Facebook: Do's and Don'ts

Facebook is a wonderful new way of reaching customers in an environment they are expressing themselves and looking for entertainment and contact with friends and family. The social media outlets have allowed people to share their preferences, likes and dislikes and companies should take advantage of the information available. Many companies have successfully embraced Facebook as a marketing tool and are reaping the benefits while others are still stumbling to find their way in.

So what are some do’s and don’ts for companies on Facebook?

Do

Connect your company’s business to other general interests of your target.

Dulce Marias is a Brazilian sweet shop that engages customers in eating right, design, recycling solutions, crafts, kid’s activities, photography and even has giveaways of theater tickets. At the same time they show their everyday sweets and personalized design for children’s birthday parties, baby showers and bachelorette parties. http://www.facebook.com/euquerodulcemarias

Mini Cupcakes from Dulce Marias

Kit Kat Cake from Dulce Marias

Suggestion for clients on how to make kids eat fruit

Don’t

Use e-mail marketing strategies on Facebook. This outlet is supposed to be a real interaction between people. Posting your e-flyer on your wall will only make people turned off about the company. Sushiism uses the same images of e-mail marketing on their Facebook page and the pictures are not elaborate. Some are even disgusting. http://www.facebook.com/SushiismTX

Beef tataki from Sushiism

Do

Shrimp Tempura from Nik Sushi

Use professional photographs and a casual language to reach your audience as their friend. Nik Sushi posts mouth watering pictures of their products. http://www.facebook.com/NikSushi

Don’t

Overwhelm your followers. People use Facebook to connect to their hobbies, develop relationships and look for interesting content. If a company posts three, four, five posts on the same day about things related to the business it is most likely going to drive people away from the page.

The University of Dallas official page is like that. In September alone there was not one day with less than three new posts a day, including weekends. The subjects vary between informative, questions, and funny remarks therefore I believe many people will be tired of the volume and lack of focus on the content. http://www.facebook.com/udallas

UDallas has four posts on the same day and little return from users

Doing marketing for a small company without resources is hard, but there is a lot of help online. One option is the Facebook Marketing Bible, a website with guidelines to boost sales by using Facebook. http://gold.insidenetwork.com/facebook-marketing-bible/

Help is available online, managers just have to find it and make the best options for their companies.