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 How To GROW Using Facebook
 

Step 3. Begin to Mingle

Once you have identified yourself and your audience, start participating in the community (groups) that fit you and your business. Explore Options. Assess which Facebook applications would be best for growing your business. Use the Facebook marketplace to post your plant service or other services you might be selling (Seasonal/Holiday, Floral, Green Roofs, Green Walls, etc.).

Join groups, offer support and assistance, and present yourself as a leader and an expert in your field. Once you find the groups that fit your business and your profile, then invite the members to be friends. But this must be a slow process. Do not bombard the community in any way, be methodical. You wouldn’t run into a reception at a trade show and jump up onto the table, shouting out the services you offer. Same thing applies.

While you need to create a business page, you don't have to focus on promoting your business right away. You should start by inviting friends and socializing with different kinds of people. Don't try to introduce your business to a new friend immediately because the relationship is just budding. You must be able to establish trust and true friendship. Here's a very good example. A new friend is asking for your opinion on a certain subject. You should start a conversation that is related to the subject. Give your new friend your opinion on the matter but don't insist on pushing the link of your business unless it is directly requested.

Start a group (think of it as throwing a long dinner party) for your business and invite as many people as possible to visit your Facebook. Link your business website with more in depth information on your services to your Facebook to help give interested parties more information. Not sure about starting a group? See the 10 tips on starting a group below.

Step 4. Seek Opportunities to Offer Real Help and Expertise

When you invite members, or members invite you to be friends, ALWLAYS drop a little note, letting them know it is great to have them as a friend. But never ever try to present your business or sell anything early in your relationship. You must build relationships with your friends list. They must learn to look up to you, to view you as an expert and look forward to your postings, events and activities.

Step 5. Seek Opportunities to Generate Revenue On the Web (GROW)

Once you've made a lot of friends and you've already earned their trust and confidence, you can now introduce your business gradually. You must always be friendly to other Facebook users. Start by inviting your family members, relatives, friends, and colleagues. Your community will surely branch out in a very short time. Once the roots of the friendships are widespread, it’s now time to market your interiorscape business. It will be easier to convince your friends in patronizing your business because you've already earned their trust and confidence. You can talk them out into hiring your services because you're already aware of their needs. Making friends is very easy through Facebook.

Be certain to browse also check out the hundreds of additional applications available to Facebook users that can help promote a small business such as; the business card application, testimonials, and iSpace to customize your Facebook page to better meet your needs. Keep frequent updates and notes on your Facebook, and send bulletins and mass messages to friends to keep them up on the latest news from your business.

Visit your small business Facebook everyday to help business to GROW. Open up a discussion forum in which friends and clients can comment on your business and use those suggestions to facilitate any changes to the business you might need to make.

How to GROW by participating on the Facebook Groups

Well, Keep Reading for starters!

Ten Tips for Getting Business Value out of Groups on Facebook

    1. Just get going.

    2. Find a topic people care about.

    3. Be careful (i.e., be smart).  Don’t “spam” your Facebook Group.

    4. Rewards help.

    5. Create connection points.

    6. Create outreach programs.

    7. Give the community a heartbeat.

    8. Identify, appoint, and nurture ambassadors.

    9. Your name matters. What you call your group is important

    10. Watch what others are doing.

Are you already using Facebook for your interiorscape business? Let us know and tell us how it’s going.

Should you later desire to be the first in your market to master the social media high boards, get your hands on the detailed yet dummy proof CD/Manual on the subject: “The Interior Plantscaper’s Guide to GROW” (Generate Revenue On the Web). This turn key, ‘how to’ for the wise interiorscape business owner takes up where the article you’re reading leaves off and doesn’t stop until you’ve done a triple gainer at the Olympics. Employ a professional, industry-specific and results-driven social media digital marketing campaign, rich with inside tips, tricks and best practices typically reserved for well paid social media consultants. Write to GROW@gilhooleyconsulting.com for more information. Kit will be available the first of next month (July 1) and the first 30 companies to place an order will receive a FREE registration with a pay-only subscription to a key social media resource site typically accessed only by professional marketers.

Contact MJ at 800-347-9014   or click here to email her at mjg@golhooleyconsulting.com.