Millions of people every hour of every day are looking at Facebook and Twitter and spending quite a bit of time while there. People are drawn to the site to check out what their friends are talking about and to check out the forums and message boards. They also are looking for information on restaurants in their area to eat their lunch, where they should spend their evening and where to spend their money.
Social networking sites are no longer just an extension of real-life networks. At first, huge numbers of people had individual accounts on these sites, and that’s all people were looking for: other people. Now, all manner of institutions manage pages on Facebook and Twitter. Schools, restaurants, stores, movies, even governments post on these sites.
The first non-person post I found on Facebook was by a local restaurant with its very own page. The page spoke about lunch specials and upcoming events the restaurant was hosting. Whenever I went to my account to check on my social circle, the restaurant’s menu was right in front of my face. No matter if I was hungry or wanted to go out to eat at all, there was the menu in all its appetizing glory. Usually I went to the restaurant.
This same principal applies to any retail store. Advertise a sale or promotion on Facebook, and people will see it. They can’t help but see it. If a young person spends an hour on Facebook on a given afternoon, chances are they are jumping from page to page very rapidly. They are reading all kinds of information, but none of it in great depth. Almost like reading headlines in a newspaper. If one of those headlines is about a store, and the headline is appealing, people will click on the link.
To be effective a page must be updated often and carefully maintained. This is true of all pages whether they belong to an individual or a business. Facebook is a great benefit to business owners as they can relate directly and immediately to customers and answer any specific question promptly and accurately. A person looking for a Karaoke bar where they might spend an evening and want to know when the Karaoke starts can ask the manager and get an instant response. The customer decides to bring himself and ten friends over that night for some Karaoke and brewskis. The business owner made his profit for that day with that one answer.
An individual wishing to promote a service or sell a product can also take advantage of social networking sites. Looking for a job? Post your notice on your updated profile with information about your house and pet sitting expertise and when you are available. You can post a picture of the mountain bike you wish to sell. You can be sure that all your Facebook friends will see it and spread the word.
Advertising a business or social event on a networking site nets you massive exposure with minimal monetary outlay. All the sites are free. If you take the time and effort to make an attractive online presence, you will drive customers to you. A business page can foster a proactive feeling in customers’ decision making that is always a positive thing for any business. Net surfers find retail stores and restaurants on Facebook. The effort expended in making the discovery is all theirs. It sure beats the old flyer under the windshield wiper promotional concept which many consider an intrusion not a favor.
Social networking sites were once frequented only by college students and start-up garage bands. They are now a legitimate means to increase business. These sites have a huge following and all those customers are merely a mouse-click away.
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