How to use Facebook for business

As a small business owner, you’re likely to already know that it’s important to use social media, and you’re also likely to have your own personal Facebook account.

But what about using Facebook for business?

In this article, we’ll outline the key information you need to know about Facebook, and how this social media platform can benefit your business.

Read on to learn about:

• Facebook for small business 101
• How to use Facebook for business
• Facebook for business tips
• Which Facebook products for business should you use?
• Facebook messenger for business
• Does Facebook charge for business accounts?

You can also skip to the section that appeals to you most. If you’re ready to compare quotes straightaway, you can complete the form at the top of the page.

Facebook for small business 101

Before we go any further, we’ll do a quick recap.

Facebook is a social media platform that offers a network for users to create personal profiles (as well as other types of pages), connect with friends, like pages and interact with shared content.

With such impressive figures, being on Facebook allows your small business to dip into a huge pool of potential customers. And how do you do that? By creating a Facebook page for your business, you’re reaching out to your customers in a familiar way – on one of the most influential social media platforms in the world. Sounds good, right?

Now we’ll dive into the details of creating a page, using products, and communicating with customers.

How to use Facebook for business

In this section we offer practical advice on setting up Facebook for business. We’ll guide you through the process step-by-step so you can create your own page easily and quickly.

To create a business page, you must also have a personal profile.

1. Create a page – select the type based on what your business does
2. Fill in the additional details – input address, contact information and category
3. Click ‘get started’ – read the terms
4. Choose images – pick a profile and a cover photo
5. Discover your page – be guided around your new page
6. Complete the short description – add a few sentences about your business
7. Create a username – type an address for your page; like a URL
8. Update the ‘about’ section – include essential information for customers

By following these steps, you will create a Facebook page for your business.

Next, it’s time to think about sharing content. By selecting the post option, you’ll be prompted to write your own message or share a link, amongst other functions. If you’re not sure what to post, have a look at some other business’ pages for inspiration, or think about what your customers would like to know.

You can share your page link – remember the username you created at number 7 in the list above. Feel free to post it on your personal profile, share on other social networks, and add the Facebook details to your company website.

Facebook for business: tips

There’s a lot of information out there about creating a business page for Facebook, and it’s easy to get lost in the sea of likes, posts and shares. So what essential information do you need to know?

Below, we’ve outlined four top tips to help you navigate this social media network.

Tip #1: Use power wisely

When you create a page, you’ll become the admin. This means you have complete access to, and control over, page content. You can assign page roles (there are six types of roles) to your other team members (as long as you all have personal profiles), including additional admins.

Admins have the same page rights as you, the page creator, so it’s worth paying close attention to who you choose.

Tip #2: Play by the rules

If you don’t already have a personal profile, consider setting one up to get to grips with how the platform works. Note that using a personal profile to promote a business is against Facebook’s rules and your page could be closed down, as well as be subject to other penalties.

Tip #3: Make the most of it

Nowadays, it’s not enough to just be on social media – you have to actually use it. While posting multiple times every day may not be possible – or even preferable – you need to have an active page. At a minimum, you can use Facebook to post useful information, share relevant content and reach out to your customers.

Eventually, you may want to explore some of the other tools, such as ad campaigns, live stream video or even virtual reality.

Tip #4: Seek inspiration

Have a look at how other business’ use their Facebook pages. Take note of any on-brand images, insightful posts or exemplary customer service.

For more ideas, have a look at some real-life examples of small businesses doing social media right.

Which Facebook products for business should you use?

There are a number of Facebook products for business specifically. When deciding which product(s) to use, you should consider what your business goal is and how you want to achieve that.

Using Facebook for business should be a part of your wider social media strategy and also a more focused approach to what you particularly want to achieve with it for your business.

Sign up to the newsletter

Receive product and business marketing updates once a week to your email inbox to help you stay up-to-date with the latest developments for Facebook for business.

Add a button

Allow people to engage with your business; a call-to-action. The options are: book, contact, learn, connect, shop, donate or download. With such a range, you can be sure to find the button that’s right for your business.

Add a shop

Whether you want to start a retail business online-only, or you have a bricks-and-mortar shop that you want to also offer e-commerce options, giving customers the ability to buy products through your Facebook page is a great way to diversify your business offering.

Take a course

Facebook Blueprint are free online courses that can help you learn more about the different ways of using Facebook for business. Take your pick from a variety of course topics. The advanced certification courses and invite-only in-person training may be options to think about in the future too.

Facebook messenger for business

In 2017, Facebook announced updates to its messenger service, allowing greater functionality for businesses to use this communication platform. Now no longer confined to personal profiles, messenger has opened up a whole new way for businesses to communicate with customers.

Allowing for direct, real-time messaging between you and your customers, Facebook messenger for business means you can give your customers a more personalised experience, plus save time and money that would otherwise be used in traditional customer service options.

This shows how your business can utilise this Facebook function to boost your business offering and authentically interact with your community.

It’s not only your customer service that can benefit – here are some of the other ways messenger can help your business:

• Offers the opportunity to learn more about individual customers
• Makes available another advertising option
• Uses automated responses
• Expands your reach

So if you’re looking to market a product or promote your business to a certain demographic, it makes sense to be on the platforms your target audience uses most frequently.

For example, if your target audience is teenagers, then use messenger to communicate with your customers in their preferred form.

It’s super easy to switch on the Messenger function on your page. All you have to do is follow these four steps:

1. Choose a username
2. Enable messaging in settings
3. Add or edit any greetings or instant replies
4. Save any changes you make

You can also turn off messenger in this menu too.

If you decide to use messenger, be aware that quicker response times are generally expected, as they are with other instant messaging platforms too. This is where setting up automated responses in the messenger settings, or simply highlighting the times your team will be online in the ‘about’ section, are useful.

Does Facebook charge for business accounts?

Now, the question that you really want to know the answer to: what is this going to cost?

As a small business owner, price is likely to be at the forefront of your mind when it comes to making any business decision. Well, you’ll be happy to find out that setting up Facebook for business is free.

If you want to advertise on Facebook, then campaigns will incur a charge. But if you’re looking to simply promote your business or grow a community, then there are no fees to worry about.

Summary

By reading this article, you’ve learned more about how to use Facebook for business, including the practical steps you need to take to set up a page. You’ve also explored different products that you can use on Facebook for business, as well as a detailed look at how your business can use messenger. Plus, you’ve learned that you can set up a Facebook page at no cost to your business.

Key points:

• You must have a personal profile to create a business page
• Facebook offers specific products for business
• Buttons allow people to connect with your business
• Messenger offers an alternative form of customer service
• Page admins have complete access so choose carefully
• Setting up Facebook for business is quick, easy and free

Compare social media management options

The information on this page should help you to understand what your business might need in terms of social media. For more information though, you should speak to an expert today – Startups can help with this.

Comparing UK quotes with Startups is the best way to find the service and equipment most suited to your business. To start this comparison now, simply click an option below to complete the form at the top of the page. This process is free, quick and easy, and it could save your business both time and money.

Remember you can sell on Facebook’s Marketplace. To find out how to do this successfully, visit our guide.