In 2018, Facebook is the most popular social media platform for business. Not surprising since Facebook has seen a 13% growth year-over-year according to their first quarter findings for March.
Meaning if you’re not using Facebook to grow your business, you’re missing out on a thriving market. Thankfully, Facebook makes this whole process user-friendly and includes tools like Location Pages and Featured Images to amplify your message.
Establishing your brand on Facebook also increases your search rank and acts as a mini-website with its own search engine optimization (SEO) value, so keep that in mind as you begin fleshing out your content (if you’re curious, check out our blog that explains why local SEO matters).
Ready to get started? Below is a walkthrough to get you started on transforming your Facebook business page.
Picking the right identity for your Facebook page sets you up for success.
Choose from:
Credit: Search Engine Journal
Once you pick the right page for your business, it’s time to optimize your content.
Update your contact information so potential customers can reach you.
This includes:
Be proactive in updating any information that changes, including a change in location or phone number. Most importantly, remember to always update operating hours. If you’re a small business and need to close for outside circumstances, notify your customers through a Facebook post. To help visibility, Facebook allows you to pin important posts at the top of your page.
As you fill out your business page information, remember to utilize key words related to your business to ensure better local search results. For instance, if you’re an ice cream shop, make sure to mention “ice cream” or “dessert” throughout your bio.
A call to action button, located under your cover photo, instructs users on your page to interact with your brand. This instruction is unique to your brand and can range from signing up for newsletters to scheduling an appointment.
To set up a call to action:
One of the best (and most creative) ways to get your message to users is through personalized branding. Take full advantage of the avatar/profile photo and featured image options. Create clean, unique branding that explains what your business is about.
Oftentimes your profile photo and featured image are what users see first, so invest in compelling and exciting imagery. However, make sure your imagery is accurate and doesn’t mislead users or infringe on anyone’s copyright.
Reviews and comments allow users to engage with your business, which is a significant part of a successful social media presence. However, you will need a strategy to manage comments and concerns effectively, so don’t rush into this step lightly.
When you’re ready to turn on reviews:
If your business is growing and you have multiple locations, it’s time to access your location pages. Thankfully, Facebook doesn’t require you to request Location Pages anymore, but you will receive a warning message before proceeding.
Your main Facebook page is the main parent page for all other Location Pages, and other Location Pages are its offspring.