For years, big and small companies alike have resorted to creating fan pages on Facebook to up their online presence and to attract the loyal support by receiving personal stamps of approval in the form of “likes” from users. Over thirty million small businesses are updating their pages monthly, according to the social networking site’s own research, and Facebook wants to convert these small business owners who use the site for free marketing into paid advertisers.
In efforts to recruit small businesses to advertise through Facebook, the website held what has been dubbed as the “Facebook Fit” program, designed to encourage small businesses to thrive by buying advertising on its site. On June 3, the company held its first meeting for businesses on Manhattan’s West Side in order to answer questions and provide information on how to begin formerly advertising.
Entry to the program was $25, which gave the businesses $50 worth of advertising on Facebook. According to reports, 850 business owners attended the program and received information from companies that rely on Facebook for much of their online presence and advertising.
Owners from companies like Astor Row Café, Broadway’s Roundabout Theatre, Tavy Ronen of Yarn Co., etc. detailed the ways in which they use online marketing strategies through Facebook to target consumers and create a repertoire of loyal customers.
The majority, or 70%, of new advertisers utilizing Facebook for marketing start off by paying to promote posts or to promote the “like” feature on their pages. Some companies go so far as to run their main sites through their Facebook pages, encouraging people to “check in,” etc.
Will this strategy to get small businesses to pay for advertising work, or will owners see this as a mere ploy to take advantage of start-up businesses?
Photo : Flickr
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