Nowadays, creating a Facebook page for your company is mandatory. This is one of the first things people will look into once they become interested in your activity. However, many marketers believe that simply updating their Facebook page will gain them followers and increase their sales numbers.
What’s more, the new algorithms practically force you into investing in paid ads to skyrocket your growth, which is not an option for many startups. Even if you can run social advertising campaigns, engaging your audience and converting them into long-term customers is still difficult.
So how can you take advantage of social media to create a loyal audience?
Facebook groups.
Since I’ve noticed that many companies still overlook the importance of launching a Facebook group, today we’re discussing 3 benefits any business can get from this valuable marketing tool.
- Authentic, personal engagement
The content published on business Facebook pages is usually showcasing the latest products or services or delivering information about the company itself. If you’re doing that, it’s a good sign that you’re on the right track.
However, this type of content usually doesn’t lead to any actual engagement with your audience. In 2020, people are looking for a place to speak their mind, a place where they feel listened to – and they love getting involved.
Let’s say you’re a fan of Apple and their range of products. How would you feel if you could chat with the Apple staff, giving suggestions or answering polls in a special group? Most people would feel – you guessed right – engaged. And that’s exactly what we’re aiming for.
Facebook groups break the barrier created by formal posts businesses usually upload on their page. This brings us to our second benefit…
- Real-time feedback
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the most honest feedback you can ever get is given by your customers. And I’m not just talking about people who casually check out your business once or twice; I’m talking about those who know your goals, products/services and follow your activity constantly.
Facebook groups are an amazing tool for updating your audience on everything brand related. Whether you share behind-the-scenes content, special offers or product sneak peeks, all of this content shape your identity.
The more your clients get to know you, the better feedback they can offer; and being part of a group gives them the sense that their opinion truly matters (which it should!). In a Facebook group, everyone feels more encouraged to speak up regarding their ideas or suggestions.
However, your input is also mandatory to create a loyal member base. How? By…
- Providing value
Sure, Facebook groups are a great way of updating your clients about your latest offers and product releases. However, if that’s the only thing you’re going to share, chances are your audience will be more disappointed than engaged.
Ideally, you should post as much valuable information as possible that’s related to your business. For example, if you own a wine company, you can share recipes that go with your wines, secret hacks on choosing a good-quality wine or even how to remove wine stains from a white shirt.
It may not seem like much, but this useful information sends a bigger message: that you really care about your customers more than you care about their money.
That’s the kind of engagement that increases your sales numbers in the end.
