Facebook launched a new section called "Questions" recently. I am not sure exactly when they launched it but today it showed up in my feed.
As a Social Media Professional, the questions I get most is almost always about Facebook and their business. More specifically, "How do I Market My Business on Facebook?" Well, Facebook Questions could be your answer to effectively marketing yourself as an expert in different topics that could drive traffic to your website and business to you and your company.
If you are familiar with LinkedIn question section, then you are already one step ahead. Facebook Questions work pretty much the same way.
While this is limited - Facebook says that this is intitally rolling out to 3-5 million users, they have plans for a broader roll out down the line.
Not only is this new service a great way to brand yourself and reach a large audience, it is also a great way to reach a relevant audience. (The most important aspect of Social Media Marketing) These questions and answers can be tagged with category keywords, too, which will eventually be used to fill up an aggregate "questions" tab on relevant Community Pages on Facebook, meaning more relevant people seeing your answers.
Why is this important?
- There are officially over 500 million users on facebook. That is a lot of potential traffic.
- Facebook is the number 1 "Social Network" referring source of traffic ALL sites on the web! According to ReadWriteWeb, Facebook sends nearly 7 out of 10 visits to websites that come from a Social Network. (Twitter brings 25% and LinkedIN 4%.)
- Eventually when this becomes a mature product questions and answers will be found on google and other search engines increasing visibility and traffic if used correctly.
Cautions
Everything in Questions is PUBLIC and will be shared with everyone! This refers to both questions and answers. So if you are a Facebook privacy hater this is probably not for you.
Techcrunch says, "Facebook obviously isn't going to ask your question to everyone else on Facebook; instead, its system is going to try to analyze a user's interests to determine who would be best able to answer your question. The service will also show the question to some of your friends, so ideally you'll receive answers from a healthy mix of friends and experts."
Who can benefit and use this?
- Anyone with a product or service to sell!
If someone asks a question about the best type of camera to buy, online retailers can answer and give a link to buy.
If someone asks the best place in NY to get a massage, spa owners/marketers could offer a discount and link.
The list goes on and on!
How to Get Started
If you are not on the "chosen" list of 3-5 million users request access here.
To test other facebook apps go here.
Start answering question and asking questions and start building your name!
For all you in the travel industry you can get your start now! I have asked a question which may pertain to you.
After we spend time in Costa Rica, where should our next destination be?
SEE QUESTION HERE!!
Like I say with everything...Get in Early! By doing this you will be positioning yourself as an expert before it gets too crowded.
READ MORE:
Mashable
CNET
Facebook Blog