Facebook and Your Business...

Facebook seems to be the site that everyone is talking about recently and is over-taking MySpace rapidly in terms of number of users and people signing up and logging in there now instead of MySpace.

Is there a way that it can be used to get or refer you business... if so how might this work, particularly given the audience seems to be mainly students and younger people with presumably less cash to spend and less willingness to spend it than the sort of audience on business related sites like this?

Interested to hear what you think and whether this is a real opportunity or not...

Thomas

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I use Facebook to look for and keep in touch with friends and family - it's dominated by people using it in this way.

I'm not sure how it could be used to help a business though

Tim

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Same here, Tim - to be honest not really sure how it can be used to promote a business.

Though I guess the thing would be to create a club to raise awareness and get people to join - for instance Martin Bamford (Ecademy) has created one called Martin Bamford Author Extraordinaire to help promote his books... interesting to see if it works or not!

Dan
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Web Design

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I certainly notice people are starting to integrate their different networking activities more and more and link them all together.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Everyone seems to be talking about Facebook - what's so great about it?

Chris

Re : Facebook and Your Business

It's fun and free and there are lots of interesting applications there. In terms of business not sure if it has much to offer, but definitely good for friends and family.

It must have killed off Friends Reunited in one go I imagine!

Tim

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Thanks for your thoughts... it's certainly a fantastic site, quick and addictive.

I agree Tim about Friends Reunited- the owners made their money long ago but ITV must be gutted they bought it now that their market has been stolen!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Oh yes - bought by ITV wasn't it, remember the odd hilarious placement of their products on some of their TV shows such as the Genes Reunited site...

Tim

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Yes, but what is so good about Facebook compared to any other one of these sorts of site?

Chris

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Like previous posters I use Facebook for my social life (and it's pretty much killed off my personal myspace!)

I've stuck with myspace for the business tho, as they have a separate community for the film industry which suits us down to the ground. In terms of business, I think myspace is more geared towards entertainment and media, so businesses in those sectors (clubs, bands, musicians, film companies) do well out of promoting themselves through myspace.

As for Facebook? Well, it's more user-friendly. You can't customise the look of it as much as you can with myspace, but there are far more applications to play around with, and you can see where and when all your friends are commenting on each other's pages, photos and videos etc. It creates a tighter community, I feel.

Having said that, myspace has taken the initiative, catching up with Facebook in terms of the video applications (Myspace TV) and photo galleries.

Daniel

Daniel Lyddon
Creative Director & Administrative Manager
Seraphim Pictures LLP


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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Thanks Daniel - answers another question I had around how people use MySpace for business - it must be industry specific.

I can't imagine it would be too good for accounting people and the like

The thing about MySpace is that it seems to give so much control over the page that most are illegible and a total mess!

Or maybe it's just because I'm 'old'

Chris

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Facebook is great fun, particularly now some of the more, shall we say, older contacts are starting to sign up. Will be interesting to see how it develops business wise, at present firmly using in the social context.

Lianne

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Finally starting to get the hang of it...

Re : Facebook and Your Business

One simple way of getting people to see your company name is to put it as your picture that way you'll appear in any friends page which in turn will be visible to their mates. Another thing that can be done to make it visible is to enter some of the quizzes or create some. Entering will put your pic on the leaderboard if you're good enough and creating will put your pic against the quiz you created on the available games list. That way they'll be visible to anyone else doing the quizzes. I think the average age has now increased from students.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Good idea!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I've created a Facebook group, 'I got fed up of working for others and setup my own business' if anyone wants to join.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

How do you go about advertising groups on facebook? I reckon 99% of them have one member... the founder!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

If Facebook moved too far away from the social element to being business orientated it wouldn't be Facebook - I think more likely if it seems there is money to be made for them by getting more businesses and business people on board they might launch 'Facebook for Business' and try to separate from the main element of the site

Chris

Re : Facebook and Your Business

After using it for a few weeks from my experience it seems to be mainly about nostalgia. People who I haven't seen since primary school are getting in touch all wanting to know what I'm up to so in a way I can advertise my business without really advertising. Even if they don't need my services they might mention to somebody else who does.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Facebook is a great medium for keeping in contact with friends and family, intergrating it into business, not sure about that.
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

It's a good idea, using facebook i mean

Re : Facebook and Your Business

What for business?
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Hi,

I find http://www.uksmallbusinessforums.com a good site for B2B networking.

Regards

Rob.
http://www.pacecommerce.co.uk
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Regards Robert

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I dont see any relevance to your forum and facebook Robert...your spamminggggggggggggggg, naughty boy
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Good point Pete, that site has nothing to do with Facebook at all, probably the owner desperate for some traffic.

Chris

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Nevermind the business stuff, this is the best way to waste time and have a nostalgic thought or two ever!!!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

It's an addictive site, I don't think businesses would be comfortable using it in its current state unless they had a dedicated profile, it is more about you as an individual and your friends.

Stephen

Re : Facebook and Your Business

If there are any facebook type features that you'd like to see here, just let us know!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

If you are selling products, you can definitely offer your products on Facebook as there are many web application developed for Facebook out there which allow you to integrate your store's products and display them in Facebook.

One good e.g is Firebox web application.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I did at first agree that facebook was more about socialising than networking, I have since been proved very wrong. i joined one of the facebook for business groups and from there have had a very good increase of hits to my site. I was extremely pleased if not a little surprised about the response. People really are interesting in networking and facebook seems a good place to start!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Can someone please explain how business groups work on facebook - how do you find them and know if they are any good?

Janine

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I would also be interested Janine, after initially just thinking facebook was a bit of fun I've heard several people anecdotally say the business side of it might be worth checking out...

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Does anyone here run a group on facebook - perhaps there should be an About My Business on facebook group (if that's possible)

Chris

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Hi,
A lot of good info on here but as Tim says how would you go about advertising your business page? I created a page for my business and promoted it through paid advertising on facebook but it just didn't work so have now changed my advert to link to my website instead. It could just be that the service I offer is not for the facebook market but not quiet sure if that is right. I have since joined other business and neworking groups instead.
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Dikisa Pamneja, MAAT Affordable Accountant http://www.eliteaccounts.co.uk 0800 822 3166 07930 389 351

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Very interesting that you tried the advertising on facebook - I have heard anecdotally that it does not seem to offer a particularly good return on investment for small businesses.

Tim

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Hi,
As yet i have still to be charged by Facebook. its been nearly 3 weeks....
Had more responses from an ad on gumtree.
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Dikisa Pamneja, MAAT Affordable Accountant http://www.eliteaccounts.co.uk 0800 822 3166 07930 389 351

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I've heard quite a few people mentioning Gumtree... does it really work for business advertising?

If you're able to post a link to one of your adverts Dikisa that would be good, to get an idea of how to do it and what to write!

Dan
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Web Design

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I heard a lot about facebook but not interested in logging in for i think it does no good for promoting business.

i use qq to contact my friends and family, also myspace.

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guangzhou pet family, professional producer for pet clothing & accessories
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lost memory

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Hi All,

As Dan asked for a link to my ads here is the two that I have been used:

http://www.gumtree.com/cgi-bin/show_posting.pl?posting_id=17845966

http://www.gumtree.com/cgi-bin/show_posting.pl?posting_id=17846095

Must admit that I have only got response from the SA tax returns and not for the other services.
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Dikisa Pamneja, MAAT Affordable Accountant http://www.eliteaccounts.co.uk 0800 822 3166 07930 389 351

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Thanks Dikisa - Only just checked back on this post

Dan
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Web Design

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Any other recommendations for sites like Gumtree to post in - is Craiglist any good?

Tim

Re : Facebook and Your Business

The magazine I work for - Real Business - has covered the facebook phenomenon quite a lot lately. It seems it can work for you... sometimes.

Anyways, if you're interested, here's a link to one of the stories we've done.

http://www.realbusiness.co.uk/daily-insights/daily-insight/4844196/facebook-and-your-business-part-1.thtml
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Catherine Woods. Real Business - Finance editor; www.realbusiness.co.uk

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Thanks for the link Catherine - an interesting article there

Tim

Re : Facebook and Your Business

No worries... glad you liked it!
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Catherine Woods. Real Business - Finance editor; www.realbusiness.co.uk

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Facebook is developing quickly and has now launched a Spanish version of the site... will be interesting to see if it's embraced as enthusiastically in other countries as it roles out its site specific versions.

Dan
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Web Design

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Just checking in having been away for a while, great to see so many people's thoughts on facebook on this thread, obviously it's a hot topic!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Facebook have now created Facebook Pages for businesses to host their own site. Here you can collaborate with suppliers, clients and employees.

I've also just writen an article on here explaining the (potential) business benefits of Facebook.
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Tema Hassan - Gravity Internet Upgrade to Business Class

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Interesting comparison I saw earlier with regard usage of the different main three social networking sites - of those registered on facebook much fewer people consider themselves active users than on bebo or myspace.

Lianne

Re : Facebook and Your Business

My Facebook usage has dropped this year. I think once you've got most your mates new and old as friends the novelty fades.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I don't buy Facebook being a good place for business unless you sell to your circle of friends or family (NSA water filters anyone?) or have a comsumer product.

Although recent profile features allow you to group contacts as, say, friends and work colleagues, it can be hard to get right given the amount of content you can potentially upload/update. The result? You look too stuffy to your mates and unprofessional to your business associates.

Best is to keep your personal and business lives separate online, as most of us do offline.

We've created http://www.wecando.biz to help small businesses exploit social networking methods to engage with existing customers and win new ones. We'll never be as big as Facebook, but we provide a valuable service to help you exploit emerging technologies to win more business.

Your comments welcomed!

Best regards

IH

PS About to read your article Tema.
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Ian Hendry Link to me on WeCanDo.BIZ: https://www.wecando.biz/pilot/invitation.php?x=4e732ced3463d0&y=4542fab8b92afa

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Interesting to hear a concrete example of someone actually making sales through facebook, Siobhan.

Is anyone else having success selling or getting business through facebook?
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Web Design

Re : Facebook and Your Business

These round the block messages do my head in
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Does only posting on old posts with lots of messages and a pagerank only to get a back link to your SEO site also do your head in Pete?

Re : Facebook and Your Business

No Stephen I post on here because the owner is a personal friend of mine.

With 45,000 backlinks to my site, I don't think this one will have much strength, especially when you look at the footer ;-)
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Friends in high places, good stuff Peter!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Business Networking is the key
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Anyone finding it useful for their business yet?

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Getting into it now!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I know people who have put there business on Facebook and are getting results. I believe that the more you're out there.....the higher chance of getting noticed in this big ocean call the Web

Saying that it's on my to do list along with all the other directories
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

So if I have a facebook personal account that I have made private from SEO spiders (So they cant get my birth date, mothers maiden name etc) then can I use that account to my advantage to set up a group and run it and benefit from facebook?
Or do you have to set up a totally public account and use that one as your SEO business advert account?

Cheers,

M.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Hi Mark

From my limited understanding of how it can be used from business perspective, then yes you're right - setting up a group and getting subscribers / interest, is one way.

Li

Re : Facebook and Your Business

If you have advertised on facebook did you find it expensive?
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workingmamma http://jobsbasedfromhome.info/chat.html www.jobsbasedfromhome.net

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Check out coco cola, they have done well on Facebook
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Re : Facebook and Your Business

Shivbrown has an interesting profile pic!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

This post is now two and a half years old from the original question being posed to now, and yet just today I read in the Sunday newspapers an article asking essentially the same question:

As a small business, can you use Facebook to promote your business, gain customers and maintain or create a relationship with existing customers.

The article didn't seem to reach a particular conclusion, other than to say it seemed to be quite a hit and miss affair and that to achieve success for a business on facebook you probably had to put in so much time and effort that you could probably achieve roughly the same amount of exposure by simply concentrating on marketing your own company site and adding some sort of interactive feature, like a forum, there.

So it sounds like the jury is still out on facebook being of potential use to a small business. It will be interesting to see how the site continues to change through the year and what fresh innovations are introduced. Perhaps even more interesting wil be what twitter does, if anything, in the business-space.
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Web Design

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Facebook and twitter serve really as ways of promoting awareness of your business brand. By posting interesting links to articles or insightful comments, people will be more inclined to read your posts (facebook pages can now be linked to twitter accounts too). No-one is really interested as to whether you've just woken up, or are having a bad day. Write about useful topics relevant to your business.

Whether or not you actually can gleam some business from these sources is debateable, but you never know. If one contract is worth a lot of money for you, then it's worth exploring all marketing routes IMO.

Best,
Chris
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Hot Food Vending | Food Vending | Vending Machines

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I think what Chris says makes sense.

No one really knows in advance whether the marketing will be worth it, but you take a suck it and see approach.

If it turns out down the line that it DOES lead to business then it is worth it... if not, then well at least you've tried it!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I am kind of still a little bit addicted to facebook.

I think these sites are primarily just a bit of fun, and sure you can do business probably if you really think about it, that was never really the intended purpose of the site.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

It only really works for certain types of businesses, ones that fall in the age range of the users of Facebook, which is primarily under 25's I would imagine. Even then, it only really builds brands and recognition, i'm not sure what the conversion rate would be. Very poor I should think.
I spent a lot of time on www.guruoline.tv/it when we were lookig at social media in general for our business, helpful vids.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Some spammers are using social media networking in order to generate conversion rate. They start from myspace, now they are on facebook like adult dating.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

The facebook is the site in which we can share the links and can enhance our business.MOreover, the pages on facebook also plays an important role to push up the companies..!

Re : Facebook and Your Business

I have found our facebook fan page to be OK, but the cost of ad's is extremely high with little turn around. I guess it is that when people go to google they are looking for something. When someone goes on facebook they aren't looking for a service they are looking for friend updates.

Re : Facebook and Your Business

Facebook is the best way to make your business strong...it gives a lot of traffic to the sites..!
Its a high rank site..