I remember in 2007 signing up for Facebook because I have always been an ‘early adopter’ of technology and communication trends. It seemed like fun.
Then in 2008, we used it to promote one of our high school class reunions and grew our participants from 11 to 140 in less than a month! It was our information hub and allowed us to update everyone, as well as a place for people to start reconnecting. It was actually amazing when we got together in person that weekend. We felt like we had already spent time catching up so we could really enjoy each other on another level.
Coming from a broadcast radio/media background, I was always inside of the media. Back in 2007 on Facebook, I was learning a lot about what people liked on their hamburgers and what they had just picked up at the grocery store. Remember, originally, Facebook was created for college friends to keep tabs on what they were doing in real time. It actually hasn’t changed much in that regard.
Fast forward, here are some stunning statistics about Facebook that cannot be ignored.
We still use Facebook to keep tabs on our friends’ activities, but the applications have grown up and now offer us one of the most diverse social platforms where we can show, tell, engage and sound off all at the same time! Facebook can be used for straight business or personal or a combination of both.
Where else can you post a picture or video, comment, link an article or website, search, sound off and generate hundreds of comments or likes, all at the same time? Facebook can demonstrate your brand and branding in action and give you a place to grow your community and your relationships with them. It also gives you several options in their settings to control how much you want to receive, block or engage in!
Here are some of the key benefits for using Facebook I value.
- Very effective for engagement and starting conversations. I can ask questions, survey, and comment. I have used it to vent about my customer service experiences with my cable provider, credit card companies and other national vendors, and have gotten more immediate feedback and actual response from them and others having the same issues than on the phone on hold.
- It’s viral and visual in sharing or posting pictures, video, websites and links. From CNN, network TV to regular people like me posting about family, vacations and real time events just happening; nothing beats that immediacy and impact.
- You can control how much and what applications you use or receive in your settings. Go into your account and privacy settings and check or uncheck what you want to receive from your friends, hide them or unfriend people.
- I am using it more for soft business as well as giving people a glimpse into my personal world. I post current blog articles, events, programs, content links and pictures of me both personally and in business.
If you are still hemming and hawing over using Facebook more and not having the time or interest in it, I suggest you rethink this. If you are serious about growing your business, personal brand and serving your friends, customers and followers, then Facebook is one of the best platforms to use!
For any and all of the information about using Facebook as well as the other social media platforms spend some time on Mashable!
How are you using Facebook to build your brand and branding power?
Author:
Deborah Shane is an author, entrepreneur, radio host and expert. She is the heart and soul of her business education and professional development company, Train with Shane and is in her third year of hosting a weekly business radio show on blogtalkradio.com. She writes for several national business, career and marketing blogs, and websites including smallbiztrends.com, careerealism.com, Internationalbusinesstimes.com, Smartbrief.com and blogher.com Her new book Career Transition-make the shift-the 5 steps to successful career reinvention is available now on amazon.com. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Blogtalkradio @Deborah Shane, or visit www.deborahshane.com.
