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Don't waste your valuable time misusing Facebook. If you're new to Facebook, check out these four common mistakes, and I'll explain why you should absolutely not make them.

#1 Avoiding Facebook

If you're not on Facebook, your missing an excellent opportunity to reach a wider audience. Facebook has over 500 million active users, many of whom log on every day. So unless your target audience is 80-year-old grand dads, your audience is on Facebook.

CNN recently reported that the majority of Facebook users are older than college age, and that the fastest growing demographic is women over 55. Whether you think your audience is not using Facebook, or you think Facebook is a flash in the pan that will disappear in a few years, you're missing a massive marketing opportunity by avoiding Facebook.

So let me ask you this--what the heck are you waiting for?

#2 Fear of What Customers Will Say

The point of Facebook is to interact with customers and communities using wall posts, comments, and other interactive features. This allows for an open exchange of opinions and ideas.

But maybe you're afraid of what people might say. What if it's negative?

Disengaging these features on your Facebook page is like saying to your customers, I don't want to hear what you have to say. Keep in mind, you can't stop people from criticizing your brand. But you can let it happen on your own terms, where you can respond.

Plus, every time a user interacts with your page, that interaction reaches a wider audience, extending your reach beyond your existing customer base.

#3 Not Updating Your Business Page

Ideally, your business page should be a living extension of your business where you engage with customers with wall posts, comments, and other interactive tools. But don't forget to interact with your page as well.

If you regularly update your business page with photos, testimonials, and other interesting content, your users are more likely to interact with your page, expanding your reach exponentially.

This is what makes Facebook such a valuable tool for business--word of mouth.

#4 Creating a Profile for Your Business Instead of a Page

I've seen this happen way too many times, and I cringe at the results. Facebook profiles are meant for you and me, for individual people; Facebook pages are meant for businesses.

Facebook pages were designed with a set of features that make them an extremely valuable tool for businesses and organizations. For example, Facebook pages can be seen by anyone, regardless of their friend status.

Also, Facebook pages come with statistics on audience engagement so you can analyze your marketing effectiveness or "reach" on Facebook.

Make Facebook Work for You

Take advantage of this outstanding marketing tool called Facebook. With a little guidance, you too can enjoy the benefits of social media marketing.

I hope this quick overview of what not to do on Facebook points you in the right direction, toward marketing success on Facebook. Contact us today to learn more about our Facebook Marketing Pages.