Facebook digital marketing is no longer optional. It’s even rare nowadays to find a brand with no Facebook presence. This social media platform is a gold mine. Boasting 2.96 billion active users, with 66% of those checking out a Business Page at least once a week, it’s a place to get your business in front of more people and skyrocket your sales.
However, with its plethora of features and options, it’s also a place that can be confusing to navigate, especially for those foreign to social media marketing.
We’ve got you covered! Here are some vital Facebook features you should leverage to get the most out of your time on the social network.
1. Facebook Reels
Since Reels were rolled out on Facebook, it has become a game changer. Facebook Reels are short-form videos (under 30 seconds) often used by marketers, content creators, and influencers to share “snackable” content.
According to Meta (the new name for the Facebook company), Reels are their fastest growing content format by far.
Meta is pushing Reels heavily on Facebook that you can see them almost everywhere: at the top of your page, on your feed, in Facebook Groups, on the Watch tab, and from your menu.
That means by leveraging this feature for your business, you can increase your visibility and enhance customer engagement. Reels are also said to have a higher clickthrough rate (CTR) compared to standard videos and static ads, making them more effective for boosting sales.
In addition, businesses or creators can earn meaningful income from Facebook Reels. The company offers monetization products like Stars on Reels, in-stream ads/overlay ads, and the Reels Play bonus program, which is designed to pay eligible creators up to $35,000/month.
How can you use Facebook Reels to increase brand awareness?
- Create an effective Reel. It should have the right content, the right length, the right design, and the right audio.
- Post your Reel at a time when your customers are most active online. According to Hootsuite, the best time to post on Facebook is between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Share your Reel multiple times on your page and Facebook Groups to increase engagement.
2. Facebook Shops
If you sell goods or merchandise, you should take advantage of Facebook Shops.
This e-commerce feature was introduced in 2020 during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to help small businesses showcase product catalogs on their Facebook pages and sell without the need to put up a website. From January to March 2021 alone, Shops have already gained an average of one million monthly users worldwide. Many brands also notice promising results, with some seeing 66% higher sales on Facebook Shops than on their own sites.
Advantages of setting up a Facebook shop:
- Easier checkout. Instead of directing shoppers to an external website, they can easily engage with your business through Messenger and check out directly on Facebook.
- Seamless cataloging. Encoding product information and updating it is easy with Facebook Shops. You can make changes to the pricing, images, descriptions, etc., in minutes—thanks to the Commerce Manager.
- You can run ads to promote your products and Facebook Shop further.
Besides Facebook Shops, Marketplace and Live Shopping are fantastic features that can give your customers a great online shopping experience.
3. Facebook Response Assistant and Saved Replies
Don’t worry if you don’t have a 24-hour customer support or social media team to respond immediately to your customers. Facebook Response Assistant can save your day. This Facebook Page feature allows you to stay responsive, show a Messenger greeting, and create instant replies whenever people message your page.
Did you know that 44% of consumers expect a response from the business on Facebook over other social media platforms? With Facebook Response Assistant, it will be easier for you to stay on top of your messages and provide excellent customer service.
Similar to Facebook Response Assistant is another Facebook Page feature called Saved Replies. It saves you time by letting you create, save, and reuse messages from your canned responses.
4. Facebook Audience Insights
Having a Facebook presence is not enough; you must take time to monitor your page’s performance, too. Facebook Audience Insights is a powerful marketing analytics tool that lets you see what’s working and what isn’t, so you can make changes to your social media marketing strategies.
It gives you the ability to identify what type of content your audience loves and learn more about the people who interact with your page, including their age and country. This will help you create more targeted ad campaigns for your business.
5. Saved Posts
If you often run out of content to share on your Facebook Page, the Saved Posts feature is for you. It lets you save specific items from other brands, celebrities, and influencers on Facebook that you find interesting and want to share later.
The saved posts can be viewed via the Saved Posts tab or in your news feed anytime you want. This is a great way to have a pool of content to pick a post from to share for the days you don’t have something original to publish.
6. Pinned Post
Got an important announcement or a Facebook post that received high engagement? Pin that for more visibility!
A “pinned post” is a status update that stays at the top of your Facebook page, so it’s easily visible to everyone who visits your profile. You can use this unique feature to draw attention to vital information and get more control over what your followers see.
Best pinning strategies:
- Pin your high-performing blog to boost traffic to your website.
- Use your pinned post to build your email list. You can offer free tips or downloadable materials in exchange for a follower’s email address.
- Pin something you want your first-time visitors to see first, such as a welcome video or FAQs.
- Change your pinned post every once in a while.
These six Facebook features aren’t going away anytime soon and can be extremely valuable in attracting new customers and building a stronger presence on one of the world’s largest social networks. If you’re ready to take your Facebook digital marketing game to the next level, start by leveraging these features today.
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