Do you have a Facebook Framing Page?

[Apertura Photography]

Hi all,

For those that read my page on making framing on the web interesting (http://theframersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7780), you will know that I'm a big fan of getting customers captured from the web. I wonder how many of you have a facebook business page? If you do, did you know that you can have a welcome page that greets new viewers and if done properly significantly increases the chance of them 'liking' you. If you want to know how to do it, follow this tutorial on my blog (my welcome page has a image which advertises my photography side of the business rather than my framing but you could easily change that pic for one that features frames)

http://www.aperturaphotography.com/2012 ... -business/



Pete

[penfold]

That looks very usefull! I've been using facebook for a while but I'm struggling to get people to look at the page........yet another job on the list!

[mikeysaling]

love your baby photos - but what on earth is the point of a facebook page - surely a website is better - folk that see facebook already know you so ?? don't see the point .

[Apertura Photography]

love your baby photos - but what on earth is the point of a facebook page - surely a website is better - folk that see facebook already know you so ?? don't see the point .

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the compliment. Social media is very powerful advertising IMHO. I've only had a business facebook page for a short while (I like to keep my personal one for just that!) and while a large number of my followers are people I know there are a lot that I do not. I do have my main website at http://www.aperturaphotography.com but Facebook, twitter etc bring free traffic to my main site. As an example, for one of my clients I posted a sneak preview link on my Facebook buisnes page (with their permission) containing a few photos from their session on my main website. They hadn't seen any of the photos yet, they loved them and clicked 'like' on my Facebook page. This automatically posted that link on their personal page and I suddenly had all their friends and families looking at my website. I had over 1500 views of those photos in a 4 day period but more importantly, 2 clients book with me as a result and over £1000 in revenue - that is worth the Facebook page I believe!

I have done the same with framing and had similar clients approach me as a result. My rugby shirt frame video could be shared with the local Rugby Club facebook page if I wanted to. I don't know any of them but it has over £250 members - some of them will take an interest in having a rugby shirt framed themselves I would think ( i haven't because I am over run with work at the moment and don't need 250 rugby shirts to frame!!)

It is also a great way to network. Websites are a window front to my business but my Facebook/twitter page is where I interact with my clients and build business links - it's the online welcome desk if you like. I have had direct business to business referrals as a result of the online business networks. For this reason, I don't link to my website in my signature block on forums like this because a) it doesn't help with google ranking as they are all 'no-follow" links but b) if people go to my Facebook page and like it, there is another chance to interact with a potential customer or business partner/link.

Personally I think everyone in this day and age with a business can not afford to have a presence on Facebook and/or Twitter. Would be interesting to hear what others think? Discuss perhaps?

Many thanks,

Pete

[GeoSpectrum]

Pete, I have a Facebook page for framing and a personal one but they seem tied together somehow, how do I seperate them? Do I need to set up a completely seperate Facebook account? Sorry about the 'help' question but you seem to know a great deal more about Facebook than I do!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashcraft- ... 0702690270

[Apertura Photography]

Pete, I have a Facebook page for framing and a personal one but they seem tied together somehow, how do I seperate them? Do I need to set up a completely seperate Facebook account? Sorry about the 'help' question but you seem to know a great deal more about Facebook than I do!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashcraft- ... 0702690270

Hi Allen,

Not a problem at all. The way I have it set up is as follows. I have a personal page from which I created my business page using this here. Your two pages will be linked because you are the administrator of your business page. You could create another personal page that you named after you business (this is against FB T&C really and is not the best way of doing it I dont think).

You are the administrator of your page but could assign any of the people who like you to administrate the page too. You can access your business page and post on it as either you (your personal facbook page, in my case Peter Marfleet) or your business name (Apertura Photography for me). I prefere to post as my business name as it looks more professional - you seem to be posting using you business name. Unless you post as your personal name on your business page, people will not see your personal page linked anywhere. I have however 'liked' my business page so that any of my business posts show up in my personal feed; kind of a check that they are posting to the public ok.

To swap between the two accounts on you business page, go to the top right of the screen and click the down arrow; you will see it says "use Facebook as". Select there which account you want to post as. See my screen grab as an example. Your page looks like it is working fine when I looked at it, can't see your personal page anywhere on it.

Hope that answered the question.

[andrelewis]

For getting some exposure as a new framer, social media is quite an effective method to gain some business deals, it is quite important for us to utilize facebook as a brand maker.

[Gesso&Bole]

Under Facebook Ts&Cs you are not allowed to have two facebook accounts, or to use a business name as a private account as mentioned above. Once they find it, they will just take it down, and your hard work is wasted, so I wouldn't recommend that approach. (On the other- hand it may never come to their notice, but why take the risk?).

As far as the business page being linked to your personal one - what is the problem? There is no way that a casual visitor to your business page can get through to your private page unless they know you, or as mentioned above, you choose to post as an individual. Keep the two separate would be my advice.

I am in the final stages of completing a training course entitled "Social Media for Picture Framers" This is a full-blown course that will take you from zero to hero on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook, but more importantly, it is written specifically for picture framers - so it explains how to make social media work for you as a business, as well as the nuts and bolts of how to set up the accounts, post pictures, and what to tweet, to whom, and how often.

This will be an online course, consisting of video tutorials, detailed written notes, and How To step by step instructions with screenshots for all of the technical processes you have to go through when setting up. Pricing is a closely guarded secret at the moment, but it will be launched at the Spring Fair. Those not visiting the fair will be able to see it online at the beginning of February when my new website goes live.

I would go as far as to say that if you are not embracing the 'new media' you are not going to be in business for very long.

[stcstc]

I would go as far as to say that if you are not embracing the 'new media' you are not going to be in business for very long.

Whoa there Jim

thats a very generalised statement

yes social media is important to SOME businesses but not all

and I strongly disagree that not having it means your business wont last long

[Merlin]

I would go as far as to say that if you are not embracing the 'new media' you are not going to be in business for very long.

Like ^^^^^ above. That is a strong statement.

It really depends on your business model.
I only have a personal FB page.
I only have an ecommerce website and my profits are growing year on year.

[GeoSpectrum]

Just borrowed this quote from here. http://www.mastersofseo.com/small-busin ... ial-media/

"...Before you jump into social media, think strategy before technology. There are so many companies that set up a page, not knowing exactly what to do, and after it hasn’t been touched in a month it reflects poorly on their company. Take a look at what your competition is doing locally. Look at the trends in your industry. Social media is a give and take relationship anyway. You have to participate in the conversation and give people a reason to be interested in you before you can expect to get anything out of social media..."

i.e if it fits wear it and you get out what you put in. Its not a one size fits all situation.

I can’t think of anymore metaphors to mix.

[Apertura Photography]

Sorry all, a URL structure change for search engine optimisation has broken the link in the first post. It can be found here

[markw]

For many small businesses the oldest social media is still the best - Word of mouth. the basis of this social media is good service and good quality. I work on this everyday.

I am not sure that the more ethereal social media services hit the same spot - and I have all those too. Do you ask your customers to feedback on twitter - Facebook?? Something I am considering - But I know businesses that have been badly burnt by the disproportionate reaction a bad review can give.

Dont ignore the online directory services - Taking time to make sure your profile on these is high can reap far better rewards than any twitter feed - or facebook page.

[Jb1]

In my previous job my md was very keen on communicating via social media it was a lot of work to keep up dated and I feel ended up doing far more harm than good due to horrendous comments by so called disgruntled customers. Bloggers beware

[Gesso&Bole]

Note I said 'new media' not just social media . . . . I also note that both Steve and John run businesses that are very well up on new media!

Totally agreed, there is not one 'magic formula' that would fit all businesses, and as Alan's quote points out - you have to have a strategy, and you have to work it otherwise it looks bad, like a website that still has 2010 prices on it!

The point I am trying to get across is that you CANNOT ignore the fact that people are communicating and researching purchases on digital platforms now, and the indications are that the change will speed up, not slow down. So anyone who is still resisting a (modern, working) website, email, online sales, and social media platforms is restricting their potential massively, and will get left behind. For example, how many people use the paper based Yellow Pages now? Other framers will be showing your customers pretty pictures of their framing skills on facebook and if you're not there doing it as well, then eventually you will get left behind.

I agree totally with Mark that word of mouth is the crucial thing. Social Media is just a new iteration of word of mouth (this forum is social media, and we all form opinions about each other based on how we utilise the forum). So a policy, and set of procedures in place to show that you are giving good service and good quality, and demonstrating that on social media platforms becomes even more powerful, and structured into your business processes and procedures, does not have to be too onerous time-wise.

I also agree that bad reviews can be damaging - but so are unhappy customers with or without social media. On the other hand good customer experiences lead to more referrals. Because social media "turbo-charges" these same human relationships, and everything is public, it takes a little bit more (or different) skillful handling to maximise the good reports, and minimise the bad. Bad reviews can sometimes be turned to an advantage if handled well.

Sadly, I'm old enough to remember a time when lots of framers were telling me that underpinners would never really take off. All I'm saying is don't get left behind. . . . .

[mikeysaling]

maybe more of you can do medals !!!! i'm full up with orders and there is only me and tony doing research . if networking would make me busier - count me out !!! sorry i'm not a luddite but got enough thankyou! surely most of most folks trade is local - JIM what are you selling here ?

[stcstc]

Note I said 'new media' not just social media . . . . I also note that both Steve and John run businesses that are very well up on new media!

The point I am trying to get across is that you CANNOT ignore the fact that people are communicating and researching purchases on digital platforms now, and the indications are that the change will speed up, not slow down. So anyone who is still resisting a (modern, working) website, email, online sales, and social media platforms is restricting their potential massively, and will get left behind. For example, how many people use the paper based Yellow Pages now? Other framers will be showing your customers pretty pictures of their framing skills on facebook and if you're not there doing it as well, then eventually you will get left behind.

jim there is way more to it than you describe

a big point is the business model, if you are a local supplier, retaqiler etc. where the target market is only the local town or area then new media does gain you much and would generally effect your business

an small business in a small town with loyal customers isnt going to gain particularly.

that was my point

[Gesso&Bole]

Steve, I think a small business in a small town with loyal customers would benefit greatly from ongoing friendly 2 way communication with their loyal customers, through, say facebook for example. Now if they already have enough business, and don't want to expand then they may not want to put the effort in.

Yes Mikey, if you've got more work than you want then realistically there's not a lot of point putting more effort into marketing!

[stcstc]

jim no your missing my point


your first quote i used you said these business wouldnt be in business long


I disagree with this a lot. there are more companies doing very well than not without social or new media

but like i said it really depends on your business model as to if it would work

[markw]

Busy enough or not - when you focus your business on a specialist format such as medals - then there is almost more of a point to social media - Your focus group are more likely to find you. The point is that someone attempting to poach your business would have a good chance of getting it via a well organised media based campaign - so more reason for the specialist framer to make sure they have a presence on Facebook - twitter, tied in with some of the military support blogs etc.