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Top 10 Tips for using Facebook
Top tips for marketers using Facebook
dotCommerce recently launched a benchmark study of 100 online retailers, to guage how effectively they are using social media, including Facebook.
24% of the retailers assessed had some sort of presence on Facebook - a relatively low number considering Facebook is still the largest social network in the world.
Only one third of retailers surveyed publicised their Facebook presence on their website. Product updates were the most commonly shared information by those with Facebook fan pages (67%), followed by marketing and company news (both 24%).
Our Star Example
ASOS.com is major online fashion retailer, offering celebrity 'looks' which shoppers can emulate at affordable prices. The ASOS Facebook page has over 196,000 fans, and is a good example of how to use Facebook content to create a customer community.
The Facebook pages encourage fans to post pictures and videos of themselves in their favourite outfits as well as providing product information, competitions and special offers.
Top 10 tips for marketers using Facebook:
- Use your logo - it makes sense to use your logo as your profile picture. This will help increase brand awareness.
- Run a Facebook exclusive competition – reward your fans and encourage more customers to sign-up by running exclusive competitions, only open to Facebook fans.
- Include 'become a fan' links in your email marketing – linking email marketing to social media can be very powerful, so publicise your fan page in your newsletters.
- Publicise your Facebook presence on your website – make sure your website users know about your Facebook profile/fan page and can access it directly from your website.
- Bring some personality to your updates– using a corporate tone won't work on Facebook, so keep it informal and friendly.
- Remember your audience – Facebook is generally used to stay in touch with 'real-life' friends so bear this in mind when it comes to the tone of your posts. You aren't writing for the boardroom. Keep content informal, friendly and interesting.
- Post product pictures – if you have some great product imagery, or photos of people using your products, post it all on Facebook and encourage your fans to share it with their friends.
- Distribute unique discounts – reward your supporters and increase your Facebook fan base by encouraging existing fans to spread the word to their friends.
- Ask for feedback – do you have a new product you're thinking of launching? Why not ask for feedback from your Facebook fans; this will make them feel valued and help to encourage loyalty and referrals along with building anticipation and awareness of the new product.
- Try experimenting with some Facebook ads – this is a different (and paid for) Facebook service which allows you to target all Facebook users in your demographic rather than just your own fans.
Facebook provides a range of interactive possibilities for engaging your fans. Why not explore how you can use Facebook to:
- Invite people to events
- Post video
- Create and join networks
- Mass message your fans
- Advertise
Download the full bench mark report
Our benchmark study into the use of social media by 100 online retailers includes over 60 best practice guidelines and tips, from marketing with Twitter to Facebook, to blogs.
Click here to download your copy of the full 25 page report.