Don’t copy everyone else on facebook
July 5th, 2009
Most people are introduced to facebook by members of their extended family aged under 25. (I know I was). It can be very intimidating at first glance.
Members of your family photographed on holiday and/or doing silly things with comments added by complete strangers – some of which can look very dodgy indeed.
So how can this collection of oddballs and misfits be any use what so ever to your business?
Well, the thing to remember is that oddballs and misfits are everywhere these days, walk down the road or to the train station and you will see variety of different shapes and sizes of people. A business person wouldn’t view everyone of these as a prospect in real life and neither should you on facebook.
The second thing to know from the start is that facebook doesn’t come with a training manual or how to video. As with so many things these days, people are just expected to “get on with it” And without any sort of online training often just means copying what other people do. With regards to promoting a business on facebook, unfortunately, this generally means link dropping.
Someone starts a group based on an interest(It’s a little known secret that it is extremely hard to start an online forum) and invites their friends to join. Friends join, and because there isn’t a community already and because they don’t know what to say or have never been coached in how to start a conversation, they just say
“Hi, we are ABC widget makers and if you need replacement widgets, visit our online store”
Then 1 of 2 different things is likely to happen
The first likely thing is that no one will EVER click that link.
Why?
Most people hate being sold to. Plus they are never going to buy widgets (or any other service from someone they don’t know and have never met before)
Next up is that anybody who does add a reply will just add something like.
“Hi, Nice link”
And that’s a bit like saying to someone
“Hi, great shirt” – but they can never say what makes it a great shirt
But there is another way
It takes time and effort – sorry to say that you can’t get everything for free these days.
It’s called networking – actually doing things to help people. Ignoring people who just drop links (spammers by any other name) and looking to meet the type of people that you would look for in real life. Yes you might need to spend some time and “kiss a few ugly sisters” as you go along but your business will benefit in the long run.
You will meet a whole variety of people in other parts of the country (and world) who you never would if you had never made the effort.
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