Everywhere you look, that familiar “f” logo seems to be there. From billboards to restaurant receipts and cereal boxes, Facebook has become an integral part of social media strategies.
Businesses all around the world are taking advantage of social media and making a name for themselves. Without a doubt, one of the most established and effective social tools thus far has been Facebook. Is it right for your business though? Let’s take a look at a few staggering statistics around Facebook and what they mean to you.
Statistic: Active users total more than 1.35 billion, worldwide. This is a 14% year-over-year increase.
Take away: To answer the burning question of whether or not your business should have a Facebook presence, the general consensus is: yes, you should (more on this later). The vast majority of you will want to incorporate Facebook into your marketing mix. The Facebook opportunity is too big to ignore.
Statistic: 864 million people log onto Facebook on a daily basis. This is a 19% year-over-year increase.
Take away: A growing number of users are actively engaging Facebook, making them promising audience for marketing efforts.
Statistic: Photos are uploaded 300 million times per day.
Take away: Again, this is a strong indication of engaged users. It also serves as a reminder that you will be competing for users’ attention, so make your efforts memorable.
Statistic: Highest traffic occurs mid-week between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
Take away: Consider this statistic when trying to reach a larger audience and drive more traffic to your site. Strategically time important status updates in order to optimize your marketing efforts.
Statistic: Users spend, on average, 21 minutes per visit to Facebook.
Take away: Use your opportunities wisely. You only have a short window to make your impression. Be sure your posts are interesting, unique and relevant.
So, does your business need a Facebook presence? Ultimately, it’s up to you. Research highlights the importance of having an online presence beyond your standard website. Here are a few things to consider:
- Your customers. Are they likely to be active on Facebook? Would your customer base have an interest in connecting with your business page on Facebook?
- Market expectations. While Facebook pages are expected for businesses in some markets, think about your industry. Would a Facebook page be useful or bring value to your customers? How would your customers benefit by “Liking” your company on Facebook?
Finally, if you decide to create a Facebook page for your business, you need to commit to maintaining it. This requires regular interaction by posting updates and content as well as interacting when customers comment. While a Facebook page allows fans of your business to post positive feedback, the opposite is true too. Keep in mind that people can also post negative comments or complaints which can be viewed by the public. Rather than ignoring less than positive comments, Forbes Magazine offers suggestions on how business owners can handle negative comments.
The great part about Facebook is that any business can get started by simply creating a free Facebook account and connect with customers. Once your page is established, you can start sharing business news, post online specials, ask for feedback and, ideally, grow your fan base. If you do make the leap into the world of Facebook, make it count. You’ll be in great company.
Need help with your social media presence and strategy? Contact Launch Marketing today! Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to keep up with the latest B2B marketing tips and trends.
Sources:
http://investor.fb.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=878726
http://blog.bitly.com/post/22663850994/time-is-on-your-side
http://gizmodo.com/5937143/what-facebook-deals-with-everyday-27-billion-likes-300-million-photos-uploaded-and-500-terabytes-of-data
http://www.infodocket.com/2014/09/18/social-media-u-s-adults-will-average-21-minutes-each-day-on-facebook-in-2014/
http://www.hotforsecurity.com/blog/facebooks-latest-reading-list-includes-your-text-and-multimedia-messages-7804.html
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