Facebook has a bunch of free tools that can be leveraged for marketing. And most business owners don’t yet know how to take full advantage of these.
This means that you have the upper hand here. Here are some free tools that you can use to start marketing on Facebook.
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Facebook shop
Facebook allows you to seamlessly create a customised digital storefront which you can manage both on Facebook and Instagram. Your shoppers can browse through the shop and make a purchase either in-app or through your website. You can also complete the transaction via DM.
As of 2021, 250 million people shopped on Facebook worldwide. And this number keeps on increasing. So, make sure you don’t miss out on this feature and set up a shop as soon as possible!
A Facebook shop can be created on your Facebook business page with the Commerce manager on your dashboard. You can upload products manually using a data feed in the form of a spreadsheet file using the Facebook pixel.
If you sell on an eCommerce website created with a platform like Instamojo, you can create a Facebook shop by importing and syncing products. Your catalogue will be automatically updated.
Facebook Messenger
You might not have expected to see this one on the list. Facebook Messenger messages have an open rate of 50-80 per cent. You can make use of this free Facebook feature as a marketing tool.
Facebook Messenger, and other messaging tools for that matter, are a great place to interact with potential buyers and make sales. But there are many ways selling via chats can go wrong. You don’t want to sound too ‘salesy’ and drive your audience away.
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From a sales perspective, think of the people who comment as leads: they’re more likely to make a sale. So, nurture those leads by replying to comments and engaging with them via DMs. You can also encourage your Facebook audience to DM you for more details regarding a product.
Many service-based business owners or digital product sellers ask people to DM them for a free resource. This technique will allow you to collect leads who are interested in the service you offer.
Related read: 25 tips to increase your sales from Instagram (with examples)
Facebook Appointments
If you’re a service-based business, you should definitely try out the Appointments feature available on Facebook. When setting up your CTA button, you can choose the ‘Appointments on Facebook’ option.
With this feature, you don’t have to manually collect appointment requests and do a lot of back and forth communication. You’ll be able to manage your business calendar easily and view your appointment records.
You can start by setting a time you’re available so that customers can choose times that are convenient for them, even if they don’t use Facebook. This feature also allows you to communicate effectively with customers by sending them reminders and confirmation messages for upcoming appointments using SMS and Facebook Messenger.
To complete the transaction, you can either ask the to message you or lead customers to a landing page. The latter option is more efficient and helps build trust among your clients. You can get your own landing page for free with Instamojo Smart Pages.
Pages to Watch
As an online business, you need a solid understanding of who your competition is. Thankfully, Facebook’s algorithm has figured this out for businesses like you.
The Pages to Watch feature is available on Facebook Page Insights on your dashboard.
Facebook shows you five potential competitors by default, but you can view more by clicking “See More Suggested Pages.”
You’ll be able to keep track of your competitors’ activity, growth rates, and how frequent they post. This is a brilliant yet easy way to analyse your competition and stay ahead of them with strategies.
Bonus: Some (more) free resources for you
Selling on Facebook has never been easier! And with new tools and features being released frequently, this is the best time for small businesses to start selling online. Here are some resources to get you started:
Reading material –
- How to sell easily on Facebook for small businesses
- How To Use Facebook LIVE For Your Small Business
- 3 reasons why your small business NEEDS to be on Facebook
What about if you already have an online store? (If you don’t yet, well create your free online store first)
If you have your online store set up on Instamojo, you can now integrate your store with Facebook! Run ads and display your product catalogues on Facebook – it’s all set up automatically with a click of a button.
Don’t believe us? Here’s a short video –
