It’s a marketer and advertiser’s dream – a captive, easily reachable audience meeting in a central location.  Not only that, but FB’s search options enable you to zoom in on extremely specific target audiences, or FB groups.  In addition, what makes social media – and FB in particular – so unique, is the “place” - or psychological mindset of your audience – where you meet them at.  “FB is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family, and coworkers…”, states the official FB Company Factsheet.  Visiting FB is like relaxing on the couch and watching a TV sitcom after a day of grind at the office.  Your mindset is different.  You are ready to meet people.  You’re relaxed and more accepting of outside influences and suggestions.
 
From a business perspective FB presents a definite paradigm shift with regards to marketing and brand management.  FB is a platform that facilitates the sharing of information through social interaction, in a trusted environment.  It is certainly not an advertising and marketing platform.  It is also not a tool for listening to and tracking consumers of your brand.  It goes beyond that, it is about engaging your audience and becoming one voice in a thousand.  It’s about putting the “social” in front of “marketing”.
Apart from some remarkable responsive corporations like Coca-Cola and BMW, the corporate world is too slowly waking up to FB’s possibilities.  Everyone wants a part of it, and no-one wants the competition to have the first say in the global discussion forum that is FB.
 
But fools are rushing in.  Many companies, large and small, are setting up their business presence on FB, instead of tasking expert communicators with the job.  The wrong message could cost you, and public opinion (read FB-opinion) is a fickle thing.  Let the experts take care of your online corporate socializing.  You’ll thank them.
 
Contact SCC for a free consultation.

By Marco Bouwer