It’s no secret that being present on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram is crucial to running a successful business. That’s where your customers are. On average more than 2.1 billion people use Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Messenger every day.
However, just having a business page on Facebook or Instagram won’t do anything for your business, if it’s inactive. Your page should offer content to your customers that is valuable and useful. Value is key here.
Your business’s social media assets must provide customers with not only something they want but also what they need. If you find out what that is, the customers will follow.
In this post, we’ve put together information on how to generate more traffic and increase sales with Facebook and Instagram.
Step 1. Set Up a Business Website
There is a big misconception that business websites aren’t necessary anymore since all that information can be posted on your business’s Facebook page. Indeed, a business website isn’t as crucial as it would have been fifteen years ago, but you still need one. 89% of Americans research a product or service online before making a purchase. A business website helps those customers find you.
A business website, built with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind will help your business generate higher rankings in Google, and a better web presence in general. Also, you control the content and information of your website. It will never be affected by a sudden shift in a social media platform’s user agreement or other arbitrary rules.
Building a business website is more complicated than most people realize. Don’t believe the commercials telling you a drag-n-drop, template-based service is all you need. Content still needs to be well written, and you’ll need an eye for design to make it look good. All this is before working on the SEO.
Even if you are capable of doing all of this, building a well-designed and professional looking website that provides value to the customer will take some serious time. It isn’t something that you can do in a couple of hours after closing for the day.
Think of SEO as not what your business site says, but how it says it. Google and other search engines look for sites that have relevant information. Search engines use algorithms to look for words, phrases, and other metrics like noticing if a site is mobile friendly.
SEO takes skill and isn’t something you can master from reading one blog. Still, without proper SEO, you might as well advertise in the Yellow Pages.
Smart business owners know when to save money by going the DIY route, and they also know when hiring a professional is the best way to go. An expert is necessary to build a business website.
Talking to us at eHopper is a great way to get started. We can build an affordable, professional business website with incredible SEO. Contact us at support@ehopper.com to get started.
2. Set Up Facebook Business Page
Imagine being able to interact with customers 24/7 without having to spend any money. That’s what a Facebook Business Page can do for your company. It allows you to post news and information to the customer on a platform that many of them are already on for a significant amount of time each day.
Setting up a Facebook Business page is simple. Just follow the prompts. All you need to do is create a short blurb that tells people what your business is about and add a beautiful photo for your profile and cover pic. Something like a company logo or image of your storefront will work fine. You can also add other things like a call to action button or a link to your website.
The difference between a Facebook Business Page and a website lies in how customers view them. Both will have general info, like a summary of the business, contact info, hours of operation, etc. A business website is mostly static with in-depth product and company info where a Facebook Business page is more about dynamic communication.
Let’s say your business gets new stock in. You can instantly tell your customers about it with a post, including pictures. A Facebook Business page is also a better platform for announcements or sharing a story of an employee going that extra mile.
Step 3 Set Up an Instagram Business Page
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Instagram says more than any site on the web. Businesses and individuals upload images, which ostensibly tell a story of their lives. Some do this well, while others post a random collection of bad selfies and food. A business can get much more out of an Instagram account, including a digital storefront and an unparalleled showcase for merchandise.
Like a Facebook business page, an Instagram business page is easy to set up. Keep in mind that Instagram is a visual medium. Its focus is pictures and videos with an occasional one- or two-line bit of text as description, so invest in a good camera. Also, try and keep the photos you post in a theme related to your business.
Keep in mind that Instagram is a visual medium.
Step 4. Add a Shop to a Facebook Page
Adding a shop to your Facebook business page is a little more involved, but also relatively simple. This is an excellent option for any business. It gives customers a way to buy immediately, after interacting with you.
A company can handle orders manually, or we at eHopper can handle it for you. We market your product and manage your sales, including customer service. Using our services ensures that the products and services you offer on your page remain up to date and relevant to your customers.
Step 5. Add a Shop to Instagram
Connect your product catalog to Instagram to provide a channel that can guide a customer’s journey of purchasing a product or service from start to finish. Your customer researches it, sees it, and buys it instantly via an Instagram shop. This convenient one-stop, online option for your customers can be linked to your website and Facebook business page.
Setting up an Instagram, online store is an easy process with step-by-step instructions. One requirement is that your Instagram shop has to be connected to your Facebook shop. Being that Facebook owns Instagram, it’s expected.
Step 6. Connect your website with Facebook Shop
After you successfully setup Facebook shop, you can easily connect your website with Facebook shop and synchronize your products dynamically.
The eHopper’s OmniChannel plan provides an ability to connect your POS products with a website and Facebook shop. Contact us for a free demo.
Step 7. Market Your Business
A. Post Daily
Ideally, a business should make a few posts each day or more. More posts mean a higher likelihood of customers finding some of your content organically. Don’t overdo it, though. Facebook will start hiding your posts if they feel you are getting too spammy.
Why post every day? There are 1.5 billion Facebook users and 1 billion Instagram users worldwide. Posting on these platforms is an excellent way to grow your following of customers.
Your posts can’t be garbage either. A post needs to have information the customer will find valuable or entertaining, while at the same time being relevant to the business. YouTube videos, images, posts, or even memes that are both funny and relevant to your business or industry are all great options.
Part of your daily post strategy should include giveaways. It could be something as simple as, “Share this post to be entered into a drawing for a free product.”
Giveaways can also be used to get people to sign up for newsletters and text alerts. Another smart way to use giveaways is to promote new products or clear out old stock. Just don’t cross the line from giving a customer something they would want to junk they don’t.
B. Use Facebook Ads
Facebook ads use algorithms to target existing and potential customers. One great thing about them is that they can find potential customers that you would never have found otherwise and send them to your business page.
Facebook ads are DIY, or you can enlist the services of eHopper to help you get them out there. You get to choose the budget, the format (photo, video, message, etc.) and decide when and where your ads run.
C. Promote your Website and Social Media in Your Physical Stores
Every business should strive to get their customers interacting with both their online and brick & mortar locations. Doing so will help keep you in your customer’s minds, and give them a 24/7 option when it comes to your goods and services. The more ways they have to buy things, the better and promoting your website and online channels in your store can make this happen.
Posters
A simple flier at the cash register that advertises your website and says, “Like and follow us on…” is all you need to say.
Menus
Restaurants should always include their social media pages and websites on every menu, especially the ones given out for to-go orders.
Offer Discounts
Give customers an incentive to visit your site, sign up for a newsletter, and like your Facebook & Instagram business page.
It could be a ticker, an in-store wall monitor, or an outdoor billboard. No matter what it is, include a little blurb asking your customers to find and like your Facebook page.
Conclusion
Getting your business on Facebook and Instagram can be a great way to boost sales. These platforms allow companies to reach customers in ways like never before. Doing this is also something easier said than done. It takes skill, effort, and, most importantly, time. Just because business owners are highly skilled experts in their profession doesn’t mean they have a firm grasp of e-commerce and social media marketing.
They likely don’t have the time to learn how to do it. This is where eHopper can help use social media channels to take your business to a new level. We can handle everything that comes with a business’s social media, sales, and marketing.
Contact us for a free demo. Email support@ehopper.com