A few months back, Facebook came up with its latest innovative application: Facebook Places. Currently it is only available in the US but as soon as it gets polished, it will likely reach the other parts of the world.
Facebook Places offers another powerful way to market your business, a physical business at that, not an internet or web based business. Using your creativity, it can be a platform to gain new customers to your business and increase loyalty among your existing customers.
This free application allows your customers to share their experience in your physical store location. They do that by “checking in” to your Place. Once they check in, they can share comments, tips, and stories that will show up in their friends’ News Feeds giving you the positive publicity you need which is by word-of-mouth. You don’t have to keep advertising your business just so others will hear about it.
You log in to Facebook and create your Facebook Place just like creating your page or personal profile. You can then check in your Place.
The next step is to claim your Place. Search for the Place you have created and then claim it. The application will ask you to confirm if it is your business. You check the box that certifies you are an official representative of that Place.
Facebook will then confirm if this is true by calling you on the number you have provided. You then click the button “Call me now”. During the call, Facebook will provide you the 4-digit verification PIN. You then key in this number to verify your business Place.
You can merge your Facebook Place with your Facebook Page. This is recommended if you only have one physical store and you just want one Facebook Page to represent your business. When you merge your Place and Page, your Page will be enhanced dramatically as it will now contain Place information like check-ins and maps.
Here are three ways you can use Facebook Places to gain more customers:
1) Have your customers promote your business by sharing their experiences. Entice them with discounts and specials when they give reviews and post photos about your business. Reward the sharing of your business information to their friends and network. Your hard core loyal customers will surely actively participate in this kind of promotional activity.
2) You can give special prizes or offers to those that check in your Facebook Place. By showing that they have checked in, they are entitled to receive the special offer or discount.
3) For your loyal customers, have them compete for special awards, like highest number of check-ins. You just have to make sure the prize you have set is irresistible and would encourage them to keep coming back to your store.
Facebook Places is indeed a powerful tool to promote your business, market your brand effectively as well as expanding your customer base. The world can literally be your market using the tools Facebook has provided for businesses.
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