Facebook is more than a social network – it’s a brand builder and  business booster for that is helping small businesses and solo-entrepreneurs bring in leads, new partnerships and profits every day.

Yes, Facebook is that good!

But if Facebook is such a game changer – why are so many struggling to grow their business on  Facebook?

Facebook is a marketers dream – with 845 million users worldwide – the opportunities and profit potential is limitless -and it’s FREE!

BUT (yes the dreaded but) – you need a solid strategy to make it all work.

Facebook is not some magic bullet where you throw up a Fan Page, like a few pages and unlock the flood-gates to leads heaven. No, Facebook is a sophisticated yet surprisingly simple social network that if approached the right way can bring big bucks for your business.

Let’s lay out the facts about Facebook so you understand what you have your hands on:

What’s so special about Facebook?

Let’s talk about those 845 million users you can tap in to – FREE Advertising! Your customers are already hanging out on Facebook – why not meet them where they are!

Facebook gives your business the opportunity to connect with highly targeted traffic that is looking for what you have to offer.

Let’s check out some stats:

• 80% of all Americans use social networks.
• 96% of Americans are on Facebook. (Forrester)
• Over 425 million+ active users access Facebook via mobile devices. (Facebook)
• One in every five page views online occurs on Facebook. (US Market, Experian Hitwise’s)
• 70% of small businesses using social media see increased traffic and 60% say social media has improved search rankings. (2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report)
• 1 in 3 consumers say they’re likely to purchase from a company they follow on Facebook. (eMarketer

Do I need to commit a lot of time to Facebook?

This is one of the most common questions I get from clients. How much time is this going to take me? Facebook is not hard to tackle – in fact – you can start seeing results in as little as 30 minutes a day a few times a week. With super cool (and FREE) tools that put much of your Facebook marketing on autopilot. Not only does it save you time and money, it allows you to focus on what’s most important when marketing on Facebook – Engagement.

Do I need to be technically savvy?

Don’t know too much about online marketing? Computer skills not up to par? Look you don’t have to be technical to market on Facebook – but you do need to be a good communicator. If you can talk to people, share valuable information, spark up conversations, answer questions and just be you – you’ll have no problems building a presence on Facebook.

Can’t I just use my personal profile to promote my business?

If you want to piss off and annoy the heck out of your friends and family, talk about your business on your personal profile. While it’s ok to share what you are doing with your biz (it is a part of who you are) you don’t want to force your business on to people who could care less about what you’re selling.

Not all of your friends are going to be interested in your business. Respect that.

Facebook profile are for personal use and connecting with “friends” while Pages are for business and connecting with “fans.”

This is why Facebook has Pages – to help you to promote your brand to the people who matter!

What’s the key to success on Facebook?

Engage. Engage. Engage. Take the time to consistently connect with people, interact, comment and be social! You will see huge results.

Engagement is the “secret sauce” to success on Facebook. It’s what I spend most of the time teaching my clients to become great at. Many of those tips and tricks I share in my guide – Facebook Leads Factory.

What’s kind of content gets the most “likes” on Facebook?

Photos are “like” magnets. take the time to upload eye-catching, entertaining photos that relate to your business, your brand, your lifestyle.  Take advantage of the new Timeline feature and upload a cool cover that gives people a little insight into who you are. When it comes to your Page make sure you use the branded wall image and photo strip wisely. Don’t miss an opportunity to promote your business with photos!

Do I have to pay for advertising?

Absolutely not! While there are advantages to investing in paid Facebook Ads, you can build a killer business on Facebook without investing a dime. In my training guide – Facebook Leads Factory – most of the strategies and tactics I teach don’t require you to invest a single cent!

What’s the best way to get started on Facebook?

Here’s my 5 steps to getting started on Facebook:

1. Know why you are on Facebook – are you looking to generate leads, find new customers, prospect and recruit, network, develop new business partnerships, etc.

2. Secondly, you must set up your Fan Page and promote the heck out it. You have to let people know you are there if you want them to buy from you.

3.Third, lead with value. Give your fans a reason to connect with you. Give them a reason to subscribe, like, comment, become a fan, and advocate for you. If you can over-deliver on value and separate yourself from the crowd, you can WIN on Facebook.

4. Engage. Interact and connect with your target audience. Relationships are the new currency. Develop relationships with potential customers, business partners and influencers. You never know when you are going to connect with your next 6-figure opportunity!

5. Put Facebook on Autopilot. Time is money. We are business owners and entrepreneurs because we ultimately want to spend our time as we please. While you can’t automate everything, use the social media tools like HootSuite,  to streamline your content and schedule your status updates.

How do I get one of those cute, custom URLs for my business?

Also known as “vanity URLs” you can get one once 25 people have liked your Facebook Page. Now you no longer have to have the ugly looking URL with all the numbers in it but can instead have an easier-to-remember address.

These are great for promoting your brand or company. When creating your vanity URL, you want it to be easy to remember but it must also encompass what you are all about such as http://facebook.com/thegoldmedalmarketer.

Note: There have been instances where I’ve been able to set up a vanity URL for a webpage without having 25 likes and other instances where I had to wait until I reached the 25 fan mark. Why it works sometimes and not others is beyond me – Facebook is just funny like that. So if you can set up your vanity URL right away – do so but  you do still need 25 fans in most cases.

Go to facebook.com/username to choose custom URLs for your pages.

Choose wisely, because once you hit 100 fans, you can’t go back and change your URL.

To get your branded URL go to”Edit Page”, click “Basic Information” and under “username” you can create your new URL!

How can I measure my success on Facebook?

Thank God for Facebook Insights.  Facebook offers in-depth user data about your page, so you know what’s working, who’s liking, where they are coming from, as well as which types of status updates are the most popular. Insights includes demographics on the gender, age and location as well.  Facebook has even created an entire online tutorial about how to use Insights to expand your Pages’ reach and visibility. http://www.learnpageinsights.com

Does Facebook limit my Fans?

Unlike your personal profile page where you can only have a maximum of 5000 friends, Facebook pages allows you to have an unlimited number of “fans”. That’s why Pages are so special when it comes to promoting your small business on Facebook.

How can I build my email list using Facebook?

I see Facebook as one humongous mail list. You can share, promote and market to all of your subscribers and fans as long as you have a Page. If your goal to drive traffic from Facebook to a newsletter or subscriber list outside of Facebook you will want to create a custom landing tab with an opt-in form.

Use a free app called Static HTML: iframe tabs to create up to 12 unique landing pages. You can insert any HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code into your custom landing tab including videos, images, or opt-in forms.

What’s an Engagement Ad?

Unlike other Facebook ads, engagement ads don’t send users to an external link or sales page outside of Facebook. Instead, they advertise destinations inside Facebook, like events or apps, or a Page.

Within the ad box itself is a “Like” button. Potential fans don’t even need to visit your Page nor do they need to leave whatever they’re doing. They can click right on the sidebar of their Facebook stream, Like your page, and instantly start receiving your updates. This is a failproof way to engage your fans — and get your posts (and therefore your brand) at the top of their News Feeds.

Should I outsource my Facebook marketing?

While it is possible to hire someone to maintain your Page – I do not suggest handing off ALL of your Facebook marketing. If you’re a personality-based brand like I am, outsourcing your engagement can be a little tricky and I would avoid it if you can. It’s hard to replace your voice, your personality, your style and this is something unique to the social media world.

As a business on Facebook, people connect with the people and the culture behind the company. This is not something can that be easily outsourced. So while outsourcing may seem like a logical solution for the busy entrepreneur, think about what you’ll lose by outsourcing your message.

Want More Facebook Marketing Tips? Get Your Hands On The Facebook Leads Factory Today!