Like many businesses today, I too have a Facebook Page. I must admit though, I primarily have the page to demonstrate that I’m "in the know" about the latest and greatest marketing tools. I also have the page to distribute the latest posts from my blog to those who actively use Facebook. In this case, whenever I publish a new blog post, the title, date and first paragraph are automatically posted to my Facebook fan page. This publishing/syndication strategy enables me to reach the largest possible audience with the least amount of time and effort expended.
I never realized the true value of having a Facebook business account though until I helped some friends set up Facebook account for their new retail toy store in my local downtown. The store focuses primarily on the art of performing and left brain type activities. In addition to selling high quality toys, the store also has a stage where regular, live performances are made including: music performances, magic, puppet shows, story telling..etc.
What struck me most about helping my friends set up their Facebook account was how relevant and integral many of the Facebook features were to their business. Some of these features include:
- Event information, notification and registration
- Special offer alerts
- Discussion boards
- Photo and video sharing of key events
- Related groups (including associated downtown business groups, local community groups...etc.)
Now granted, I'm not currently sponsoring any marketing events nor am I facilitating any discussion topics on my Facebook page, but after setting up the Facebook site for my friends' business and seeing the success of their site (versus my site) I wonder if Facebook is simply more effective for some businesses versus others. Thoughts/Comments?