Introduction: All about Facebook Marketing

Companies running internet marketing campaigns know the power of social media. Facebook is the grand-daddy of all social networks with 901 million active users and the number inching ever so close to the 1 billion mark. Your business could use a longer email list and more potential customers to target with the campaigns. This is where Facebook can help you out.

For entrepreneurs who have not yet used Facebook for business marketing, it is time to consider the different aspects of this website. It is not just a social network where people log on to kill time and fool around. Businesses are using Facebook marketing plan as a crucial part of their internet marketing strategy. With nearly 1/7th of the world’s population on Facebook, it is clear that you are missing out.

Is Your Target Market on Facebook?

The first thing to consider before you can start formulating a Facebook marketing plan is whether or not your target market is on Facebook. Some businesses aren’t trendy and finding customers online isn’t the best approach for them. On the other hand, Facebook can be a goldmine for some businesses. They can increase their client base and profitability through a well-directed Facebook campaign.

You can check if your target market is on Facebook through research. You don’t have to spend hours and hours doing it. Just check if your competitors have their own Facebook pages and how many people are following them. If there are businesses in the same industry as yours on Facebook, then it is certain you can find your target market on Facebook.

Why Use a Facebook Marketing Plan?

Every businesses uses Facebook. This can be perceived in a positive or negative way. Some entrepreneurs feel that they need to get in to the online marketing arena via Facebook. Conversely, there are those who feel since everyone is on Facebook, they don’t stand a chance of penetrating through to their customers.

There are enough strong reasons to offset any potential drawbacks or limitations of a Facebook marketing plan. The biggest advantage is demographics.

1. Demographics

Which are the key demographics for your business? The age group you are targeting, gender, location and several other factors determine who your target market is. The advantage of using Facebook is that you can target specific demographics through a marketing plan. Facebook profiles require users to provide accurate and comprehensive information. This is why Facebook statistics are easy to obtain.

Along with their personal information (age, sex, relationship status, employer information, location), information about users’ preferences and likes can be found. Not only can you find your target market on Facebook using demographics but also obtain helpful insight in what they are looking for. A holistic internet marketing campaign can be designed to cover all bases.

2. User Frequency

Facebook has reported that 50% of its active users sign in at least once during the day. It means that Facebook enjoys a high user frequency. There are detailed statistics available about the time spent by a user on average on Facebook every day. All this data shows that targeting your potential customers through Facebook will serve you well.

3. Compatibility

Facebook is compatible with other platforms internet marketers use for finding the target market. Your Facebook fan page can be integrated with other social media websites including Twitter and MySpace. In addition, you can link your official website to Facebook. Facebook can be the hub of your internet marketing campaign.

And to add to that, Facebook is free. Social media marketing is a low-cost method for giving your business a boost. If you don’t want to spend too much money on marketing and promotion, then using Facebook to find your target market is a wise choice. The bottom-line is that your internet marketing campaign is incomplete without a Facebook marketing plan. There is more than social media to this website!

How to Find ‘Your’ Target Market on Facebook?

So, it is time we come to the business end of things. The key to a good Facebook marketing plan is that not only you find your target market but also convince them to become your customers. There are businesses that have thousands of followers but a majority of them are not part of their target market. With over 900 million users, getting fans is not the difficult part. Getting the right people to your Facebook page is what needs to be done.

Sales being a long-term goal, you have to start on the right track. Here are some golden tips to help you find your target market on Facebook.

1. Create a Profile/ Fan Page/ Business Page

The first step in your quest to finding your target market on Facebook is getting registered. You have to sign up to Facebook before you can start working on internet marketing. It is important that you sign up as a business rather than as an individual. Even if you are the sole owner and operator, having a Facebook business page gives a fancy edge that the usual Facebook profile doesn’t.

On your page, you have to be honest, clear and complete. Provide as much information as possible. Apart from the generic business information (business name, what you make, location), you have to share your interests and aspirations. One thing you have to be clear about is that every bit of information you share should be authentic, accurate and up-to-date. Outdated or wrong information can drive away your fans. Have a look over the pages of businesses in the same industry as yours to get a general idea of what people expect.

2. Use Facebook Ads

Facebook Ads is a feature created especially for businesses. You can create ads for your business and then display them on Facebook. The great thing about ads on Facebook is that they are not obstructive. Unlike other blogs and websites, where the ads try to take up maximum screen space, the ads are in a column so the users aren’t disturbed by them.

This has had a positive impact. Despite not being ‘in your face’, Facebook ads have compelled users to try new products and services. You can find your target market through ads, provided they are designed for your customers. For instance, if you are selling video games, your target market is teens and youths. The ads should focus on what they like instead of going for a universal theme. If you can get the ads designed perfectly, there is no doubt that you can find your target market on Facebook. You could also buy facebook likes instead of facebook ads to achieve the same results.

3. Get In Touch With People You Know

It doesn’t hurt if you can find someone in your friends’ circle who is part of your target market. It makes sense to go over your list of Facebook friends to see if there is anyone who could help you reach your target market. The numbers clearly show that most of the Facebook friends of users are people in their age range and usually sharing the same preferences. Find one and you can target a number of them.

And not just your current friend list! You can look for people you know who fall into your target market. They could be anyone: school friends, college alumni, work colleagues or even members of the same gym club as you. It doesn’t matter as long as they are part of the audience you are trying to attract using your Facebook marketing plan.

4. Facebook Recommends ‘Expand Your Network’

While this is not exactly accurate, Facebook does provide recommendations for users who would be valuable additions to your friends’ list. When you log in, you will see a list of suggested friends. Facebook uses the information from your profile, your activities on the site and your current friends to find users with similar tastes and preferences. In most cases, the users recommended by Facebook would be within your target market if you have added the right users.

You don’t have to add every single one of the recommended users. You can go through their profiles to find out whether or not they are worth adding. Of course, there is the chance they might deny your friend request, but that is a story for another day. For now, every time you log on, go over the recommended friends to check if there are any interesting users for you to add there.

5. Explore Networks of Industry Bigwigs

The businesses and individuals who have achieved success in the same industry as you will have stronger networks for sure. A major reason for a business’ success in this day and age is word of mouth. If the users recommended your products to their friend, you have a great chance of gaining another customer. This is why it is clear that they have worked on their networking through Facebook to ensure they get to the right people.

Being in the same industry, you can gain from adding a few good users to your list. It is not a crime if you go over the networks of the industry bigwigs. You will find some of the lists consist of thousands of users. Now you can’t check each and every profile but what you can do is look for featured fans. Some businesses mention their most important fans on their wall. It is better to add a personal touch to your friend request. Send a message communicating how you would appreciate that person joining your network.

There is certainly a low element of risk when you add a person who has helped establish another network on Facebook. Using your fans as part of your Facebook marketing plan would ease the burden on your shoulders and make your job much easier.

6. Using Groups to Your Advantage

Facebook users can join existing groups and create their own groups as well. Groups can be crucial in finding your target market. Groups on Facebook are categorized by topics or shared interests. There are groups for all sorts of things, from famous celebrities to obscure cultures. The abundance of groups means that there is a great chance that you will be able to find at least a couple of groups that are related to your products or services.

Searching for Groups on Facebook isn’t a tough task. All you have to do is type in specific keywords. You can search by niche, location or industry. You can access the group and check whether it is going to provide what you are looking for. Some groups might have a topic related to your business but that doesn’t mean that you can join it. You have to check whether you will be able to benefit from it.

For some businesses, finding groups is easier. The most popular products and services have a large number of groups hence even a simple search returns substantial result. The bigger your niche is, the more results you will find. It could actually work to the advantage of smaller businesses. They won’t have to browse through a large number of groups to check out their efficacy. When the choice is limited, making decisions is easier.

Once you have identified the groups you think are ideal for your business, you should join them. And not just join! You have to become an active member, posting on the Wall and commenting on what other members have posted. You have to generate some activity to get noticed. Sooner or later, the members of the group will notice you and acknowledge your presence. You might have to be a little persistent but this doesn’t mean you start living on the group’s main page.

Don’t go overboard. Make sure the information you share is valuable and authentic. Telling people what they already know is of no use. Posting regularly without offering something of value is useless. Post quality content and get noticed. When you have established yourself as a member of the group, start adding fellow members as friends. Have a good Facebook timeline helps as well.

7. Create Your Own Group

Facebook allows people to create their own groups. However, creating a group is of no use if you can only get 20 people to join it. Creating a group is one of the things you can do to find your target market after you have been on Facebook for a while. Ideally, you should have at least 100 fans before you think about creating your own group. There are thousands of groups that are lying dormant because of a lack of members.

The best situation is that you have 500 friends willing to join your group. So, it could take some time before you reach a stage where creating a group is a viable option. A group is a great way to capture the attention of your target market. You can share information, discuss issues related to your business, provide links to your website/blog and even invite people to your business’ event.

8. Develop a Solid Facebook Marketing Plan

You have to create a Facebook marketing plan that is easy to implement yet effective. You know the ways to find your target market as described above. The key is to incorporate these methods into a strategy that pays off rich dividends. If you are starting a business thinking that you can become a millionaire overnight using Facebook for marketing, then you should back off. Finding your target market on Facebook does not guarantee instant results.

This doesn’t at all mean that you shouldn’t use Facebook for marketing. In fact, it is one of the best tools to use. It is just that the implementation is slow and gradual and the results show up over a period of time. You should have a long-term vision and take a bird’s eye view of things to make best use of Facebook for your business.

In the beginning, you would have to put in the hard yards. At least 60 minutes would have to be spent just on going through the possible groups you can join to increase your network. In addition, you will have to work on your own page, getting more friends and other marketing media. As time goes by, you will be able to reduce the amount of time you need to spend on your Facebook marketing plan. Here are some of the Facebook marketing tips to get you started!

Facebook marketing plan – wrapping it up

Persistence, perseverance and patience are the three things you need to have to make your internet marketing campaign a success. Facebook can be the catalyst for speeding up things for you and delivering results quicker than you expected. That being said, you do have to put in the required effort to make it work for you.

You now know the tips that you have to follow to find your target market on Facebook. It is not a very difficult task but you have to be clear in your mind about what you want from the beginning. Facebook will help you get more fans and eventually customers, but it can not be the only medium you use for online marketing.

A Facebook plan with a good Facebook landing page works as part of your internet marketing campaign. It cannot be a standalone tactic for finding your target market. You should not be deterred from using Facebook for finding your target market because of this. Stick to your task and the results will come.

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