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FACEBOOK ADS. MY EARLY RESULTS...

I am a huge fan of Facebook.

I enjoy keeping up with friends and find it an easy way to communicate. It is certainly a valuable tool for a real estate agent...

I created my Facebook profile last September.

I originally assumed it would be a fad, the next "latest thing" (Twitter??). My opinions are starting to change, and I am starting to believe Facebook will be around for awhile...

With that in mind, I created my business page in May.

At first, I was hesitant. Who would want to be my fan??

I had no clue how I would use it, and am still learning. I have enjoyed developing the page and am tremendously excited about it's potential...

Did I mention business pages are free???

In an effort to boost my fan base, I have been experimenting with Facebook Ads over the last month. My "fan goal" is 100. At the time of writing this post, I have 89 fans...

A few great things about Facebook Ad's:

1. You can start with a low budget. $1 can get you started with your first campaign...
2. You can target your audience. By age. Sex. Education. Location...
3. Awesome tracking systems. Following the Facebook insights allows you to track the results of your ads.
4. Two marketing options. Pay per click or pay per view. I tried both, and find the results of the pay per click far superior...

The results of my first three ads:

My ad has been run 1,022,450 times.
My page has been clicked 242 times.
I have picked up an extra 38 fans.
Total cost? $190.25.

Ken

To buy or sell a home in Naperville, go to my website anytime.

Follow me on Facebook

www.KensFeaturedHomes.com

Posted by Ken Tracy Realtor Naperville Illinois Real Estate on 08/04/2009 11:12 PM

Comments (16)

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Originally posted at: Ken's Naperville Real Estate Blog : FACEBOOK ADS. MY EARLY RESULTS...

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16 Comments on FACEBOOK ADS. MY EARLY RESULTS...

AUG

Hi Ken - I have a social page anad a business page too. I have 86 fans on my business page. I had an ad running for awhile but never saw any results. It's super cheap, but I saw nothing with mine so I focused on other things. I do like my business page though and all my blog posts appear there. I also signed up to have game pieces appear on my business page, so that facebook game enthusiasts come to my page to find missing items for their games.

AUG

Hi Ken ~ I'm going to have to check this out. THanks.

Liz

Ken...

I always fear that we are spreading ourselves "too thin" on the social networks. I wonder where all of this is going?

Richard, the direction is clear...the future. We as agents have to be where the clients are. As the Regional Sales Manager of New England, i have hear facebook success stories 10 times as i do with the "old school" methods of expired chasing, FSBO calling, and other methods. It is the future, we need to adapt or be left behind.

Ken, great job, the facebook success stories will be coming your way very soon. Compare your $190 bucks vs what you would get out of $190 worth of stamps.....bet the facebook results are 100% better.

Great post

Evan in New England

Hi Evan, Richard, Liz and Susan. Thanks for stopping in.

Yes our marketing dollars are being spread thin. I received a call from Zillow yesterday. I would love to advertise there, but the budget doesn't allow for it. Yet...

I feel great about the returns from the ads. Lots of people saw my face, even if they didn't become a fan.

Thanks again all,

Ken

Ken you are a soldier on the front lines of social networking! Keep us posted when you receive a return on your $190 investment. I agree that Facebook is here to stay - I love connecting with my old friends, mutual friends, family etc.... For me the jury is still out on Twitter.....

Not bad results my friend. I have been considering running some ads on Facebook myself, but I haven't done so just yet.

AUG

Ken, I really appreciate your enthusiasm for facebook pages, because I too am an advocate of using them. The stats you get are amazing and the fact that they act just like profiles makes them a great tool to stay connected.

I can't help but notice that you've acquired 38 new fans at a cost of $190.

That's about $5 per fan. In my opinion that's not cheap unless those new fans are converting to business opportunities right away.

With your page only getting clicked 242 time out of over a million means you're getting a .0002 click though.

The good news is that you're getting 15% of those clicks to convert to fans.

I can't help but wonder if those fans that you are paying for are worth it. Do they engage in your content? Are they active?

In my opinion Ken you can be more effective by getting together with some of your local facebook friends, planning a conversation on your page and letting the viral nature of facebook work for you. I created a podcast recently that would be perfect for you to get the info you need to make this happen. Just check out my blog here on active rain to listen to Building Facebook Fan Pages that Stick

In that podcast I reveal how I created my facebook fan page which wen viral when it launched and now has a fan base of over 26,000 real estate professionals in only 10 months. I never spent one cent on advertising.

Hi Jonathan, JL and Teresa. Thanks for stopping in.

Facebook rules!

It's not all about the clicks or the fans. My face has been run over 1 million times in and around Naperville on Facebook. That is great marketing.

Thanks again,

Ken

AUG

I have a professional page, not sure why.

I like you sharing the success of your ad and the target marketing.

Good job.

Hi Missy. I saw that you set it up and haven't used it much.

I see potential in mine...

Thanks for stopping in,

Ken

AUG

Ken, I was reading your post with interest, and then saw that your were putting in stats (getting excited now...) and then I saw you spent $190..... (OK , how many closings....) and Bam. Nothing yet. I confess myself dissappointed. Please kepe us updated.

I have a Busines page and a few fans (mostly friends of mine). I keep updating it. Okay, now what?

AUG

Hi Ken... I have to admit, I have spent more than $190 for less results than you have seen, but I am starting to wonder if there really is any direct ROI in terms of actual closings as a result of these things or is the ROI limited to your face being seen and "goodwill" kind of ROI.

OCT

Hi Steve and Linda. Thanks so much for stopping in.

Just started a new campaign today...

I will keep you posted.

Ken

OCT

Ken - I've been wondering about those ads and about setting up a fan page in addition to my regular profile. Thanks for the insights, I look forward to hearing more about your coninuting experience with the ads.

OCT

Hi Debbie. Thanks. My ads are running on Facebook.

My page and my "featured" listing are both being run...

I am very pleased.

Ken

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