface to a 'regular' website.

To business that have already established themselves on Facebook it wouldn't make much of a difference because they could effectively take their fans with them and they would have already established their position in the 'social graph'.

Regards

Dotty

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I don't believe it. It's not possible to use a Facebook page for business. It's only kids that use it and they haven't got any money. They would be better of matketing on Google.

At least that's what all the 'experts' on this forum keep telling me!

Regards

Dotty

No it isn't. what the experts on the forum keep telling you is that facebook is not going to replace search as the main source of revenue for businesses. Not quite the same thing is it

The problem with your argument is that you insisted it is a one size fits all and facebook is the Holy grail. you refused to accept anything less than acceptance of this as fact. When the reality is that Facebook CAN be a valuable marketing tool, and can do well for a business. but in no way can it replace Google for everyone. There will always be exceptions to the rule, but you can't build a strategy based on the exception.

This is a shining example fo someone who has used FB to market a business.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...The problem with your argument is that you insisted it is a one size fits all and facebook is the Holy grail. ..

Show me where I said that

Regards

Dotty

 

[S-Marketing]

Lucky for him its usually kids and chavs who smash up their I phones and need to get them fixed, making Facebook the most targeted advertising medium.

Sorry Dotty, couldn't resist.

 

[RadiusBPO]

Lucky for him its usually kids and chavs who smash up their I phones and need to get them fixed, making Facebook the most targeted advertising medium.

Sorry Dotty, couldn't resist.

This is somewhat true, but it's also true these are the demos that are most targeted by traditional marketers - think music, fashion, fast food, alcohol etc. This guy (although small scale) has a direct connection to his customer base.

Yeaa I'm impressed with the effectiveness of this. Shame I can't think of a way to make it work for me or my clients yet.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Lucky for him its usually kids and chavs who smash up their I phones and need to get them fixed, making Facebook the most targeted advertising medium.

Sorry Dotty, couldn't resist.

lol no worries.

Bit I am still waiting for OWG to show me where I said "Facebook is the Holy grail" or it's "going to replace search as the main source of revenue for businesses".

Regards

Dotty

 

[Raw Rob]

We've put a selection of product on facebook recently. We've also managed to set up a promo where if somebody 'likes' us it reveals a discount voucher.

www.facebook.com/outdoorleisuredirect if anybody wants to take a peek

That's great. Can I ask how you set that up with the discount code revealing once "liked"?

Rob

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Show me where I said that

Regards

Dotty

Lets not get back into this again I didn't say you said it did I? I was simply saying that It was a generalisation of how you came across to me at that time, that facebook was the saviour of the human race etc.

 

[cmcp]

That's great. Can I ask how you set that up with the discount code revealing once "liked"?

Rob

You can actually see both the splash page and the "hidden" liked page in the markup, one is visible to everyone, the other is shown when the CSS switches based on if your account returns the "like" credentials.

I was playing about with it the other night, seems simple enough. for instance, I didn't have to "like" the example page to know the code is FB01.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Lets not get back into this again I didn't say you said it did I?...

You have lost me now :|

You said:

YOU insisted it is a one size fits all and facebook is the Holy grail.

If you read back through all my post all I have ever said is that.

For SOME queries SOME people are turning to Facebook before they turn to Google.

I have never said it will replace Google. The two are complimentary and I still do very well from Google and believe I understand it very well in my 'field' [hyperlocal].

I may appear 'evangelical' but that is because I am fed up with the one-liners that have said what I have been saying about Facebook is rubbish. Despite that fact that I have provided evidence and many of the predictions I have made are starting to come true.

I invite anybody to read back through the threads where you and I have participated and draw there own conclusions.

Regards

Dotty

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Ok I surrender, like I said I am not going down this road again. If people care that much let them go back and read, because i know I don't care, and the only reason I posted was because of your mini rant about others having a pop at you (and before you ask NO I am not saying you sadi that exactly

 

[QVA - Emma]

This conversation has become a little defunct as FB upgraded their Fan Pages this evening - you can now switch to post as your business page - a whole new door opens....

Emma

 

[DotNetWebs]

... your mini rant about others having a pop at you...

When you have made as many posts as I have GENUINELY trying to help people with Facebook, only to have loads of one-liners thrown at me saying what I was talking about was B******t

I think I am entitled to a little smiley "told you so" when somebody confirms exactly one of the things I have been trying to say all along.

This person has built up a local business serving local customers using just an FB page for marketing

Regards

Dotty

 

[DotNetWebs]

...you can now switch to post as your business page...

I [accidentally!] got a sneak preview of this some months back - but haven't seen the changes on my Pages yet.

Regards

Dotty

 

[QVA - Emma]

You need to upgrade it yourself here www.facebook.com/pages/status

Or wait till March 11th

How did you get a sneak preview?! *jealous"

 

[DotNetWebs]

...How did you get a sneak preview?! *jealous"

I think that somebody at Facebook messed up!

For about 1/2 hour or so many people had the new features - it was a bit confusing!

Regards

Dotty

 

[JohnnyCash]

It's a great example of how a small business can be up and running without paying £300 for a website, £500 per month for SEO, £10 per month on hosting etc etc.

I agree that is a brilliant example of someone using a Facebook page really well.

But I don't particularly agree on the website / seo costs being saved. A £300 website is going to be garbage - if someone was capable of setting up that Facebook page like that, then they were capable of setting up a basic site/WP blog themselves. They either paid someone to do the FB page so never saved anything... or they done it themselves and wouldn't have had to pay either way.

Same on promoting it - setting up a facebook page alone isn't going to lead to a flood of leads, you're still going to need to get the word out there. Though if it was a relatively short term business I'd fancy my chances spamming Facebook rather than spamming google.

 

[JamieM]

I think that somebody at Facebook messed up!

For about 1/2 hour or so many people had the new features - it was a bit confusing!

Regards

Dotty

Yeah I seen that as well. And an interesting questions and answers feature.

 

[RadiusBPO]

I agree that is a brilliant example of someone using a Facebook page really well.

But I don't particularly agree on the website / seo costs being saved. A £300 website is going to be garbage - if someone was capable of setting up that Facebook page like that, then they were capable of setting up a basic site/WP blog themselves. They either paid someone to do the FB page so never saved anything... or they done it themselves and wouldn't have had to pay either way.

Same on promoting it - setting up a facebook page alone isn't going to lead to a flood of leads, you're still going to need to get the word out there. Though if it was a relatively short term business I'd fancy my chances spamming Facebook rather than spamming google.

Ok ok I may have been a bit over zealous with the price of a website he probably does have the expertise, after all he can fix iphones.

I do occasionally post tenders though and the average quote for a website I can edit is around £600. This is just to keep an eye on market rates for different services.


The new Business Pages are horrible, there isn't a way to optimise the likes or anything like that from what I can immediately see. I guess it's become defunct for business again.

 

[Jay-UK]

We've put a selection of product on facebook recently. We've also managed to set up a promo where if somebody 'likes' us it reveals a discount voucher.

Only launched it fully on Tuesday so it wil interesting to see the results.

www.facebook.com/outdoorleisuredirect if anybody wants to take a peek

how is this going?

 

[DotNetWebs]

...there isn't a way to optimise the likes or anything like that from what I can immediately see...

Do you mean the custom landing pages / application tabs etc. ?

If so you can still do it. All that has happened is that the horizontal tabbed Page menu has been moved to a vertical list in the left column (in keeping with the layout on a personal profile)

Regards

Dotty

 

[RadiusBPO]

Do you mean the custom landing pages / application tabs etc. ?

If so you can still do it. All that has happened is that the horizontal tabbed Page menu has been moved to a vertical list in the left column (in keeping with the layout on a personal profile)

Regards

Dotty

Yeah at a quick glance I didn't see it, thanks for pointing it out.

I should retract my comments now

 

[MichaelOsborne]

Dotty
I'd be interested to know if you think the optin/like concept that Rob has on his FB page is a long term concept ie do you think FB like that idea of a freebie/discount in exchange for an optin or a like button click and will allow it to run well into the future? It seem the way to go to increase your reach and authority on FB. What do you think?

As far as i can see the recent FB changes for Business that you alluded to haven't changed much, is that your understanding? It seems it's a user change rather than an effect on the way FB pages are accessed.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Dotty
I'd be interested to know if you think the optin/like concept that Rob has on his FB page is a long term concept ie do you think FB like that idea of a freebie/discount in exchange for an optin or a like button click and will allow it to run well into the future? It seem the way to go to increase your reach and authority on FB. What do you think?.

As long as "Like Incentives" are created within the existing Facebook rules I would be surprised if Facebook outlawed or started charging for them.

Facebook is still trying to expand its platform to beyond simple 'social networking'. IMO it would not make long-term sense to discourage this growth.

There is a LOT of ex-Google talent now at Facebook. IMO Facebook will likely follow parts of the Google model.

e.g They will increasingly develop their platform until it becomes a place that most businesses cannot afford to be absent from.

As it starts to get crowded with business users it will be increasingly difficult to establish a foothold. Facebook will then be able to offer paid-for opportunities to increase their presence.

As I have said many times: IMO Facebook is still very much in a 'land grab' phase. I think those that are currently taking the opportunity to establish themselves and stake their claims now will have no, or less need to 'pay for their presence' in the future:

e.g as long he continues to provide a good service, the 'Torbay iPhone Repair Man' has that area sewn-up.

But if a competitor was to come along, he would struggle to compete as most people in Torbay would 'socially recommend' the first business even if they have very tenuous connections to it (they may have seen a friend of a friend recommend it. Or may be they have seen fellow 'Torbay Fan Page' members recommend it.

The situation IMO is analogous to organic vs PPC in Google.

e.g people with aged domains, lots of backlinks and an optimized page do OK in the organics. Whereas newcomers are better off focusing their intial efforts on PPC.

Business who have well established Pages, with lots of 'Likes' and people who will [genuinely] 'socially recommend' them will do OK. Whereas newcomers may have to make use of the 'monetized option'.

The big question of course is what form will the 'monetized option' take?

Facebook already has PPC and there is much debate about how much they are making from it. But I also believe that there are many opportunities that might be available to them in the future.

Just as people continue to use Google with an increased amount of paid-for content on the page - I think Facebook will try and adopt a similar strategy.

Of course they will have to ensure that they get the balance right. Overdo it and a backlash could occur.

Unfortunately as we have seen with Google and Microsoft before them, the more of a monopoly they can create, the more they can exploit their users without fear of the consequences of a 'backlash'

Regards

Dotty

 

[pickaweb]

Facebook is a great platform for generating sales. You are loosing out if you are not using social media

 

[DotNetWebs]

..As far as i can see the recent FB changes for Business that you alluded to haven't changed much, is that your understanding? It seems it's a user change rather than an effect on the way FB pages are accessed.

IMO the most significant change is that Page owners can now interact with other Pages using their Pages' identity as well as their own personal one.

This is significant because currently businesses' presence on Facebook it primarily used for B2C. But by using their Pages identity it will be easier to communicate B2B.

Many people have commented that this will increase the amount of spam on Pages. This is undoubtedly true but the new 'spam filer' and notification features will help to mitigate the effects IMO.

Regards

Dotty

 

[MichaelOsborne]

Dotty Thanks a lot for your view and response on the future course for FB. There seem to be a lot of scripts around that generate a forced like to see a particular piece of content on FB and i recently saw one based around iframes which i presume will work once they ditch FBML(surely it won't work now !?), is there one you have come across that you would reccommend?

Also what's your view on the concept that people liking you cause you to feature in their newsfeed, by that i mean if john smith likes paul smith's page then as i understand john smith's newsfeed/wall will feature paul smith's blog posts, updates,notes etc if the fb algo considers their relationship strong enough and a like is a heavyweight factor in this consideration. Would that be how you see it?

Also given your point that now business pages can interact with business pages does the algo suggest that a like from one biz to another will feature the liked biz stuff in the liker biz page?

 

[visichat traders]

i dont think face book is more efficint website to grow you buisness ;; i think google is so efficint for this purpose

 

[Ella Di]

I do not think a serious business can flourish only through facebook, but I do believe that facebook could help you to gain more prospective clients and make the busines-clients realtionship stronger. All pf us know that Facebook is one of the most powerful tools used for online marketing purposes today.

 

[RadiusBPO]

I do not think a serious business can flourish only through facebook, but I do believe that facebook could help you to gain more prospective clients and make the busines-clients realtionship stronger. All pf us know that Facebook is one of the most powerful tools used for online marketing purposes today.

There is a trend of seroiusly big businesses showing their FB as well as or in some cases instead of their website address.

I'm guessing because the 'like' conversion rate is higher than the 'signup to mailing list' conversion rate meaning they get a bigger list to remarket to.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Dotty ...There seem to be a lot of scripts around that generate a forced like to see a particular piece of content on FB and i recently saw one based around iframes which i presume will work once they ditch FBML(surely it won't work now !?), is there one you have come across that you would reccommend?...

Thanks for your comments

I am not really aware of any 3rd party scripts because if I needed one I would write my own. I have already written a Facebook application that integrates into our site.

I have to say though I am not really a fan of 'forced' Likes. I think you will be more likely to get people to stick around if you can give them a genuine long-term incentive to want to continually receive the updates from your Page.

...Also what's your view on the concept that people liking you cause you to feature in their newsfeed, by that i mean if john smith likes paul smith's page then as i understand john smith's newsfeed/wall will feature paul smith's blog posts, updates,notes etc if the fb algo considers their relationship strong enough and a like is a heavyweight factor in this consideration. Would that be how you see it?...

The fact that your status instantly updates appears on the newsfeed of all your 'fans' is your greatest asset as a Page owner. I have previously likened it to the 'ultimate opt-in marketing system'.

...Also given your point that now business pages can interact with business pages does the algo suggest that a like from one biz to another will feature the liked biz stuff in the liker biz page?...

Yes as a Page owner you can easily switch between the identity of the Page and your own profile. This means that Facebook has now made B2B communication much easier.

Interestingly Facebook has now started offering stats about the number 'Likes' other Pages are receiving from your own fans. This is totally in keeping with some of the ways I suggested Facebook could develop a 'like-based' search algorithm in a previous thread. (I can't find it any more maybe it was deleted!)

Regards

Dotty