OK, I didn’t actually trademark “Status Update Anxiety.” It turned out to not even be an original thought.
But the point is a lot of local small business owners have status update anxiety. And many don’t have, or don’t use, their facebook fan pages for that reason. That’s a shame because Facebook fan pages will probably give you the biggest bang for your internet marketing buck.
Figuring out what to type into that little status update box can be intimidating. So here’s a quick guide to get you updating your fan page like a pro.
Why Do Your Customers Care About Your Business?
You might be thinking “they don’t.” That’s not true. They come to your business for a reason, even if it is just that you’re right around the corner. They cared enough to follow your fan page.
• A coffee shop’s fans might care about your coffee shop because its close to their university, it has good coffee, and it has live music on Thursday nights.
• A massage therapist’s fans might care because you specialize in the particular type of massage they prefer and have reasonable rates.
• A gas station’s fans might care because the gas station is close to home, on the way to work, usually doesn’t have a line at checkout, and has good slurpees.
So here are some example status updates for each of the above businesses.
The coffee shop:
• Big win on the gridiron today. Go wildcats!
• Trying to decide between Bolivian or Columbian. Anyone have an opinion?
• Just added another band to Thursday’s lineup.
• Its Monday – Coffee!
• Celebrate finals week with half price coffee for the next hour!
The massage therapist:
• Finished my reiki massage course. Give me a call to give it a try!
• I love giving Swedish massages!
• New study shows the positive effects of massage. Click Here to see it.
• Today and Tomorrow: 20% off all holiday gift certificates!
• Just complimented on my reasonable rates again!
The gas station:
• Your favorite slurpee is calling you… (hey! I’m right around the corner)
• Getting off work? Need to pick up a few things on the way home? We put the convenience back in convenience store. And we’re close to home!
• IBC root beer just 79 cents this week. Soda tastes better if you drink it out of a bottle, doesn’t it?
• Doing inventory. Any suggestions for new types of snacks to order?
• Its 4 am and I’m tired of waiting on drunk people!
Status Updates Remind or Sell and Reinforce Your Fans’ Reasons for Caring
Your status updates remind your fans that you’re there or try to get customers into your store (or contact you) to make a sale.
Some popular ways to get folks into your store are to offer coupons, discounts, and special offers that are only found on Facebook. Of course, just reminding your fans that you’re there will get people into your store.
What Do You Have In Common? You All Live in the Same City
If you’re a local business, don’t be afraid to remind your customers that you’re local. Comment on the weather, sports teams, news, and anything else that happens in your city. It’s a great way to connect with your customers on a non-business level. And it reminds them you’re there.
How Often Should I Update My Status?
I recommend that small businesses update their status at least twice a week. With practice, you should have no problem updating more than that.
How much is too much? Everyone has friends on Facebook who post multiple times a day and you don’t mind because you’re interested in what they have to say. Then there are other friends who post once a day and you’re irritated by it.
It all depends on what they’re saying and whether that resonates with you personally.
That’s Enough to Get You Started with Facebook Marketing
Facebook Marketing is one of the easiest, low cost, high impact forms of marketing for a local business. It only takes a few minutes to get started. If you follow the advice in this post, you’ll be on your way!