Marketing 101: How Facebook can be an effective tool in driving your company's sales.

Say the word “Facebook” and many people will automatically think of a site infamous for cat videos, memes, and pictures of grandchildren. If you’re a business owner, it’s vital to realize that this social media forum can also function as a highly effective advertising tool for your business.

Integrate your website with Facebook.

Make the flow to and from this social media platform smooth. There are several things you can do.

• Provide a “share” button that prompts guests to spread the word about your products and services on Facebook.
• Install a Facebook “like” button. This makes it possible for users to leave a “like” on Facebook without ever leaving your website.
• Let visitors log into your site using their Facebook login details.
• Put a link to Facebook Messenger on your website to facilitate communication.
• Post content that you have already uploaded to your website on Facebook.

The easier it is for visitors to like, follow, and interact with you on Facebook, the happier people will be and the more new customers you will receive.

Post business-related videos on Facebook.

People love viewing video content. Increasingly, live streaming is also transforming interactions between businesses and their customers. In addition to posting a video, be sure to include textual content and a link to your website to close the circle.

Put a store on your Facebook page.

Doing this ensures that social media viewers can see what you have to offer without initially needing to be redirected elsewhere on the internet. Of course, you will accept payments online only via the secure payment gateway on your website, but a well-designed Facebook store furnishes potential buyers with an excellent introduction.

Offer sales and discounts to your loyal Facebook followers.

When it comes to social media, your goal should be to increase the number of “likes” and followers you have. One of the best ways to make this happen is to reward people’s loyalty with deals. Just be sure that you only give them to visitors who have tagged a set number of friends or submitted a review or product testimonial.

Invest in Facebook ads.

Each month, an estimated 2.5 million people use Facebook. When they do, they are presented with ads that are highly targeted to the unique information that the site has gathered about them. Although you will need to put out some money to mount a Facebook ad campaign, it will be highly effective in getting your message out to the people who want to see it.

Focus on the quantity and quality of your Facebook posts.

It’s not enough to launch a Facebook page and check it once or twice per month. The most successful companies update their social media footprint several times a day. Content should be varied and changed frequently, including attractive videos and text about products you want to highlight.

In the end, it’s about customer engagement. Facebook is one of the most popular and multi-faceted digital vehicles, and it makes communicating with current and potential customers easy, fun, and lucrative. If you haven’t already optimized your presence on this social media juggernaut, don’t waste another day. Your profit margin will thank you.