How to Blog Effectively for Business (GF101)

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Social Media in Plain English

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A simple story that illustrates the forces shaping social media. This video comes in an unbranded “presentation quality” version that can be licensed for use in the workplace. http://www.commoncraft.com/store-item…

• Number of users on Facebook in Egypt: 2 820 560

• Number of male users on Facebook in Egypt: 1 666 820

• Number of female users on Facebook in Egypt: 1 062 320

• Penetration in Egypt: 3.46 %

• Online penetration in Egypt: 22.44 %

User Growth – Facebook Egypt

User Age Distribution – Facebook Egypt

Male/Female User Ratio – Facebook Egypt

Male/Female User Growth – Facebook Egypt

Numbers are estimates based on estimations that the Facebook platform returns us on the certain days.

The Facebook Platform is no longer for young kids, college students, or young adults just keeping in touch with their best friends; it’s turning into one of the most powerful platforms for business since Google launched AdWords in 2001.

Where else in reality — or on the Web — can you find some of the most connected and social people on the planet all ready and willing to engage with you and your business?

Better still, where can you find an ad application that can not only target by keyword (like Google can do) but also target by age, sex, location, and personal attributes such as favorite types of music, movies, or food?

• Get More Attention from Search Engines

One of the best things about Facebook applications and it’s about page is the ability to be indexed by the major search engines and appear in a search for your company name within a relatively short period. Both Applications and it’s about pages are indexed and considered a strong source of relevant content in the eyes of the search engines. Much like a blog where there are frequent posts of fresh content, so goes your Facebook presence. For businesses, this can be an invaluable way to drive more traffic.

• Tap into the Social Network Community

Another benefit of having a Facebook application for your business is that anyone can find your business on Facebook in ways perhaps that you never dreamed of.

Sure, they can find your business by doing a search, but the real beauty of Facebook is the numerous ways that your business can be found just by being part of Facebook and updating your content regularly. Friends of fans can experience your business by seeing any updates you post from your Page to their friend’s News Feed. Users can share and pass along your application to others (Viral Marketing), thereby helping you to tap into a new audience for your business with their endorsement!

• Target a Global Digital Audience

The World Wide Web is global in nature and anyone can find your business on the Web if they know what to look for. While Facebook’s membership keeps growing, you have an opportunity to get your business noticed by some of the most connected people on the Web today across the globe.

Think about your ideal customer and the hobbies and activities they enjoy.

If being on the Web and being social sounds like a fit for your audience, then Facebook is the place for your business. Moreover, as Facebook builds their audience on a global basis, you are right there for them.

• Attract Unlimited New Clients

Unlike your profile where Facebook limits the number of friends you can have to 5,000, your Facebook Application can have an unlimited number of users.

• Engage Your Audience

Facebook is free for everyone. So why wouldn’t you want to have more traffic, more awareness, more fans, and more business as a result?

• Sync Your Company News to Your Facebook Application

Synchronize your company news or your blog with your Facebook Application will increase the content for your Facebook audience to read and will connect you with your customers regularly just when posting a news.

• Run a Promotion Just for Your Application Users

This is a great way of re-engaging them with your business. If you want to run a promotion or send a discount to drive them to your offline store, you can do that. But don’t forget to track your efforts; you can close the loop and have a way to track the effectiveness of this option. This could be as simple as collecting the coupon code you used.

You don’t want to lose the opportunity to see how much business and return on investment you can have from this medium.

• Facilitate User-to-User Interaction

Another important consideration when thinking about starting a Facebook Application is the ability to encourage user-to-user interaction. Where else can you get a platform that allows your best fans to talk with each other? This can be exceptionally helpful in some industries that have complex products. Your Application can work as an outpost where fans can support each other by answering questions and providing tips on how to make your product work better.

Moreover, it works like a year-round focus group. Use your Wall to generate and actively try to keep the conversation going.

Announce your Fabulous Event

Using Facebook Application is a great way of getting people together virtually or in person to support your local business, brand, or product. Announce your event in the Facebook Application is very economical way of getting the word out beyond your normal in-house marketing.

Fans can also help you promote your Facebook Event to their friends by sharing the event if it seems of value to their friends.