I’ve been having an argument with myself whether to launch a business Facebook page. I held out all of 2010, and slowly my blog post links began to get shared on Facebook personal along with business answers. Not sure my old pals from grade school really care what I’m writing about; they just want to see updated pictures.
Today’s Advertising Age, newly arrived via post, sealed the deal for me, and here’s why:
Ad Age did a preview of the year ahead in digital marketing; in the “Social Media” section it was all about Facebook. The editors wrote:
- Digital lives are more complex with “the myriad tools, apps, platforms competing for time, attention, and dollars, but 2011 is the year it gets simpler. Only one really matters – Facebook.”
- The review said Facebook “is truly global and now has in place the tools to be a partner the way brands had long hoped it could be.
- It has nearly 600 million members and is still growing rapidly; it’s the largest photo site and largest mobile property.
- The company has all its ducks in a row: management, a sales team and automated buying platform (plus a deal with Goldman Sachs).”
Others have been encouraging me to take the plunge – heck, what’s another platform to maintain along with two blogs and an active Twitter presence? Stay tuned for Facebook — Soulati Media style.
Meanwhile, did you tap a favorite resource to launch your Facebook page?
Go get ’em, lady. It definitely is the easiest way for people to pass along your info – for that alone, you should be there!
Thanks for the vote of encouragement, Rachel! I’m running to Facebook…!
You know I’m no fan of Facebook, and the recent financial hide-and-seek with Goldman hasn’t changed my opinion at all. Are your potential customers going to be looking for you on Facebook and at a high enough frequency to make it worth your time, not likely.
All that having been said, in your case the answer is clear, Yes, you absolutely should have a business page on Facebook. You simply don’t have a choice. Would you go to a vegan butcher, or a bald hairdresser … or a social media consultant without a Facebook page ?
Ray, you make me laugh. You’re so spot on; I hate that (;-)…thanks for agreeing to watch me grow and grow.
Jayme, I just.. refuse. Per Ray’s comment, I don’t think my potential customers are out there looking for me on FB and I don’t think I want them to be. I don’t like mixing personal and professional to that extent, have been down the road of working with friend/family with mixed results. That’s just me, I compartmentalize, keep things in their place and still love the Olympia Dukakis Moonstruck line of “don’t sh!t where you eat.”
IDK… I think for my solo PR practice it’s kinda overkill. I have a LI profile, so do I need a company page for just me? I’m a freelancer, so would the site of a FB with 8 fans and no interaction really sway potential clients? This year I’m putting more time and effort in improving my website, my blog, other social and IRL networking instead. FWIW.
I know, I’m dying a slow and painful death. Just need more time is all! My point in doing all this is I have to walk my talk.
Did reconnect today with a former colleague from Pakistan; that wouldn’t have happened had I not launched the new FB page!