To Be or Not to Be on Facebook

For those of you who are still unsure whether your company should appear on Facebook, these 7 questions will point you in the right direction. The time has come to decide whether your company is ready to play an active role in social networking and if yes, make the most of it!

1. What are your expectations?

You may plan to use Facebook for customer service, brand promotion or as an additional sales channel but people login primarily to be entertained, so be cautious with sales tactics. Don’t assume setting up a business page will help you directly increase sales.

2. How much time do you have?

Your fan base will not grow considerably overnight. Expanding your community is a task for the long haul, so be prepared. You can also increase the number of fans with advertising, in which case you need to consider the costs and implications.

3. Is there someone appointed to the task?

Managing your Facebook page may not be very time-consuming, but consistency and accountability are crucial. Social networkers expect an almost immediate response to their questions, thus unanswered questions on a wall result in a negative company image.

4. Is your chosen admin an expert or a novice in social media?

If you’ve already set up a page for your fans, be honest and decide whether your appointed admin is adept and suitable for this task. If a social media newbie is in charge, you cannot count on great results from one day to the next. Keep in mind that social networking is a science.

5. Is your target audience on Facebook?

Almost half of Facebook users are between 18 and 34 years. Is this the group you wish to target?

6. What are you able to offer your fans?

A company must be active in social media to thrive. Therefore, decide whether you will be able to publish news on a regular basis and if you have relevant pictures or videos to share with your fans.

7. Can Facebook be incorporated into your marketing strategy?

If Facebook becomes your sole promotional channel, your endeavors are doomed to fail. Links to your corporate page should always be included in newsletters, blogs, and printed material.

Do you incorporate Facebook into your marketing strategy?Don’t forget to read the instructions on how to monetize your website step by step.