From the Rough Cut
What Businesses That Profit from Facebook Do
Most companies that generate revenue from Facebook do not radically change their business. They simply add Facebook to what they're already doing well. Facebook becomes a new marketing and advertising channel for them. They do better customer service by responding to customers on Facebook.
Can Facebook Change Your Business?
Without question, Facebook can improve your business in the following ways:
- I've seen struggling start-ups for whom Google AdWords advertising didn't work instead make new profits from Facebook advertising.
- I've seen businesses that already did brisk business through AdWords increase their overall revenue with Facebook.
- I've seen businesses deal with customer service issues on their Facebook pages in a way that impressed other fans.
- I've seen ecstatic customers write comments that led potential customers to make their first purchase.
- I've seen fans bring in more fans for free and Group members bring in new Group members.
For years, businesses moved their marketing and advertising spends from print, radio, and TV to Google. Now companies are moving their budgets from Google to Facebook. Many even split their funds between the two.
How Can Facebook Fit In to Businesses in Different Ways?
Facebook can be used a number of ways, depending on your goals:
- If you sell products online—You can use Facebook advertising, with or without fans, to get more customers.
- If you're business-to-business—You can use Facebook advertising to generate leads from new prospects. You can have a lead fill out a form on your website or on a custom Facebook tab on your page.
- If you want to improve customerervice—You can find and deal with issues more quickly and in a more personable way. You can show other potential customers how you deal with complaints and what level of satisfaction they can expect.
- If you want more customer awareness and media attention—You can expand your reach and distribution with both Facebook ads and Facebook page fans. You can distribute your messages in a multimedia format.