Facebook was down for a large part of the day on October 4, 2021.
It felt like the end of the world for many people across the globe, but especially for businesses. Many were panicking on how to continue communication with customers and others were glad to not have the distraction for most of the day. At The Marketing Junkie, we’ve always said that Facebook is borrowed land, and we rent a teeny tiny property from them to have business pages. While the platform is beloved due to the ability to connect and build relationships if all your eggs are in the Facebook basket, what do you do when it does work?
Diversify your marketing communication channels.
Do you have a marketing plan for your business? If so, then you likely have identified what channels your customers use and where your business should be active to build relationships. If not, we strongly encourage finding a partner to help your business define and attack the marketing and sales goals. One way to keep lines of communication open is to have more than one channel to communicate with your clients. At The Marketing Junkie, we are proponents of the good ol’ solid tried-and-true methods of having a well-built and informative website, utilizing email marketing through programs like MailChimp or email alone, and we can’t forget to mention the telephone. Social media platforms are incredible for supplementing communication, but should never be your sole source of communications, leads, and sales.
Put on the grown-up pants and create logins and passwords.
Facebook and its line of products is focused on keeping the users on the site/in the app. As Facebook has grown, integrations with other software have become a key feature for many users. Programs like Canva.com, Hootsuite.com Linkedin.com and others, allow users to use their Google account or Facebook account to access their services, safely. While this is convenient, it requires every system to work properly. We know that it can be frustrating, but it really is beneficial to have individual logins and passwords for separate accounts. We can already see your faces while you’re reading this, so let us share a helpful tip. Incorporate a service like LastPass or 1Pass that manages all of your usernames and passwords securely.
Print isn’t dead.
If your business has a marketing plan, then you have also identified your ideal customer and how they consume information. Just because we live in a digital world, doesn’t mean people don’t read the newspaper, magazines, or see billboards and get mail. Your marketing channel should align with your marketing goals and always have your demographics in mind.
Remember networking?
Covid has made getting together in person difficult, but not impossible. Get involved in your community. Volunteer. Join your local chamber of commerce. Your actions and involvements in the community you live and work in are a direct reflection of your business. You have a unique opportunity to shine and make a difference at the same time.
Your clients and customers can be your best advocates.
Happy clients rave about good service and incredible products. Appreciate them and encourage them to share their experiences with friends, family, and neighbors. When we were shopping for furniture, we went straight to our friends and asked about their buying experiences. After crowdsourcing, we took recommendations to heart and shopped at the referred business, and had an incredible experience.
Bottom line:
Marketing takes time and work. With a well-thought-out plan and implementation strategy, you don’t have to feel isolated when a communication channel doesn’t function properly. Get your brand identity in line, develop a brand voice guide and a marketing strategy and put action to the test. Facebook isn’t the be-all-end-all solution for marketing your business. Stay open to opportunities and remember that the important part of all of this, is to have happy customers.
