Business Blogging Part 2: Why Like Us on Facebook is Not a Social Media Strategy
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Like Us on Facebook is not a Social Media Strategy for Business.
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There’s a sweet little spa down around the corner from my house that I frequent from time to time. I enjoy it there. It’s quiet. The owner is calm and the atmosphere soothing. Business trickles in and out and it is never overbooked. When I get a paraffin pedicure I can relax because it is so quiet.
Recently, I noticed their sign out front was changed to read: TRIPLE A Spa (not its name) Like Us on Facebook.
I have driven by it daily and walked by it often. I find it perplexing and a wee bit irritating. Once or twice I may have muttered under my breath about it. Because here’s the thing: When you are a business it is not enough to post a sign that says: Like Us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter and then sit back and wait for the phone to ring and the walk in traffic to increase. I mean a tiny piece of community manager me and blogger me is happy when I see more people are on Twitter and Facebook and Pinterest. But for a business or a brand this is barely even a digital starting point.
As a community manager for several companies, brands and non profits, I spend a lot of time analyzing where businesses need to go and what they need to do next on line. A blog? Blogger outreach? Facebook? Twitter? Contests or no contests? How will we grow strategically on line? Where is our client? Where is our audience? What do they want? What do they need to be here, to stay here and to keep coming back? How do we grow our numbers and listen to our clients? I can tell you that this is a constantly changing landscape that starts with a presence on your social media platforms and requires regular attention, occasional out of the box creative thinking and a lot of personal interaction.
I am forever reframing what is Facebook doing this week and where are we making connections to our community? What do we need to do better? Are people talking? Are they engaging with our message? Is that building community? Is it helping us to stay in touch and anticipate or client’s needs? Last month I launched a new series here at the same time as I welcomed several business blogging clients. Part One was all about Five Ways to Find Your Voice as a business blogger.
This is a wee bit better than the Like Us on Facebook sign but not on its own.
Perhaps, because Facebook is not my favourite platform, I work harder at staying on top of its insights. It is a challenge for me. It is a challenge also for a lot of businesses. Building Business for Facebook is not a passive process at all. If you think you can park a sign on Facebook and wait for the on line business to roll in, then perhaps you also believe I have a unicorn hidden in the basement that is responsible for the children’s misbehaviour. (Youngest DD always does something mischievous and then tries to make me believe the unicorn in the basement did it.)
Social media strategy is not a sign, or a thumbs up or a number. It’s not enough to plant a seed and step back and think well that will grow all by itself into a gorgeous garden. Without the weeding, watering, occasional protection, pruning, fertilization and nurturing, well it’s pretty rare that you can cultivate roses.
If you are looking for help constructing and managing a digital marketing strategy I can be reached at inkscrblr@rogers.com. Please add Consultation request in subject line.
10 Comments
Christy Garrett
Great advice. I know that you have to share content and engage your users. It takes hard work and dedication to build lasting relationships with your followers.
Margarita Ibbott
I just met with a potential client and had the same discussion. Don’t put a FB page up if you don’t intend on joining the conversation. Great advice as always Paula!
Bonnie Way
I’m not a business blogger, but as a blogger (who attempts to earn money doing that) I agree that simply being on FB or advertising that is not enough. You must interact and work HARD on FB. Thanks for sharing.
Danielle Simmons
Sometimes I get frustrated when I can’t easily find a business on facebook. I want to engage and interact and they’re just not there. Or under a different name that’s hard to find.
Jennifer Wagner
So true. First the business should work on getting the customers to like them, then ask them to like them on Facebook. Not the other way around.
Ashleigh Walls
Great advice for business, and bloggers can even take in the advice as well. I am constantly trying to connect with my outreach by asking questions whether it be on their opinion on a matter, whether they prefer X or X , or what they have been up to. Keeping in contact with the audience is key.
Paula Schuck
Absolutely, engagement is key.
The Mommy-Files
I totally agree with you! If people really like a restaurant, they will look for it on Facebook or Twitter. However, I do think it’s good for businesses to put that they are on Facebook on their flyers, but not on their windows.
Angela
Facebook isn’t my favorite social media platform. I totally agree that engagement is key. Great post!
Paula Schuck
Thanks Angela: facebook has grown on me but I agree it is not my first love either. It is more like my high maintenance friend in that eeds a constant feeding and reevaluating and just a continual presence that is a five never passive. I used to hate that but now I find it challenging.