Bluelime Media - Interactive Solutions with a Twist

8 Reasons for Using Facebook for Business

Its seems like everyone is flocking to Facebook and other social networking applications these days to keep in touch with friends, make new ones and generally hangout and socialise but people are quickly realising that these applications can prove valuable as business development tools. Following a recent discussion in Facebook I thought I would share with you some of the ways people are using Facebook for business today:

1. Networking - the obvious reason, people are using Facebook to connect and maintain relationships with existing contacts.
2. Research - Facebook can be used as a research tool - you can easily create polls asking Facebook users a question pertinent to your offering and have them answer. This a great tool to enable market research within specific communities.
3. Driving traffic to your website - By adding a link to your Facebook profile interested parties will click through to your website. Interestingly enough, my website gets more click thru’s from friends profiles than my own.
4. Lead generation - Facebook can be used to establish contact with new prospects. This seems particularly popular with real estate agents.
5. Collaboration - many companies are using Facebook as a forum to collaborate. Facebook is a great place to brainstorm with like minded professionals in decentralised locations.
6. Advertising - some companies have set up Facebook profiles that simply advertise and promote their offering - its amazing how many friends Pepsi Platinum has.
7. Content Distribution - I use Facebook as a forum to distribute blog content and others use it for music - video etc.
8. Branding - folks on Facebook can add “favorites” to their profile. These “things I like” can be products or services and many companies have posted their logo or band image. Each time a person looks at these on someone profile the brand is being reinforced.

We are seeing an evolution of social networking as people begin to recognise that its applications reach beyond simple youth networking. New applications are being added regularly that enhance Facebook as a true business development tool. I envisage membership to social networks like these will burgeon as professionals and business people become aware of the possibilities and reach these offer.