Millions and millions of people go online everyday just to check what is new on their account. Even my dog has his own FB account. And because of its immense membership (who, by the way, consistently checks their accounts at the very least once a day, some multiple times), Facebook has ceased to be your garden variety social networking site and it has become one of the most powerful online network marketing platforms. In just a few years, Facebook was, and still is, utilized by small and medium-sized businesses in their product and service introduction and launches.
But lately, you may have noticed that we have been getting a lot of these "Like us on Facebook" messages being announced by huge companies and multinationals. The reason for this is because businesses have discovered that Facebook can also be effectively brought into play in B2B marketing. But, of course, this won't be complete without a challenge, shifting the accepted people-talking-to-people format to a return-of-investment advertising and selling scenario. People generally access their Facebook accounts to relax and interact with friends and relatives and meet other people. It is a place where women can let their hair down and prop up their legs on the other available stool, a site where guys can exchange photos and videos of their latest conquests and mountain climbing tips or their favorite basketball scenes. And to delve in and alter this soothing ambiance is what is being experimented on by most established companies out there with great success.
Facebook for B2C is a resounding yes. But here are the reasons why some companies are getting what they need when using Facebook on their B2B efforts, tips which other firms can apply to realize the same level of accomplishment.
- Most successful B2B companies have utilized Facebook as a platform in reaching out to their end users, encouraging them on two-way conversations. Other than sending out news and bits of information on their products, these companies exert extra by placing key people from their roster whose job is to spend time looking into and understanding their most common challenges in connection with their products. If you want to make headway, you can use certain keywords and find out the current concerns of specific segment of the market in other social networks such as Twitter and the like before you start you begin your Facebook B2B endeavor. Once you have set up an account, you can begin establishing a fan base and persuading them to provide feedback and inputs on how you can better bring your services to them. You can use their response in creating a better, more acceptable line of products or services.
- With Facebook, you can create an online community and promote the sharing of positive experiences with other fellow members of the group. One of the finest examples of a company who has had quite a success on this field is Oracle. The company was able to put up a web page which provides helpful and expert information which fans can easily access. Each of the members of the online community can actually share their comments on the news and data that are shared on the Oracle community web page. Keep in mind that the best backers and promoters of your products or services are those already engaged in their use so these are the people that you have to target to become members of your online Facebook community.
- Most of the time, B2B requires more than plain retail transactions. The relationship should not end when the customer has paid and left with his or her product. Facebook keeps the communication intact and the knowledge that your company still exists will eternally within their subconscious. This is very important with companies that sell items with sales cycles that are far apart.
