Social Networks: Are they worth it for business?
Recently a friend asked me, “Is it worthwhile for your business to spend time doing Facebook?”
I nearly fell off my chair. You see, I am so convinced that spending time on Facebook delivers a return on investment that I can’t imagine not doing it.
Facebook strengthens relationships with loyal followers and exposes your brand name to new followers. It allows you to connect with other people who are like your loyal followers in terms of interests, income, and lifestyle. It allows you to engage in an ongoing dialogue with your friends and followers.
Because they are following you, they have agreed that they are interested in your brand. As long as you respect the relationship and don’t abuse it, you can send them interesting messages that are educational, informational or of interest to them.
Facebook is an extension of the most powerful type of marketing which is word of mouth marketing. There is no more powerful endorsement for a business than having a friend or someone you respect say something good about a business. Good word of mouth is the holy grail of good marketing. It’s all grounded in having a respectful relationship between the business and the people who have chosen to “like” the business.
Respecting the relationship with your Facebook friends and followers is a big thing.
Think of Facebook as a cocktail party. You shouldn’t talk only about yourself, you need to ask others how their lives are going, how their kids are doing, and then listen intently to their responses.
On Facebook, be sure to comment on others’ posts and ‘like’ what they have to say. This is called engagement. It can’t be all about you! That constitutes the meaning of the word BORING, either at a cocktail party or on Facebook.
So in response to my friend’s question, the answer is a resounding “YES!”
It is definitely worthwhile for my business or any business to spend time on Facebook, and Twitter, and Pinterest, and LinkedIn, and also on blogs.
The foundation of any strong business is having strong relationships with other people, and all of these social networking tools help create and strengthen strong interpersonal relationships.
Of course my mantra is that you need to supplement these social networks with real, face-to-face, in-person relationships as well. As a matter of fact, I am going to a luncheon today with friends from the Greater Franklin Development Corporation who are Facebook friends, followers, readers of this blog, attendees at our Social Media Boot Camps, supporters and clients!