Comments on: Is Facebook Really a Business Tool?

By: Carmelo

Carmelo — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:42:42 +0000

I like everybody’s points on social media, especially around the Facebook site. Personally, I know it’s about SEO (Search Engine Optimization). If you understand how Google works, you’d understand. Google works based on a few key points. How relevant is your site to the key words searched, how much you pay if you are paying for ranking, and how many links lead to your site. The last point is why many website owners try to branch out and get their name on as many free resources as possible. It’s about hitting every site where there may be customers and try to get them to your actual website where you can get them!

To be honest Steph, I have you bookmarked and just go directly to your site. But the reminder’s that I have to visit are based on your status in my Gmail chat and when you post stuff on Facebook that shows up on my wall. Only then I’m inclined to come and see what’s new. Does that make me a bad friend? Probably! Does this make me a customer that was attracted to your site via Facebook? Yes!

Future Internet versions will make all sites more social friendly. What am I talking about? The Internet is based on what you are looking for and what tools you use. Your web experience may be different than mine. As yourself, I am a Googler. I don’t bing, I don’t yahoo. Sites will have widgets with Friend-Connect (www.carmelowalsh.com has one) and I can logon to my blog using Facebook, which, updates Facebook notes. Eventually, all authentication technologies will be compatible with each other and as things become the same, they will be a need to be different to stand out. The success of facebook is that a lot of things are the same and people know where information is, which is why there is a decline on myspace… They keep it open to modification so that you have to look for information. Being different is good, but being too different is not.

By: Jake P

Jake P — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:12:56 +0000

Your point about how most smallbizvolk start by gingerly arm-twisting friends is spot-on, and your advice to that prospect was smart and honest. Heavily Fanned pages on Facebook are owned by people/companies/bands with an already large critical mass in the real world; they didn’t get popular because of FB.

I have a personal FB page, mostly friends and handful of clients, but I’m not going to bother with a corporate page until I’ve published my book later this year. For now, I focus on my blog, which *has* helped me get business.

That said, I am going to fan your AVC page because that’s just the kind of guy I am. Ya gotta support your peeps!

By: Caitie

Caitie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:44:32 +0000

I think Facebook for businesses can work, but only once the circle you mentioned is big enough that even people who don’t know you or your friends are coming across your site.

I’m working with a yarn store in Mesa right now, and they mentioned getting a Facebook and a Twitter. I think they wanted to because they know how big those sites are, and how many people you can potientally reach, but their audience really isn’t on Facebook or Twitter, and they wouldn’t be able to generate new customers through those sites.

I think if Facebook is used along with other forms of media to get the message out, it can’t hurt. Plus there is always the delete button if it turns out it doesn’t work.