Increasing Profits By Learning How To Work Facebook

Facebook has the second largest number of hits on the internet, with Google being number one. With more than 600 million users it is a gigantic source of potential customers. It must be remembered however that Facebook is a social networking site and the majority of users are there to socialise and interact with each other , so knowing that users don't really want to be 'sold' goods and services in this environment , how do you use Facebook to make money?

Unless you are using Facebook's paid advertising features, using social networking to gain customers requires a different mindset than many other marketing methods. Think of Facebook like a giant party, if you simply walk in wearing a t-shirt advertising your product and then don't do anything you will probably not get many people coming up and interacting with you, especially when there are lots of other people in the room wearing t-shirts that look similar.

To use the above simile when you go into the party you have to keep your jacket on , interact with others and develop relationships. Have people buy you before they buy your product . 'In your face' (no pun intended) advertising will not work.
So what is the best way to do that?

How To Work Facebook Tip #1

Set up your own Facebook site , separate from your company , remember people are interested in who you are as a person, not some faceless company. Complete your profile with educational institutions you have been to, places you have worked etc . Begin by adding friends, as well as personal friends Facebook will also suggest friends based on the data you have provided it with. Try to include a message with your friendship requests and thank people for joining up. Remember it is all about relationships .

How To Work Facebook Tip #2
Post often, even if it is just a simple status update, it keeps your photo on peoples news feeds, but remember, make it real, simply posting quotes repeatedly gets a little annoying. Let people see into your life, particularly if the goods you are selling or the business opportunity you are offering is having a positive affect on it .

How To Work Facebook Tip #3
Join a group. Facebook has pages for people with similar interests known as groups. Just type your area of interest , usually the goods you are selling or the niche market you are going after, into the search bar along the top of your Facebook page and a list of potential groups will appear . Join the groups that interest you, they are also a great source of friends with similar interests.

How To Work Facebook Tip #4
Begin your own group/fan page. There is some debate over which is more useful, a group or a page (Facebook's name for fan page) and both have their positives and negatives. There is a lot written about how to do this and I will not go into the details here. Send out invites to friends to join your new group and encourage people in other groups you are a member of to join yours. With your own group you have the facility to send newsletters to the members and generally have more control of promoting what you are trying to market.

Remember if people see you as being trustworthy and reliable, and they have a positive experience by being your friend then they are more likely to become a customer. It could be something as simple as clicking on your affiliate link to buy a suggested product to taking up a business opportunity that you are involved with.

For more specific information about how to start a biz online visit Paul at his blog or his website http://biztrainonline.com