How Your Small Business Can Thrive With Facebook Marketing [GUIDE]

Can Facebook really generate leads, opportunities, and sales for your small business?

The answer is a resounding YES! Many of our users successfully do it every day. Unlike traditional marketing—where you hope a small percentage of your audience pays attention—Facebook allows you to engage with people who are already interested in your business.

With Facebook, you can:

• Create targeted ads tailored to specific audiences.
• Analyze page insights to improve performance.
• Connect with billions of active users (1.15 billion monthly, to be exact!).

To succeed, you’ll need a clear strategy—one that’s easy to implement, even with just 10-minute sessions a few times a week. This guide answers common questions to help you maximize Facebook’s potential for your business.

1. Profiles vs. Pages: What’s Best for Your Business?

If your goal is to use Facebook for your business, always opt for a Facebook Page instead of a personal profile. Here's why:

Profiles

• Designed for personal use and limited to one per user.
• Capped at 5,000 friends, restricting your reach.
• Content may not be indexed by Google (depending on privacy settings).

Pages

• Built for business use, allowing unlimited “likes.”
• Fully indexed by Google, improving SEO and traffic.
• Share content such as status updates, photos, and videos to engage with fans.

2. Can I Create a Facebook Page Without a Personal Account?

No, you need a personal account to create a business page. However, you can convert your personal profile into a business page. Your friends will automatically become “likes” on your page.

3. Naming Your Business’ Facebook Page

Your page name is your identity, so keep it professional and easy to remember. Avoid keyword-stuffing, as it looks spammy. For example, instead of naming your page “XYZ Social Media Courses for Small Businesses,” stick with something simple, like “XYZ Social Media.”

Changing Your Page Name:

• Pages with fewer than 200 likes can edit their name directly via “Update Page Info.”
• For pages with 200+ likes, submit a name change request through Facebook and attach proof of your business name.

4. Choosing a Business Category

Select a category that aligns with your business goals:

• Local Business/Place: Physical businesses like restaurants or salons.
• Company, Organization, or Institution: Larger businesses or nonprofits.
• Brand or Product: For products without physical locations.
• Artist, Band, or Public Figure: Personal brands or public personalities.
• Entertainment: Media-related content like movies or books.
• Cause or Community: Advocacy campaigns or community groups.

5. Creating a Custom URL for Your Page

A vanity URL makes it easier for customers to find your page. For example:

• Instead of “facebook.com/pages/12345xyz,” aim for “facebook.com/YourBusinessName.”

You can set a custom URL once you reach 25 likes. Choose wisely, as Facebook allows only one change.

6. Adding a Facebook Like Button to Your Website

Encourage visitors to follow your page by embedding a “like” button on your site. Here’s how:

1. Generate the button code using Facebook’s developer tools.
2. Copy the IFRAME code and paste it into your website.

For platform-specific instructions:

• Blogger: Add the code via “HTML/Javascript” in the layout section.
• WordPress: Use the Facebook Like Box widget.

7. Using Facebook Applications to Enhance Your Page

Custom apps can guide customers to the next step in your sales funnel, such as:

• Email List Signups: Add an app to capture email leads.
• Events: Promote upcoming events with a dedicated tab.
• Social Links: Connect your Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube accounts.

8. Posting as Your Facebook Page

Switch to posting as your page by selecting “Use Facebook as Page” in the top-right corner. This ensures your content reaches fans and builds your page’s visibility.

Benefits of Posting as Your Page:

• Broader Reach: Fans see posts directly in their feeds.
• Attract New Likes: Commenting as your page increases exposure.

9. Building Your Fanbase: How to Get More Likes

When you create a page, gaining followers is your first challenge. Use this simple 3-step strategy:

1. Inform: Share your page link on social media profiles, email signatures, and business cards.
2. Automate: Use tools like MeetEdgar to schedule posts and keep your page active.
3. Engage: Post regularly, ask questions, and interact with fans to create a vibrant community.

10. Boosting Your Reach with Facebook Ads

Facebook Ads allow you to target specific audiences by gender, age, and location. Additionally, the boost post feature can increase visibility, though we recommend creating tailored ads for better results.

11. Analyzing Insights to Improve Performance

Facebook’s Insights feature offers detailed analytics, including:

• Audience demographics: Gender, age, and location.
• Post performance: See which posts get the most views, likes, and shares.

Use this data to refine your strategy and create more engaging content.

12. Overcoming Algorithm Challenges

Facebook’s EdgeRank algorithm determines which posts users see. To increase your reach:

• Post engaging content (photos, videos, and questions).
• Respond to comments and messages quickly.
• Share regularly to combat time decay.

Conclusion

Facebook is a powerful tool for small business marketing, offering opportunities to connect with your audience and grow your business. By using pages instead of profiles, optimizing your content, and leveraging tools like ads and analytics, you can turn Facebook into a lead-generating machine.