By now, many small businesses use social media as an integral part of their marketing – and that of course includes Facebook.
With approximately 937m users around the world, Facebook can help
start-ups and other businesses to expand their reach and boost sales.
Yet one of the most overlooked features of Facebook is its event page.
It’s common to think that an event page is only useful if you’re going
to hold an actual, face-to-face event. But holding on to this
misconception can cost you further chances to build your following.
These tips can help you effectively incorporate Facebook events into
your marketing plan.
1 Decide on Your Event
No matter what business you’re in, you’re likely to have upcoming
sales, product introductions or service discounts. Turn one of these
occasions into an event and attract a great deal more attention than you
would with a banner on your website or a sign in your shop display. As
long as you use the default settings on your Facebook event, it will be
visible to your Facebook friends and their friends, as well.
2 Establish interest from the start
Attract interest with a catchy title and concise event description.
Use keywords to bring potential customers to you. For example, rather
than calling your event “Spring Furniture Sale”, you’ll create more
interest and draw consumers who are more likely to convert to customers
with an event title such as “Exclusive Easter Weekend Sale on
Custom-Made Wooden Farmhouse Furniture”. A title such as this one will
attract people looking for Easter weekend sales, custom-made furniture,
wooden furniture and farmhouse furniture.
3 Cater to the visually oriented
As you create your Facebook event page, include photos and videos.
While you don’t want to overload your page with uploads, a few
well-chosen photos can increase interest. Choose photos of you or a
staff member with your product or service. Create a short video to
introduce yourself and talk about your event. This increases the human
factor in your event and also serves to establish a connection between
you and your event attendees.
4 Include a website link for registration and mailing list
Anyone invited to your Facebook event can RSVP on the event page, but
you’ll also want to include a link back to your business website for
event registration. Encourage people to take this extra step by entering
all registrants into a raffle for a free or discounted product or
service. Likewise, allow event registrants to opt into your email
subscriber list, so you can contact them about future events and other
things.
5 Invite everyone
Don’t limit your Facebook event invitations to the people you’re
connected with there. Invite people on your email list, as well as
friends, family and in-store customers to attend the event. Ask them to
share the event invitation to further multiply your potential attendees
and exposure. If you have a business blog, promote the event there, as
well as on Twitter and Pinterest.
6 Approach Facebook events as any other type of social media marketing
Learn as much as you can from each experience, so you can refine your
steps and actions for the next event. Additionally, it’s important not
to overdo it with Facebook events. More than likely, you know at least
one other small-business person who sends out event invitations weekly.
After a while, you and everyone else begin to ignore those invitations.
Avoid becoming invisible by planning and scheduling noteworthy Facebook
events when they’re warranted. This will help you build and maintain
interest with current as well as new followers and customers.
0 Comments: