What is Facebook and Why Do I Need it for eCommerce?
Okay, so I highly doubt that anyone is sitting there asking themselves “what is Facebook?,” but many people do not know how helpful it can be for their business.
The short answer to the question is that Facebook is possibly the world’s most efficient form of marketing and is an indispensable tool for virtually all online marketers and eCommerce companies.
Facebook is the world's largest social media network where people connect and communicate with friends.
5 key points why your business needs to be on Facebook
1. Outstanding Demographic Data
Although it's often used for posting pictures of what someone had for lunch, Facebook is a highly efficient marketing tool. By design, only real businesses and people can have accounts (no bots allowed... in theory). Your IP address will be collected when you open your account and when you login, so Facebook always knows where you are. Does that sound creepy? Well, just think about it from a marketing perspective. Being able to market to people in the vicinity of your business is an extremely valuable thing.
2. Highly Specific Marketing Reach
So, what is Facebook to you as a marketer? It should be an invaluable tool in your marketing arsenal. If it isn't, maybe you haven't tried Facebook advertising. Facebook allows you to highly define your consumer targets and ensure the greatest relevancy. For example, if you are selling skateboards, you can choose to serve ads to males between ages 10 and 26 who live in a particular geographic area and have liked skateboard-relevant pages. The benefit to you? You only will reach true enthusiasts (i.e. people who are likely to become customers).
3. Greater Search Engine Rankings
Even if you aren't focusing on traffic from search engines, your site will be found somewhere in the search results (unless it has been penalized, but that's another story). And even if you don't do anything else for SEO, having an active Facebook page can help boost your site's rank on the popular search engines. It is difficult to quantify exactly how much it will help, but we do know that major engines like Google do take social elements into consideration to determine which sites have more authority on a given topic. These social elements are what people refer to as "Social Signals."
4. Mobile and Online Compatibility
Yet another benefit of Facebook is its compatibility with mobile technology. These days, people are more likely to use their mobile phones or tablets to access email, social channels and websites than they are to use a desktop or laptop computer for these things. Translation: Mobile is important! Facebook's apps are compatible with virtually all mobile devices, which makes it easier for their owners to access their Facebook pages while on the go. That means you can reach consumers while they are away from their computers, and possibly even while they are out shopping and looking for the very goods or services your business provides.
5. Growing Commercial Potential
Facebook has an enormous userbase, and all indications point to the fact that it will be around and relevant for a long time. It's no secret that some businesses have had trouble marketng successfully on Facebook. But from my experience, those who are having trouble are either making half-hearted efforts. Because so many different types of people use Facebook on a regular basis, it has the potential to work for almost any type of business. You just need a good strategy and plan for implementation.
If you want increase your eCommerce success, spend some time learning how to be successful on Facebook for business.
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