What should I know before I set up a Facebook page for a small business?

[ADTC]

** QUOTE

It will not be as difficult for you in your business as you can always use a cute dog picture but beware that FB is a bit silly about ads in that you must have a picture. Text saved as a JPEG will be flagged. We own a financial service business and last year I wanted to promote an ad with our logo and remind people to make appointments. I even petitioned FB to no avail. There is really no picture that goes with "make your tax prep appointment today" unless it is an angry guy! LOL 

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Oooooh, that’s easy. Take a photo of a blank 1040 form with a broken pencil, an empty coffee cup, and a crumbled notebook page with handwritten numbers on it nearby. Or a calendar page showing April 15th. Or a photo of a tax form with one of those old kids’ toys with stand-up hair called a Troll doll. Or draw a stick figure walking across a tax form and leaving big, dark footprints on the page. Anything.

[ADTC]

I’ve been having connectivity issues the past week or so (and still not solved!), but I’m online for the moment. Thanks for all the input! Such great info, I need to spend some time on FB trying it all out.

I’d REALLY appreciate if anyone is willing to take a look at what I’ve done on the page so far and give some feedback.

1. Am I on the right track with these type of posts? I have a mix of health-related, general interest, fun stuff, etc.

These are some of the topics I’ve posted:
Odd dog behaviors, naps and learning, fun photo, caution on toxic mushrooms, horse article, traveling with dogs, study results on language comprehension in dogs, weight loss for dogs, OCD behaviors, funny puppy hiccuping video, safety of sharing water bowls, titers vs revaccinating, etc.

2. I’ve posted a bunch of things, and I have one post per day scheduled for the next couple of weeks. Is that about right? Posting too often?

I verified the page, but FB says it takes a few days to review it.

I have a grand total of three people who have liked my page thus far! :concern: I suspect that they’re all COTHers, so, THANK YOU!

[Laurierace]

I will take a look if you tell me how

[ADTC]

Thanks Laurierace! Here’s the link (I hope!): https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaDogTrainingCompany/

If not, Alexandria Dog Training Company on facebook.

Just edited my signature so the links to my website and Facebook page should both work now.

[pony4me]

Yes, you are on the right track. It just takes time. I have a soft spot in my heart for small business people who wear many hats.

To get more people to like your Facebook page, you’re going to have to ask your own friends and family to “like” it. When I started the Facebook page for my business (see signature below) I asked a lot of my barn friends for help. After that, some people were nice enough to share it, and asked their friends to like the page. You will feel like you’re being a pest, but people are pretty understanding. I always try to reciprocate when friends ask me to like their pages.

You can pay Facebook to boost your page. Minimum cost is $5. Try to target the audience to people who are close enough to become customers.

If your business has good foot traffic, a sign in the window, or by the checkout saying “Please Like Our New Facebook Page!” might be helpful.

A local restaurant tried a Facebook post offering a discount to anyone who mentioned the post and liked the page.

Good luck!

[VelvetsAB]

It can be tough to find a happy medium between posting too much, and not posting enough. Of course, each individual fan will be different…

Went and checked your page. While the links have a lot of useful and helpful information, it seems less personal. You are wanting to promote YOUR business.

If you go look at “Pawsitive Canine Connection” on FB, they have a mix of stuff they are working on with clients dogs, photos of their own dogs doing things, and the same informative posts that you have been posting. They also offer group walks, group play times, nutrition classes, etc.

“McCann Professional Dog Trainers” also have a similar mix. I find them a little heavier on the sharing of fun/funny videos of dogs. Out of the two, I would be more likely to unfollow them as well, because of how much they post.

I have found that Pinterest has been helpful with information on when/how to post.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/515380751089499151/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/515380751089788700/

[Laurierace]

I love the cover photo! My first impression is it was too impersonal. I scrolled down and saw nothing but regurgitated posts from other sources. Those are well and good but should not be the majority of your posts in my opinion because it tells me nothing about you and what you can do for me as a dog owner. I want success stories and lots and lots of personal photos. Everbody loves dogs and cute dog pics. Ask clients for reviews and likes, they are vital. In the beginning I gave a $25 credit for liking my page, I don’t offer that anymore but it definitely helped. Have a star pupil of the week os something and write a little bio. People love that and will share it with their friends etc.

Mine is far from perfect especially now that I am not really trying to get more business but you can look at it and get an idea what I mean about the client pics to info posts ratio of you like.

[fordtraktor]

At the very least it is really good to “claim” your page. even if you don’t post often, make sure you check it. I work with small businesses and quite a few of them are not facebook-savvy – they have a “FB page” with check-ins, posts and reviews and everything they don’t even know about. as a small business owner you need to take control of that.

I would definitely solicit reviews. Good reviews can really help you because a lot of people look at FB when checking things out. your favorite customers? Ask them to review your page. Not all on the same day, so it doesn’t look “planned” or like you just hired someone to enhance your web presence. I disregard a place that has 10 reviews all on the same day, and no other ones. space it out!

[Angela_Freda]

Put your location on your page such that when people hover over your name it shows up.
I am so sick of getting ads from businesses on my Facebook page, and when I hover over the name or even go TO their page… can not find WHERE they are located.

Seems pretty common senses to me, if you want customers, it helps to tell them where you are.
But then common sense isn’t, is it?

[Bicoastal]

As a local crazy dog lady who participates in various dog sports, I took a look. In addition to the feedback you’ve already received, you need to differentiate your business from the other big training business in that town.

What’s your methodology/philosophy?
Credentials? Experience?
Are you insured? Licensed with any training entity?
Testimonials?
Is it purely private instruction?

[173north]

I’d put a phone number very visibly in your About, there’s plenty of people who still prefer the phone.

I agree with those saying you need more posts about you and your business. For the page I run, we try to do an even mix of general and fun horse posts, which get the clicks and likes, and business-specific posts, which are what we really want people to see.

Also, if you’re allowing Messages, there are settings that allow you to have scripted replies either all the time or during certain hours. People can and will message you at 1 am and a professional little “Thanks for getting in touch! We’re currently closed but will reply during normal business hours, 9 am to 5 am EST” or similar is a nice touch.

[bdj]

What Laurie and Bicoastal said. I looked at both your Facebook and Web pages and there just isn’t enough information about YOU (I’m guessing you’re a one-person business?) and what you offer potential customers. Do you have a storefront or do you work from your home or the client’s home? What about your background and qualifications? What kind of dog do you have? Here’s a link to a dog training business that a friend of mine is part of (it’s a multi-trainer place): https://www.facebook.com/Fieldwood-Dog-Training-Center-196846840486136/
A number of the posts there feature my friend’s dogs - but the neat thing is that they’re doing something interesting (holding signs, etc.) that help to advertise the services the business offers. The re-postings and cute photos are, well, cute, but don’t really give me any inkling of what you have to offer as a trainer, and are more like something I’d expect to see on a personal page. You don’t have to plaster your face all over the Facebook page, but you should be posting your own relevant content, not just things other folks have created.