Using Facebook to Drive Traffic to Your Online Store
Facebook is the clear leader of the social media pack with over 500 million active users. Many people check their accounts daily, and users spend more than 700 billion minutes a month on Facebook – and growing! For some people, it’s all they use the Internet for. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to set up a Facebook page for your online store. Here are a few guidelines and ideas to help drive traffic to your online store:
1. Set up a fan page, and fill out the profile. If you set up a normal account, you have to confirm everyone who wants to add you. It turns into a waste of time quickly. Also, complete your profile. Scams abound on Facebook, and if people know a lot about your company, they won’t think it’s a scam. If it’s appropriate, post pictures too. Give an inside look at your business. Most scams only use one picture, so try to post a few pictures. It builds more trust.
2. Engage your fans. Facebook is about human interaction. People don’t use it because they enjoy hearing sales pitches all day, but if you can prove there is more to your business, they won’t mind as much if you sell to them. Ask your fans questions. Questions provide quality feedback if you need it, and represent your brand positively. Post updates, take a stance on a topic, and even link to sites you think your fans would like. Of course, link to your online store as well, but don’t overdo it. Obnoxiously posting ads is a great way to lose fans.
3. Offer special discounts to your fans. This helps retain customers who follow your company already, and when you do it, fans realize why they bothered becoming one in the first place. Also, one good Facebook sale can rapidly boost your number of fans. Simply advertise a sale that’s exclusive to your fans. People who visit your online store, but haven’t become fans, almost certainly will now. Plus, word travels quick. If it’s a great special offer, fans will tell their friends who they think will be interested.
Facebook is one of the best tools you can use to drive traffic to your online store, as long as you use it properly. Always remember that Facebook is about people, and people don’t mind being sold something as long as they don’t have to see it every two minutes. Act like a human, ask questions, provide customer support, and run special offers. If you treat your Facebook customers well, they’ll tell others, and they will become fans too.
Kirsty LaVier is editor for Shopping Cart Reviews, the leading shopping cart information website.
