Facebook continues to be one of the largest growing social media platforms available with 2.32 billion monthly active users worldwide (1). That number is jaw-dropping and continues to grow as consumers crave more connection, not only with their peers, but with businesses. They rely on social media as part of their path to purchase - and businesses are seeing the result; particularly considering that 78% of American consumers have discovered retail products to buy on Facebook (2) and 77% of B2C companies said they have acquired new customers through the social media platform (3).
But if you’re going to put the time and effort into your Facebook presence, you need to have a clear understanding of what it can really offer your business.
Let’s briefly break it down.
Facebook gives you the opportunity to grow awareness for your dealership’s brand, it allows you to connect with your customers in a new, organic way, and lets you reach an untapped market of people who might be interested in what you’re selling.
If you’re not sure where to start - or are just looking for some overall guidance around Facebook - we’ve got some best practices for you to consider.
Take the First Step - Joining Facebook and setting up a business page is fairly simple, but if you need assistance - keep reading - we’ve got a great product for you. There are thousands of small businesses utilizing the platform, so if you want to stay competitive in your market, we definitely suggest taking the first step and creating a page of your own.
Have Up-to-Date Information on Your Page - Consumers search for anything and everything on the Internet and they often browse Facebook for business information like hours, phone numbers, websites, etc. So whether you’re just starting a Facebook page, or if you’ve been on the site for years, it’s crucial to make sure your page information is updated. We’ve seen a lot of businesses with bare “About Us” sections even though this is a place to tell potential customers what you offer. We recommend including a few sentences highlighting your dealership’s mission, expertise, or anything that might make you stand out from the competition.
Have Eye-Catching Profile & Cover Photos - In this day and age, first impressions are everything - especially when it comes to social media. You’ll want to make sure both your profile photo and your cover photo stand out considering they are the first things consumers will see when they visit your Facebook page. We recommend staying consistent with your photo choices so you can build brand awareness and stay recognizable as users scroll through their feed - but don’t forget to include your branding on the imagery.
Post Regularly (but not too much) - It can be hard to determine how often to post on social media, but according to Inc., posting once a day on Facebook is the ideal amount. It’s important to avoid over-saturating consumers with content so that when you do post, they are ready to react and engage with it. The best time to post on Facebook, according to Hootsuite, is between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on the weekends - keep these days and times in mind when posting your content for optimal engagement.
Share a Variety of Content - Facebook is an awesome way to show off your inventory, and we recommend using it for that purpose, but it’s important to keep in mind consumers want to see more than just what’s on your lot. We’ve said it time and time again, but you are an industry expert and consumers crave the information you have to offer, especially when they are thinking about making a big purchase. That’s why we encourage you to post a variety of content. For example, creating/posting videos or blog posts on “What All New RVers Need to Know”, “Tips for Finding Your Perfect RV”, etc. can be useful information that your customers want to engage with. We encourage you to be a resource for your potential customers.f you don’t have time to create this type of content on your own, you can always share it from other industry sources. For example, the RV Trader consumer blog has lots of this content that you can easily re-post.
Respond to Consumers in a Timely Fashion - We have grown accustomed to instant gratification, especially when it comes to social media. That’s why it’s crucial to respond to your customers as soon as you see their message or comment on Facebook. Think of each inquiry as an opportunity to grow your relationship with this customer. Check your notifications regularly or, better yet, have push notifications set up on your mobile device so you know exactly when you have a comment or message that you need to respond to. Keep in mind that Facebook shows how quickly you respond directly on your business page - and like we said earlier, first impressions are everything on social media.
Utilize Facebook Stories - Facebook Stories allow you to share content that showcases your business directly from your mobile device. Facebook Stories were designed so you can engage with your audience in a more frequent and casual way. You can share short videos and photos and they’ll appear at the top of the News Feed in a highly visible area. We recommend experimenting with Stories as it can help humanize your brand and show off your business’ personality. Learn more about stories, here.
There you have it. The tips you need to know on using Facebook for your business. Are you interested in having a presence on social media, but just don’t have the time or resources to make it happen? RV Trader can help. Our GoSocial product can kickstart, or supplement, your existing social media efforts by managing your Facebook for you. GoSocial includes weekly posting and management for Facebook, a dedicated monthly advertising spend, and in-depth monthly reporting - saving you valuable time and costing a fraction of what it would take to hire a team. And if you don’t already have a page, we’ll even help you set one up. If you’re interested in learning more, contact your RV Trader representative today at 1.888.543.0101. They’ll walk you through all the details.
1 https://zephoria.com/top-15-valuable-facebook-statistics/
2 https://blog.hootsuite.com/facebook-statistics/
3 https://www.adriennerichardson.com/facts-and-stats-about-facebook-and-your-business/