What Is Facebook?

Facebook is a social media platform used for posting mainly interesting content. First of all the interesting content can be created by anyone because content is king. Posting something like an engagement announcement is interesting as well as sharing a post about bad lip reading of NFL players. Due to it's nature Facebook's users often use it to escape a boring moment hoping to find something interesting from friends. While it's large active monthly user base of 150-200 million people are searching for interesting content every day why not put your best foot forward in this attention grabbing market? As a result you'll find interactions with customers and prospects to be enjoyable and constructive. Facebook is the place to hangout, socialize and share interesting things with each other.

Why should My Business Be On Facebook?

Here are my top 10 reasons for why you should be on Facebook.

1. Awareness - You want people to know you exist right? Why not share your projects, news, relevant content, etc. As a contractor there are plenty of interesting things to share.
2. Community - You can create a community around your company or even brand. A strong community engages on your content and shares it. That is part of the domino effect as you consistently deliver to your community. They may even socialize within your page further showing community strength. A local contractor known by the locals is great for business.
3. Cheap Advertising - Currently Facebook advertising is cheap. How cheap you ask? What if I told you spending about $15 would show your post and it's content to over 1,000 different individual people? Well that is very true for now. In coming years it would not be unexpected to see prices increase just look at google ad words price changes. A local contractor could target people within there area of service and no where else.
4. Targeting Advertising - When you create content you can advertise it to specific people or groups of people. You can filter your audience through things like age, gender, household income, renters or homeowners, specific interests, and more. You can even pick specific regions from country, to state, and down to cities. As a contractor this gives you more bang for your buck.
5. Data - Now this is a huge benefit. You get to see how your ads perform on Facebook with very detailed information so you can figure out your audience better than anyone. This data is very valuable and if taken seriously your next refined ad will pack even more of a punch. How many people look at your billboard, newspaper ad, radio ad, etc with focused attention? Do you even know and for how long? You can with Facebook.
6. Content Creation - Creating content for your audience on Facebook isn't just proper marketing but culture strengthening. It's important to show potential customers your business and it's great to meet the people running the show. Content like this makes everyone feel valued and builds trust with the brand. Content creation has many benefits for a small business and can be used beyond Facebook.
7. It's Where The Attention Is - So many people are on Facebook scrolling through content. The amount of users is growing and Facebook is constantly improving drawing more people and businesses to the platform. Why wouldn't you want to be in the crowd wearing your company branded shirt, pants, hat, pointer finger, shoes, etc. Get some of that attention it is focused and cheap (for now)!
8. Think Long Term - Establishing a social media presence starting with Facebook will pay off long term as well as short term. As of Feb. 8th 2018 35% of Facebook's users are within the age range of 35-54 years old. That is a large chunk! Furthermore 24% of it's users are in the age range of 25-34. That is a lot of new and future home owners that are growing up with and using social media actively. The time is now.
9. Point of Contact - Not only can people engage with and learn about your company they can contact you. You can have automated messages that respond instantly to potential clients. You can take over and continue the conversation and have an organic conversation all through messenger. Messenger is fast and easy and a large majority of Facebook users have it. People can ask your company questions that require a human response as well. This is done directly on your Facebook page and is another way for potential customers to contact you and get more information.
10. Cutting Edge - This social media platform is cutting edge because you can advertise directly to your specific demographic for example homeowners making over 250k with interests in home remodeling. You get everything listed above and things are constantly changing giving opportunity to be ahead of the competition. All it takes is daily attention and consistency in content.

Effectively Using Facebook

As a contractor it's important to spend your time wisely and effectively maximize your efforts on Facebook. I want to make this clear right away that social media presence snow balls with consistent interesting posts. So when you begin do not expect instant results. Instant results will not happen unless you go viral. When creating a post it can be a photo, video, article, or simply just a few words. Make sure to identify your audience so you can tailor your verbiage and content to them so it can resonate with the reader.

Doing something like that will increase your chances of getting a like or reaction on your post. Having a lot of engagement gives a busy restaurant effect. People like to jump on the bandwagon and give you a like/reaction or even comment/share if your content has a lot of engagement already by the time it reaches them. Keep the content real. No one cares for content that doesn't make them feel happy, laugh, intrigued, or angry. Yes angry. Controversial content will draw supporters and non supporters of something but ultimately it is happening on your content and that is getting attention.