Facebook Advertising

Would a promoted post or sponsored story offer some advantages to my business?

Do you remember when Facebook began flooding the communities with advertising and information about the network?  Some say that this was such an important event we should keep the details in our memory for years to come.

Did you believe that a business would continue to offer free membership and marketing forever?

When Facebook changed to the “timeline” design, the newsfeed began to change.  Your newsfeed does not include all the posts you have “opted in” to receive.  If you have stopped engaging with businesses and/or people you will eventually miss out on their posts.  Facebook has made the decision to create a newsfeed that they think you want to see based on your activity within your friends and likes on your profile.

Have you ever wondered why you don’t see friend’s posts anymore?  Did you think they were boycotting Facebook and not participating?

The statistics have been given that only 16% of likes and friends see actual posts sent. 

That is lower than the national average open rate for e-newsletters. 

Would you like to know that all the information you opt-in to receive you really do receive in your newsfeed without having to search again and again?  YES…

Facebook decided to launch the Promoted Post and Sponsored Story to help businesses reach their fans and friends of fans.  To increase the probability of fans reading your posts you need to participate in Facebook advertising.  Basically spend some cash with Facebook. 

To be successful you need to keep a few things in mind. 

• ·      Create an engaging post and include either a photo or video
• ·      Use the promoted posts and sponsored stories for contests or awesome promotions
• ·      Only use these tools if you already have a large fan base
• ·      The success can only be measured if you plan, execute, and engage properly
• ·      Decide what your ROI will be – likes, purchases, website hits, video views, e-mail submissions, registrations

I do have to disclose one important prerequisite to using these types of Facebook advertising.  You must have 400 fans before you can use the promoted posts.

The promoted post can be selected within your Timeline.  Once you post your update, you can hit the “promote” button and choose the reach numbers you wish to achieve. 

Don’t promote a post that is not “viral potential” unless you want to be unsuccessful.  Take the time necessary to plan your image, post text, click through destination, and target niche.  Just slapping something up and promoting it will not bring you success.

Sponsored stories are used to encourage your fans’ friends to like your page because your fans engagement activity is presented in the ad.  Takes the “I do what my friends do” type of thinking and puts it into an ad. 

Hmmmm, imagine that!     

Suggesting the use of promoted posts and sponsored stories to a new business page, in my opinion is “nuts”.  You need to have a great foundation of fans in order for your ads to be successful. 

New business pages should utilize the regular Facebook ads to increase their fan base before they tackle the promoted posts and sponsored stories. 

My challenge to you is to try one of the Facebook ad options for your business.  Decide what your ROI will be and create a great ad with an image & good content.  Success will come only with good planning and follow through!

Good Luck!

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