When social media was first taking off and gaining steam, Facebook didn’t really have much in the way of competition, at least when it came to users’ attention. MySpace had gotten there first, but was mainly used by the younger crowd, and Twitter didn’t offer the depth of communication and connection that a site that allowed you to connect with your friends, relatives, and colleagues did. And so it was no surprise that when Facebook announced plans to add advertising features to its site, companies of all sizes lined up around the block to give it a try.

Now, just a short while later, a lot of what made Facebook unique is starting to wear away. Other companies, like Google and Bing, are finding ways to integrate “likes” (through +1 and similar add ons) into your profile and share preferences with other users. But despite these changes, Facebook still represents a completely unique advertising environment, and one most small businesses should at least try. Here’s why: Facebook doesn’t just market based on what it thinks it knows about you – it works off of data users provide about themselves.

This might seem like a minor difference from search engine optimization, or pay per click advertising, where searchers indicate what’s on their mind at the moment. But when you think about it on a deeper level (or have worked with search engine marketing strategies for some time), you often find that what people type into Google’s query box isn’t always exactly what they meant. And with new auto complete features coming into full swing this year, it’s even harder to tell whether someone meant to find your website, or just something that was vaguely similar.

Search engine optimization and other forms of online marketing aren’t going anywhere soon, and we’re not even going to argue that Facebook is “better” at finding customers than anything else. What you should know and remember, however, is that the fact that it pulls information that people give themselves makes it one-of-a-kind… at least for now. For some products and services, that’s an online marketing edge that just can’t be matched anywhere else.

If you’re wondering whether Facebook could be a great online advertising platform for your company, contact one of Calgary’s best Internet marketing partners – eKzact web design – today for a free consultation!

There are a lot of things social networking sites are great for, like sharing news, advertising online coupons, and reaching out to new potential customers. When small businesses first get involved with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and social media in general,  however, they often don’t use them to their marketing potential.

In order to get more out of social media sites, you can’t do all the work yourself. Here are a few ways you can make your profile stronger by getting your customers in on the act:

Ask customers to submit product photos and stories. If you sell something that people interact with regularly, or depend on as part of their day-to-day jobs, then they might be able to say far more about your products than any marketing copy ever could. The more other buyers can see customers using your merchandise, the stronger impression it’s going to make in their minds.

Hold contests to find the next marketing tagline or offer. This is a great way to get customers involved for two reasons: one, you give them the chance to tell you what they’d really like to see you offer in terms of products and pricing; and two, because you subtly alert them that a big sale or event is around the corner. Why not offer a coupon or gift certificate to the customer who can help you come up with the next great social marketing idea?

Get feedback and testimonials from buyers. Obviously, few things help you sell online like positive reviews and feedback. But even if all the news isn’t good, you still win. That’s because you don’t just find areas where you could improve your company and service, but you also show potential buyers that you’re willing to listen and that their concerns are important to you.

Give discounts for passing your name along. In the same way, giving premiums, gifts, or bonuses for referrals isn’t exactly a new concept. But by making these offers on social media sites, you’re making it a lot easier and more convenient for your customers to take advantage. Give them an incentive to tell other people about the great things you do, and you might persuade them to go out and do it.

Need an online marketing team that knows social networking sites inside and out? Try one of Calgary’s best by contacting eKzact today!

Recently, we wrote about community managers – dedicated professionals who update your social media profiles, post new content, and respond to inquiries. While this is still a new position in most organizations, and one with evolving responsibilities, it’s becoming clear that having one, even on a part-time basis, can be incredibly helpful.

So the question is: does your small business need a community manager to keep up social networking?

Truthfully, probably not… at lease not any more than you occasionally need a plumber, an accountant, or a dentist. That is to say, you can definitely get by without one in the short term, but is it really worth it to do all of that work for yourself?

In most of the cases we see, it’s not. For one thing, there are just too many sites, with too many new features being added all the time, to stay on top of everything. But what’s more, community managers are becoming increasingly important because of something a lot of small business owners don’t even really think about: their online reputation.

Besides just posting pictures and generating tweets, one of the most valuable things a community manager can do for you is take a look at what other people are saying back to you, and about your business. Because the Internet is becoming more interconnected – not to mention updated in real time – and it only takes one or two negative remarks to put a long-term dent in your company sales. For all of the opportunities that exist for finding new business online, it’s more than prudent to have someone who’s looking out for potential threats to your marketing, too.

So if your company is planning on profiting from social media anytime soon, and it should, make sure you plan on including community managers in the mix. They can make the whole process easier and more efficient… but more importantly, they can help protect your reputation online.

Get the most out of social media marketing by working with Canada’s premier web design and development company, eKzact. Call us today and setup a free consultation – it might turn out to be one of the best things you’ve ever done for your business.