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Hannah's Closet on Facebook? Putting your business on Facebook.

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Real Estate Agent with Better Homes and Gardens The Masiello Group

What are businesses doing on Facebook?

One of my Facebook friends had posted a question recently about Hannah's Closet's consignment shop in Facebook, so I responded to it because I've consigned my children's clothing at her store previously. After thinking about some more, I decided to speak with the owner to see what she knew about using Facebook, since the majority of her customers are moms with young children, a huge population using Facebook. 

Did she think about using Facebook to connect with her customers? I thought there was great opportunity for her to use Facebook to promote seasonal sales events, get feedback from her customers, and to create a free space where her customers could talk about anything related to consigning items at her store.

For so many in that generation, communicating through a place like Facebook is easier than picking up the phone and calling. With Facebook, you don't have to wait until the store owner is available, you can simply make your comment or post your question, then check in for your answer the next time you're on Facebook.  The response you get will help not only the person asking the question, but anyone else reading it.

I'm obviously promoting Facebook because the space it serves multipurposes and is free.  In my upcoming workshop on Social Media Marketing at Hannah Grimes Center in Keene, NH this month, I'll be speaking about some of the tools available for various small businesses to take advantage of.  I'd love to hear any other ideas you have or experiences you've had using Facebook for small business. Please feel free to comment below.

www.stephaniejacques.com

Stephanie Jacques

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Lisa Long
Heather Roda Broker - Paso Robles, CA

I have been thinking of using facebook. I hear more and more people say they are on it. It certainly couldn't hurt. Just don't let it suck all your productive time.

Mar 22, 2009 04:26 AM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

Social Networking needs to become part of your marketing plan.  I receive about 50% of my business from the internet.... basically leads from my personal website.  I spend a fair amont of time on Search Engine Optimization.  Social Networking is huge in that arena.  I can get an important page ranked and positioned well in no time at all.

Mar 22, 2009 04:44 AM
Stephanie Jacques
Better Homes and Gardens The Masiello Group - Keene, NH
Stephanie Jacques Kleine

Thanks for your comments. As far as getting sucked into social networking, it's easy to see how that can happen. But there is time saving strategy that truly gets success quicker than time spent designing an ad for a paper. How do you measure success and what the ROI? (return on investment?) That all depends on the person's goals, who their audience is, and what the nature of there business is.

Strategy of using social media? I'd say to save time, select only the tools you know you can be consistent with, don't spread yourself thin. Also, use the tools that best:

a. match up with the audience you are trying to reach (if twittering isn't for your audience, yet, then don't spend much time on it...though that may change in the future)

b. drive traffic to you (i.e., if you participate in forums on city-data.com as a Realtor and can establish credibility through helping and knowledge sharing, more people will be interested in your profile to see what you do professionally, leading to more traffic to you)

c. demonstrate your ability to participate through relationship building and knowledge sharing in a way your audience accepts (selling yourself and in your face ads and marketing are not what social networking is all about, people want to be able to find you and you must provide the keyword rich content for that to happen- if their needs send them your way.)

d. participate online where your target consumer is hanging out, or create that space for them

Stephanie Jacques

Mar 23, 2009 01:00 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Stephanie-I have been using Facebook for awhile now.  I try to use it strictly for business in a manner of speaking.  Most of the people on my "friend list" have pics of family and friends and are always posting what they are doing during their downtime.  My pic is a business pic and lists all my accredidations, what I do, where I work etc...I don't discuss business because I don't want to turn anyone off but I want people to remember I do Real Estate.  I save the business talk for the right time and place.  Facebook is not it because that is where everyone seems to go in their "downtime."

   

Apr 16, 2009 01:48 PM
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