The statistics are flowing in and Facebook is no longer simply a place for college kids to post pictures. Facebook is in competition with Google when it comes to searches and ads. All of this speaks to the fact that businesses need to be up to date when it comes to Facebook as well.
Just because businesses are using Facebook does not mean that Facebook as become Google and has ceased to be social media. Facebook is still very social and is not changing in that respect. Therefore is stands to reason that when using Facebook you have to understand a few things about how people work- especially women.
Let's talk about the
friend request. Becoming friends with someone is the first step to creating a relationship on Facebook. Once you are friends you can suggest they like fan pages, join groups, you can tag them in notes, posts, videos, statuses and write on their wall. The information you put out on Facebook has the potential to reach not only your friends, but their friend's friends and so on. That sounds like free viral marketing to me!
So is the plan then to daily send a blanket friend request to as many people as Facebook will allow? I wouldn't suggest it. People will see your motives aren't to help or connect with them, but to simply harass them with whatever you are marketing. Then, you won't be taken very seriously.
Instead, search out people who you see have the same interest as you, your business, and in your products. Say, "we are in the same group--I would love to connect! "Or, "Hey could I get your opinion on my new fan page, it looks like you know a lot about...". Then you show that you value them, their insight and their friendship.
Becoming a friend isn't the end of your marketing on Facebook, but only the beginning. Since you have asked to be their friend, act like it! "Like" the information they post. Be encouraging. Promote their ideas. Show them that you care about them and think they are important. Then they will begin to see you as a real person, a friend, and someone that they may want to do business with.
Facebook is definitely becoming the new Google, but don't think you can use it the same way. Please use Facebook for your business, but by all means be a friend.
