When you sign up for Facebook you have to agree to their terms and conditions. By agreeing to the terms and conditions, you get to use Facebook.

By having, an account you have granted them permission to use everything you do on Facebook to monitor your interests, habits, friend activity, and usage. Of course, you own the information, however, one thing you can’t do–refuse to follow their terms and conditions. If you don’t like the terms, you have the right to deactivate your account (or not create one at all).

Regarding the ads, your name can be used in conjunction with any ad of their choosing. It will be promoted to your Facebook friends as they see fit.

In Facebook’s own words:

“… your name will only be paired with a social ad when the ad is being shown to your friends.

Sponsored Stories are only delivered to your confirmed friends and respect the privacy settings you configure for your news feed. Learn more about privacy settings for posts you share that may be published to your feeds. Because sponsored stories are just stories from the news feed, you cannot opt out of them.”

Here’s what you do have control over (for now):

You may edit your ad privacy settings for Facebook Ads:

1. Click  the Account Settings option at the top right of any Facebook page.
2. Click Ads in the left column
3. Under the Ads & Friends section, select your preference from the drop-down menu. Click Save Changes.

Here’s what it looks like:

For more information the complete Data Use Policy is available at:  https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/your-info

Source: Facebook

Here are the results of an experiment I did this morning on my business’ Facebook Page. I posted an article about what drowning really looks like (BTW, very important information, please read: Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning on Slate.com. It could save a life).

The following article was posted in two different formats within 5 minutes of each other.

First, I posted a commentary about the article with a link. I removed the preview at the bottom of the post that Facebook automatically produces when you post a link.

Within the first 53 minutes, 36 people saw the post including one “share.”  Of those:

• 17 (47% of views) were Organic views, meaning, the number of people who views my post in their newsfeed, ticker, or on my Jumpset Strategies Facebook page.
• 20 (56% of views) were Viral views, meaning, people saw my post as a result of others sharing or liking my post.
• Note: According to on Facebook’s calculations, the numbers add up to one extra viewer or 103%, because the share was also counted as a view / interaction in the organic vs. viral breakdown, but not as an overall additional viewer.

Next, I posted the same link again in a different way. This time I posted the link, waited for the preview to show up, then deleted the link in the text. It displayed as it does below (without the statistics provided for illustration purposes).

In the first 47 minutes, only 16 people viewed the post. This post also had one share.

Of those sixteen viewers:

• 13 (totaling 81% of views) were Organic views.
• 3 (totaling 19% of views) were Viral views.

After I wrote the last paragraph, I took another screen shot of the preview style post above. This was about 20 minutes after the first screen shot.  The new numbers increased slightly:

23 people had then seen the posting. Of those:

• 15 (65% of views) were Organic views.
• 8  (35% of views) were Viral views.

Notice that given 20 minutes more time, the posting with the preview still did not receive as many views as the original posting that did not contain a preview.

By posting your own text, you will receive more engagement and rank higher in newsfeeds than by posting links without your own comments.

Why is this?

The reason has to do with the way Facebook prioritizes what you see in your newsfeed and ticker.

Facebook uses Edgerank, a newsfeed algorithm that makes decisions on what people see in their newsfeed based on sponsored posts, your interests, interactions, popularity, and predictions based on past behaviors. Getting top billing are those posts that have paid to advertise, sponsor or boost a posting. Next in line are status updates which are more highly ranked than articles shared via a preview. Your own photos and videos are also more highly ranked than links with a preview but not as high as text-based status updates. By adding comments you additionally increase the ranking.

According to Edgerank.net the easiest way to optimize your Facebook Fan Page is to engage your audience by asking questions, asking people to click like if they agree with you on something, produce polls, and encourage comments. The more people engage with you via your Facebook postings the more views you will receive because they take priority in Edgerank’s algorithm. Comments are also more highly weighted than “likes.”

Using social media is part art, part science. Know the basics on what, how and when to post is the science part, but don’t stop there. Following the advice from the experts, is wise but it won’t necessarily increase your engagement. That’s where the art comes to play. Knowing your audience, what topics interest them and delivering it on a timely and consistent basis will help you over time. No one can tell you what content to post; that is as unique as the personality and brand of your product or company. Keep plugging away, analyze what is happening, change what isn’t working, and try new things. Eventually you will get it right.

For more information on increasing Facebook engagement please read: 8 Essentials For Facebook Engagement

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This is not an all-or-nothing proposition. You need both and here’s why:

When customers shop for a product or service, they sometimes rely on advice from friends and family; and sometimes they don’t.

What about those customers who look for information online? Do you want to reach them? If they were looking for a local service online, could they find  you, or would they only find your competitors? 

If you are not marketing your business online, only your competitors will show up in an online search. 

For example, just this week alone, I searched for paint stores, restaurants, and lighting stores. I don’t buy paint and lighting often so I needed help finding local stores. I did the search from my mobile device and did not ask for recommendations. I went to the stores that I was able to find quickly on my phone. If a lighting store was not listed, they missed out on my business. I know there are more stores in my area but I couldn’t find them. Where did I go? I went to those I could find in my mobile search. This scenario is becoming more common each day.

Starting with social media is as simple as making sure your physical address is updated in local online search directories. I write more about it in an earlier post: Local Search Marketing, It’s Free, Easy and Necessary.

In 2 minutes, you can create a presence on Facebook. Click here to learn how.

Local search marketing is a vital for small businesses, because consumers are increasingly searching online for addresses, recommendations, and ideas. Don’t get left out by completely ignoring social media and online search marketing.

For more information read: 3 Social Media Myths Stopping Small Business From Getting Started.

So go ahead and ask your customers to tell their friends about your company. Provide great customer service so they are more likely to do so. In addition to that, use the free resources available to you through social media and online search marketing. The only thing you have to lose is a potential customer.

If your local business needs help getting started, contact me for a free consultation.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, Hiscox made this helpful infographic to show you what other small businesses are thinking.

Do any of these sound familiar?

1) “With so many social networks, I’m not sure which to use.” You don’t have to use all the social networks. Focusing on a few that existing and potential customers use will make more impact in less time. Don’t spread yourself too thin by using too many. Devoting your time to two networks is better than starting on five and neglecting them. If you want to know which networks your customers use, ask them their opinion. It’s a great ice breaker and offers another opportunity to engage with valuable customers.

2) “I don’t have enough information to share.” Opportunities for engaging with customers are huge. Daily specials, coupons, and promotions are easy. Your customers would also love to hear about how others are using your products and services, relevant news, helpful information, celebrations, new offerings, or photos from your business (a new product, a dessert, an event, a new sign) only scratch the surface of the possibilities. When you use social media it’s important to make the message about your customers and the benefits they receive by doing business with you. Since every message should not be about your business, it’s easy to find new ways to reach out to your audience.

3) “People complain too much on social media. If we get a negative review our reputation will be ruined.” This is where you can turn a negative experience into a positive one. By using social media to communicate with unhappy customers you immediately improve your reputation. Besides, do you want negative information to be to only information out there? By engaging on social media you can correct mis-information or apologize if necessary to turn unhappy customers into happy ones. Many customers love to share great experiences too. Ask them to spread the word on their favorite networks. Many would love to help you out, especially when you personally engage with them.

Turn those myths into opportunities.

Small businesses that don’t use social media are missing an important opportunity for marketing their business. Using social media is the most cost-effective engagement tool next to word of mouth, and is easier to measure. It just takes a little time each week to make an impact.

If your local business needs help getting started, contact me for a free consultation.

JumpsetStrategies.com

Dear Facebook,

We need to talk. I have a confession. This is hard for  me to say, so I’ll just spit it out. I’ve been seeing another social network on the side. Its name is Twitter. I didn’t plan to stray. It just sort of happened.

I will tell you everything, but please, hear me out before jumping to conclusions.

Our relationship started out innocently enough. I met Twitter many years ago, about the same time I met you. I opened an account to see what it was all about. I was not an instant fan. I only visited a couple of times a month. It seemed very random. Few of my friends and acquaintances used it. People followed until I followed back, then unfollowed. There was no commitment as there was on Facebook. This wasn’t the place I wanted to settle down in at that time in my life. I spent the early years of my social network life with you Facebook; where everybody knew my name. Twitter was just a passing fling.

As my commitment to you deepened, I didn’t think I could ever have feelings for another social network. You gave me things I didn’t get from Twitter. You were dependable and had given me access to my family and friends–all in one place. You even connected me with long-lost friends who I never thought I’d see again. You knew me intimately through my photos, my interests, my rants and raves, and cute quotes from my kids. Twitter could care less about my kids. You gave me snapshot of my life for the past 6 years–in an impressively organized Timeline. It was hard for me to stay away from you, even for one day. You’ve been my constant. My rock.

Twitter and I started spending more time together because of work. It helped me advance my career and get my blog noticed. It introduced me to the movers and shakers in my industry. It gave me access to breaking news before I could read it on CNN. Over time, Twitter’s steady stream of 140 character lyrics hypnotized me—promising to show me new things and take me to new places. We talked and talked; but never about kids, housework, and what to eat for dinner. We were hot. Others felt the heat and followed daily. I had my own private paparazzi. It felt like an illicit romance.

Not many of my friends liked Twitter so it remained my dirty little secret. Publicly I was with you Facebook. Privately, my secret affair with Twitter was one I felt ashamed to share with my closest friends. I was tempted by the social candy. I was weak and helpless to its charms. I’m only human you know.

Twitter did not make me feel guilty for unfollowing others that weren’t my style. On Facebook, unfriending someone caused so much guilt and stress. Twitter was laid back, no pressure, and let me get in touch with my carefree side. It was my friend with benefits.

Twitter wasn’t as demanding as you were Facebook. It didn’t exploit my interests and sell me out to impress the suits on Wall Street. It didn’t manipulate my friends by making them think I liked things I didn’t. It didn’t constantly want me to play games; harass me with app requests. It respected me by laying it all out on the line. We had a completely transparent relationship.

Facebook, when we’re  together I feel like I always have to watch my back; double-checking to make sure the intimate details of our  life together stayed private. You held my newsfeed hostage, tried to restrict my choices and control what I saw. You want to know what I “Like”, but you refuse to let me express what I “Don’t Like.” It it’s been hard maintaining our relationship because you keep changing. Some days, I’m not sure who I’m going to wake next to.

One thing Twitter did not force on me was the annoying cat memes. I know you think you know me, but did you know that I’m allergic to cats? I don’t find them endearing like the rest of the Internet. My head begins to swell just by seeing them in my newsfeed. I can’t hide them fast enough. Why could you not restrict the cats? Why? Why!

You must feel you’ve been “double-crossed” by a hashtag. Rumor has it you are planning to bring hashtags to Facebook. I know you are hurting, but you don’t have to change to win me back. I appreciate you working so hard to make our relationship work. I want to try to make it work too.

There are so many things I love about you, but my feelings for Twitter are complicated. I don’t want to leave you. Not really. I just want an open relationship. We’re different then we were when we first met. Maybe over time you’ll be able to accept that our lives have evolved. What do you say? Can we give it a shot?

Sincerely,

Audrey @Jumpset_Tweets
xxxooo

The best marketing strategy will flop if customers can’t get their concerns addressed. Social media strategies and marketing campaigns must outline how customer service will be handled. Good customer service is thoughtfully and deliberately integrated into standard operations. It is not treated as an afterthought.

If you don’t know how to start using social media to engage with your customers, using it for customer service is a great place to start. When customers are looking for help, 47% go to a website or social network to get answers (source: ClickSoftware). Your audience is waiting, don’t let them down.

71% expect to get help within five minutes and if they don’t, 48% will abandon the site (Source: eConsultancy via LivePerson). You don’t want customers to leave unhappy do you?

This infographic developed by ClickSoftware compiles many interesting statistics and gives a helpful visual of important customer service considerations. Keep them in mind when planning a social media strategy. Happy customers come back.

Pinstamatic allows you to make your own very pin-able links that look great on your Pinterest board. With it you can create a with a message that others will want to pin too.

Fun features include:

Sticky-Note Generator: I made this pin-worthy sticky note in about 10 seconds.

Snap a Screenshot of your Website: Enter a URL and it takes a snapshot of your site and turns it into a fun new pin. Here is what it snapped from the Haus Interior Design bath portfolio. If you want one of your pages found on Pinterest, simply enter your URL and Pinstamatic does the rest (caveat: depending on how your site is set up this may not work).

http://hausinteriordesign.com/

Inspired by Quotes? Pinstamatic lets you enter a quote to create an inspirational message you can share on your boards.

Into Music? Create a pin of your favorite song on Spotify and pin to a board. I’m currently listening to Coldplay … my blog-writing background music.

Easy Photo Uploads. Take your own photo or upload a favorite to pin as well. It allows you to enter captions and provides simple formatting options.

Have a Twitter Account? Create a pin of your Twitter profile. Here’s mine:

https://twitter.com/Jumpset_Tweets

The possibilities are endless. Have fun with this great new tool. I certainly will be taking full advantage–you know where you can find me: http://pinterest.com/audreybromano/

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing — find quick-share buttons below. Thank you!

Most people don’t know about a secret Facebook inbox for private messages.

Facebook thought it would be a helpful for them to filter your messages for you (don’t forget to thank them). They are typically messages from people who are not your Facebook friends. It’s good to check the box periodically in case you have something you want in there.

The pros: If you get a lot of Facebook messages, it helps prioritize those from Facebook friends and those from non-friends (possibly spam or unwanted messages).

The cons: Since most people don’t know about this, you might be missing messages you would consider important (despite what Facebook assumes).

Here’s how you find it:

Click your messages icon to get to your inbox. It’s located next to the Facebook logo,  between the friend request notifications icon and the general notifications icon (see photo).

The secret inbox is hidden in plain sight. It’s called “Other” and is located next to the word “Inbox” at the top of the pop-out messages screen. It’s shaded in gray. Click on it to see if you have any hidden messages. The attached photo shows I don’t have any, but you might. Check it out.