Why Be On Facebook For Business?

“I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there.”
--Richard Feynman

It’s the biggest social media network in the world and the second biggest website on the Internet. Over 200 million people are using Facebook regularly, which naturally leads business people to wonder if developing a presence there makes sense. The answer is probably yes.

When it comes to the online world, having a website used to be enough. You could post content to your website and drive people there and consider that a successful program. Today things have changed. You still need visitors to your website, but as more and more people spend big chunks of their online time on social media sites like Facebook, you really need to have visibility there as well. The reason is that there are only 24 hours in a day. If people are spending 30% of their online time on social networking sites, they may no longer have the time or inclination to visit your website.

I think of it as the Old West, back in the days when the first saloons were being built. You could stay on your homestead and be afraid to go down and sit in the saloon, but if you did that, you’d miss out on all the conversation and relationships you could taking place there. It’s no different with Facebook. People are becoming fans of their favorite companies and products on Facebook. They are posting comments and photos of their experiences with brands.

You need to have your content on your own website but you also must take it to the places people are gathering. If you don’t, you won’t be part of conversations that are taking place about your industry, company, product and service. Simply put, chances are your prospects and customers are on Facebook. That’s why you should be too.

Barbara Wayman, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, an award-winning ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at www.bluetreemedia.com/ezine.html

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©2010 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.