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Author Topic: Business acquired from having Facebook account  (Read 20791 times)

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WarrenPrice

« Reply #25 on: July 29, 2012, 11:47 »
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Maybe we are looking at this from the wrong angle:
How does having a FB Page "harm" your business?  It's FREE!  Isn't that a magical word in the marketing business?   ;D


« Reply #26 on: July 29, 2012, 11:52 »
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Something I came across on another forum (not MSG) that deals mostly with the stock market side of things. The poster is the owner of an ad/marketing agency in the US (has always appeared pretty clued-up on his business before)  and had this to say about FB:

"Eventually they will be unable to make money. People use it as a way to share pictures, links, events, and cat videos. LOL. Not much money there. The ads are generating the lowest clickthrough rates of any platform. People don't want a relationship with a brand. They want relationships with their relations ( and friends) and from Brands they want something for nothing---a coupon , a discount, a chance to win a free I Pad etc. The problem they have is the way the next generation uses it. The younger users check it like they check their email. They are on and off it in 2 seconds. The younger users also use it for private chatting, again no monetization to be found there."

This is not very accurate. People I know on Facebook follow authors, bands, restaurants, causes, companies, etc. Maybe, their ad network doesn't produce like it should, but people definitely use Facebook for more than photos and friends. The site is very commercial and is a treasure trove of marketing information.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #27 on: July 29, 2012, 12:09 »
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I think the point is to direct the FB generation to your website.

OM

« Reply #28 on: July 29, 2012, 12:15 »
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It's hard to beat the good old telephone when it comes to getting business. You do a bit of research, call someone who might need your work, and see what happens. Eventually someone does and if you don't screw it up, you can get a long term client. If you do a good job, you may get a referral as well. I find with long term clients, you don;t need anything except the time to take them for lunch now and then. A web page is good for newer clients and FB is a complete waste of time.

+1

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #29 on: July 29, 2012, 12:25 »
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Maybe we are looking at this from the wrong angle:
How does having a FB Page "harm" your business?  It's FREE!  Isn't that a magical word in the marketing business?   ;D
It probably doesn't 'harm' your business, but it's time-consuming - I see lots of causes having to waste their time on FB, Twitter, Tumblr and goodness knows what else just to be kewl, when they have perfectly good, utd websites.
And who bothers with how many people 'like' something? The savvy know that companies have competitions ('draw for an iPad', as mentioned above, and literally for a restaurant I ate at this week) for those who 'like' their business on FB, so hardly a recommendation.

Also, SEO isn't great. I just Google(UK)d "portrait photographer New York" and was on page 5 before I got a facebook link.
OTOH, if the customer is welded to FB and search within FB, you only get FB sites, so that's presumably why even charities feel they must have a presence there.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2012, 13:05 by ShadySue »

« Reply #30 on: July 29, 2012, 13:33 »
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Along with being cool, and having a FB page to announce new products, etc. you will also be opening up your company to criticism and if you aren't prepared to handle that criticism correctly, and you just delete the negative posts, soon your "friends" won't trust you and the whole point will be gone.

I still am not swayed to think this is a worthwhile form of marketing.

« Reply #31 on: July 29, 2012, 14:19 »
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I don't really find it overly time consuming or have a problem with negativity. I still spend most of my time creating new images. Occasionally, I'll write a Facebook post about what's new (which gets automatically mirrored on Twitter) or a blog post if I want to write something longer. It may translate into sales, but it may not. Either way, it's a simple way to build a public image.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #32 on: July 29, 2012, 14:37 »
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I've just heard two British swimmers in interviews one after the other, talking about how all the Twitter support is helping them. Beats me. It must be a generational thing after all!

« Reply #33 on: July 29, 2012, 16:49 »
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I don't really find it overly time consuming or have a problem with negativity. I still spend most of my time creating new images. Occasionally, I'll write a Facebook post about what's new (which gets automatically mirrored on Twitter) or a blog post if I want to write something longer. It may translate into sales, but it may not. Either way, it's a simple way to build a public image.

I was thinking more of larger companies, after Warren's post about Coca Cola. I wouldn't expect you to have any issues yet, Cory. But think about in the future, when you get to the size of istock.  ;D

OM

« Reply #34 on: July 29, 2012, 17:00 »
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I've just heard two British swimmers in interviews one after the other, talking about how all the Twitter support is helping them. Beats me. It must be a generational thing after all!

Hmmm Twitter........story here in NL about the new leader of the major (not so much any more) political party, CDA, whose number of Twitter followers had swollen from almost zero last year to 20+ thousand recently and with only 40 tweets from the guy himself. Someone looked into that only to discover that 82% of his followers were created as robo-followers (ie they didn't exist) to presumably make him seem more important than he was.

« Reply #35 on: July 29, 2012, 17:03 »
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... Someone looked into that only to discover that 82% of his followers were created as robo-followers (ie they didn't exist) to presumably make him seem more important than he was.
This is the exact reason why I have not much trust in these services.

There are tons of companies out there advertising that they can get you thousands of followers for $50 or whatever but all those followers are just numbers and not people who actually are interested in you.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #36 on: July 29, 2012, 17:13 »
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Hard to judge a product without personal experience, isn't it?
Here's my most recent experiment.  The image is downsized but I got in a hurry and forgot to include the copyright notice (on the image.)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2330982370164&set=a.1014820146931.2325.1717890652&type=1&theater

It had 31 likes in less than an hour; produced 4 queries; and 2 sales pending.

And, It was posted on another's FB Page -- that's a reference to "learning proper FB etiquette."

ED: I wasn't talking about reposted.  I mean I posted it on the "Vintage Factory" FB Page.  A place for sharing vintage motocross memorabilia.

As for leaving ourselves open to negative comments ... isn't that a danger of anything you post on MSG?  ???  :P

 
« Last Edit: July 29, 2012, 17:30 by WarrenPrice »

WarrenPrice

« Reply #37 on: July 29, 2012, 17:26 »
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I don't really find it overly time consuming or have a problem with negativity. I still spend most of my time creating new images. Occasionally, I'll write a Facebook post about what's new (which gets automatically mirrored on Twitter) or a blog post if I want to write something longer. It may translate into sales, but it may not. Either way, it's a simple way to build a public image.

I was thinking more of larger companies, after Warren's post about Coca Cola. I wouldn't expect you to have any issues yet, Cory. But think about in the future, when you get to the size of istock.  ;D

Wouldn't that be a good problem to have?   :P ;)

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #38 on: July 29, 2012, 17:30 »
0
Hard to judge a product without personal experience, isn't it?
Here's my most recent experiment.  The image is downsized but I got in a hurry and forgot to include the copyright notice (on the image.)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2330982370164&set=a.1014820146931.2325.1717890652&type=1&theater

It had 31 likes in less than an hour; produced 4 queries; and 2 sales pending.
Any idea where these people came from?

Quote
And, It was posted on another's FB Page -- that's a reference to "learning proper FB etiquette."
You've lost me. How do you mean it was posted on another's FB page?
You posted the picture on someone else's page? Why?

(I haven't got that far in FB Essential Training yet: still on the early bits about how to find 'friends', which apparently only proves that the three 'friends' I have are indeed probably the only people I know who are on FB.)

 
[/quote]

WarrenPrice

« Reply #39 on: July 29, 2012, 17:35 »
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Hard to judge a product without personal experience, isn't it?
Here's my most recent experiment.  The image is downsized but I got in a hurry and forgot to include the copyright notice (on the image.)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2330982370164&set=a.1014820146931.2325.1717890652&type=1&theater

It had 31 likes in less than an hour; produced 4 queries; and 2 sales pending.
Any idea where these people came from?

Quote


And, It was posted on another's FB Page -- that's a reference to "learning proper FB etiquette."
You've lost me. How do you mean it was posted on another's FB page?
You posted the picture on someone else's page? Why?

(I haven't got that far in FB Essential Training yet: still on the early bits about how to find 'friends', which apparently only proves that the three 'friends' I have are indeed probably the only people I know who are on FB.)

 
[/quote]

@Sue ... I just edited that comment.  I saw that it could be confusing.
Used another's page because just posting pictures to be shared by your "friends" can get very annoying.  That is all that comes from sharing sales figures (image sales) from DT and others via Facebook.

The page I chose to share the image is designed just for that purpose ... sharing material of mutual interest.  MY MARKET.   ;D

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #40 on: July 29, 2012, 17:57 »
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@Sue ... I just edited that comment.  I saw that it could be confusing.
Used another's page because just posting pictures to be shared by your "friends" can get very annoying.  That is all that comes from sharing sales figures (image sales) from DT and others via Facebook.

The page I chose to share the image is designed just for that purpose ... sharing material of mutual interest.  MY MARKET.   ;D
OK, fair enough. I've got an acquaintance who sells sometimes sold her motorsports pics off Flickr, without even trying (I think she got fed up of the hassle, she just posts dogs nowadays!).
And I have found a very few old acquaintances and colleagues - who just seem to have joined because it's 'expected' and seem to be as inactive as me - Same as Friends Reunited, where I discovered two of my old schoolmates had died, almost all my high school class is there, and there is no activity. I found a lot of former pupils who are more active on FB, especially the younger ones, who have presumably graduated from bebo.

Haven't got to the marketing thing in the course yet.

« Reply #41 on: July 29, 2012, 18:10 »
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I was thinking more of larger companies, after Warren's post about Coca Cola. I wouldn't expect you to have any issues yet, Cory. But think about in the future, when you get to the size of istock.  ;D

LOL. I don't think there is any danger of that happening. It did make me curious though. I had to go check out iStock's Facebook page.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2012, 18:13 by cthoman »

« Reply #42 on: July 29, 2012, 19:07 »
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.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2012, 19:10 by cclapper »

« Reply #43 on: July 29, 2012, 21:10 »
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We (ie Warmpicture) have a considerably larger following on Twitter than on Facebook, but honestly I wish it were the other way around. Twitter strikes me as a gazillion people tweeting their business cards 24/7, over and over. I wonder at times if anyone is paying attention. I know the search engines pay attention to Twitter activity, but that will only last as long as they are relevant.

Facebook seems a lot more intimate/personal to me. The connections I have made through FB on a personal and business level have been meaningful ones. When I post something, people read it. When they post something, it gets my interest too. The level of interaction is high.

I recommend any photographer watermark their images for use on Facebook. That watermark should either have enough text on it that it can't be "stolen" for someone else's design, or at least have relevant info on it which states your copyright, and your website address.

In the last month we have had 2 sales as a direct result of our Twitter account. We also have had 2 sales as a direct result of our Facebook account. We have 15000 Twitter followers, and 80 Facebook followers. 2 results from 80 people is pretty good. 2 from 15000 kinda sucks to be honest. To me, I just think the Facebook Bang for the Buck is considerably higher.

I'm not going to sell you on the merits of Facebook. I'm not a believer that social media benefits all business situations. You probably aren't going to have an image go "Viral". Rather you want many small victories. Someone in the thread mentioned "word of mouth" as being a great source of future business. That is exactly how I approach Facebook. When a photo gets "Shared" or "Liked", it is the social media equivalent of "word of mouth."

So maybe your Aunt Marge shares one of your cool photos, which in turn gets shared by a few of her connections, and eventually gets shared and seen by someone who is looking for similar work to contract, purchase, etc. The odds are no different than word of mouth in "the real world" leading to an opportunity.

Another way to use Facebook is by getting your existing real world customers to follow your business on Facebook. It's easy for a customer to forget about you. But if they see your posts every so often on Facebook, or they see you have new photos, or are running a special sale, etc., you are keeping them connected with your business. In that sense, it is about mind share and staying relevant.

And by the way you don't have to share your photos. You can share articles related to photography, articles about your latest shoot, links to your new images, etc. So if you don't feel comfortable putting your photos online, just don't.

« Reply #44 on: July 31, 2012, 06:19 »
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Maybe we are looking at this from the wrong angle:
How does having a FB Page "harm" your business?  It's FREE!  Isn't that a magical word in the marketing business?   ;D

I agree, having a business page is free and easy, it's seen by everyone and not just your friends, and it is something people expect to see these days. Upload new images from time to time to show new material. Share an article about photography.

People will rarely bookmark your website, and if they do they will even more rarely return to it. But they may "like" your FB page and will be receiving anything you post on it, so your name stays in his mind. They will remember you if they need a photographer. They may eventually show it to someone who is looking for a photographer. Who knows?

Even for someone who already has a group of clients and does not need this extra advertisement, it doesn't harm to have your name there. Who knows how this may affect search engines, now or in the future?

Not that I make any business from mine, but I wanted to separate my personal page from my photography work, which I want to make public.

« Reply #45 on: July 31, 2012, 08:27 »
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Does anyone see a problem running a home-based business, NOT posting their business address on FB?

I've heard too many scary stories of Facebook users being stalked etc. simply because their address leaked or something similar so I was wondering, how one can do serious business without posting their actual location?

Is this widely "accepted" now in today's FB world or is it "still" frowned upon to just name the city where I live do business in?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #46 on: July 31, 2012, 09:10 »
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Does anyone see a problem running a home-based business, NOT posting their business address on FB?

I've heard too many scary stories of Facebook users being stalked etc. simply because their address leaked or something similar so I was wondering, how one can do serious business without posting their actual location?

Is this widely "accepted" now in today's FB world or is it "still" frowned upon to just name the city where I live do business in?
Gosh, weirdos haunt FB that don't go to 'proper' websites?   :o

« Reply #47 on: July 31, 2012, 09:49 »
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Does anyone see a problem running a home-based business, NOT posting their business address on FB?

I've heard too many scary stories of Facebook users being stalked etc. simply because their address leaked or something similar so I was wondering, how one can do serious business without posting their actual location?

Is this widely "accepted" now in today's FB world or is it "still" frowned upon to just name the city where I live do business in?

I rarely post my address or phone number., although I'm sure neither are really that hard to find. I give them out when clients ask for them, and they are usually on my invoices. I haven't noticed anybody in the bushes stalking me which is probably lucky for them. I doubt I'd be very exciting to stalk.  ;D

RacePhoto

« Reply #48 on: July 31, 2012, 10:08 »
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Does anyone see a problem running a home-based business, NOT posting their business address on FB?

I've heard too many scary stories of Facebook users being stalked etc. simply because their address leaked or something similar so I was wondering, how one can do serious business without posting their actual location?

Is this widely "accepted" now in today's FB world or is it "still" frowned upon to just name the city where I live do business in?
Gosh, weirdos haunt FB that don't go to 'proper' websites?   :o

The concept of running a business but not having the phone number or address, eludes me. What? Is it a secret club or something.

Imagine someone wanting to buy a pair of shoes, but the store has an unlisted number and unlisted location. Doesn't that seem a bit odd? 

Just like a photo, if you want something to be unknown, private, and never at risk, never put it on the Internet.

« Reply #49 on: July 31, 2012, 10:40 »
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The concept of running a business but not having the phone number or address, eludes me. What? Is it a secret club or something.

Imagine someone wanting to buy a pair of shoes, but the store has an unlisted number and unlisted location. Doesn't that seem a bit odd? 

Just like a photo, if you want something to be unknown, private, and never at risk, never put it on the Internet.

I don't sell shoes or any other physical product, so there isn't really any reason for anybody to show up at my doorstep. There is nothing they can see here that they can't see online (other than me). As far as the phone, I find phone calls distracting and inefficient, so I'd prefer to get emails. That said, I still do face to face meetings and phone conversations, but it is much easier to run everything through email.

If you want an anecdote, I turned down a job a few months ago. They wanted me to meet them at their office. It was about a 30 minute drive to the north side of town where their office was. In the time it would have taken me to get ready, drive there, have the meeting and drive back, I probably could have finished the job. I turned the job down. It just didn't make any sense to spend all that time to meet for such a small job.


 

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