Comments on: 10 Reasons Your Business Should Be on Facebook, Part 2

By: Jeanne Dininni

Jeanne Dininni — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:57:13 +0000

You and me both, Andrew! I’m not very technically savvy with my cell phone, either — and I’m always worried about extra charges, so I rarely ever do anything unconventional with it. Truth be told, when I’m at home I already spend so much time on the computer/Internet that if I were to also access the Web via my cell phone while out and about, I’d be on the Internet almost literally all day and never get a break! So, this turns out to be a form of protection for me!

The good news for advertisers is that, despite mobile phone users like the two of us, the market is rapidly expanding, providing them with major profit-generating opportunities. As you’ve said, Marketers do need to be careful to provide content that can be viewed easily on smaller, non-smartphone type screens. However, as smartphone sales increase — and eventually surpass conventional mobile phone sales — this will be less an issue, since (at least the high-end) smartphone screens can handle most (if not all ) of the same types of content that PCs can.

Thanks so much for your feedback!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:14:30 +0000

Jeanne,

With all this talk about accessing Facebook by phone, I’m beginning to feel like I’m behind the times.

The only thing I myself am capable of doing with my phone (and about the only thing I ever want to be able to do with it) is to make phone calls. I guess I’ll have to move into the twenty-first century at some stage.

If Facebook by phone indeed becomes popular, this does represent a huge opportunity. Still, marketers will have to be careful so as to make their ads easy to view on tiny screens.

By: Jeanne Dininni

Jeanne Dininni — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:48:24 +0000

Excellent point, Mandeep! With the mobile Web, the target market is always active and always available, unlike those who use desktop PCs to access Facebook. Even those who have laptops don’t have things quite as easy or convenient as those who surf the Web right on their mobile phones. The mobile Web really offers great potential for businesses that step right up and implement a wise mobile marketing strategy — and I think today any such strategy would pretty much have to include a Facebook presence.

By: Mandeep Khunkhuna

Mandeep Khunkhuna — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:22:58 +0000

I have found that people do access Facebook via their phones, rather than on a computer. This is just general observations of people I know, but I can already see that it an be easier, convenient and quicker to stay updated with your Facebook on your phone. If as a business we can tap into this new way of communicating virtually then, a company can really reap the rewards. This means full access to your target market not just when they are on their computers but when they are on the go too.

By: Jeanne Dininni

Jeanne Dininni — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:21:15 +0000

Thanks, Karen! I think you’ve hit the nail on the head: Virtually everyone who’s active online has a Facebook account, so it’s a great place to reach the masses with your message. With over twice as many users as Twitter — and more ways to target them — Facebook is the number-one place on the Web to begin creating brand recognition. Twitter is valuable too, of course, and is certainly a great adjunct to Facebook; but, for any but the most specialized businesses, the company that’s serious about connecting (and collecting) via social media should certainly begin with Facebook.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:29:23 +0000

Jeanne, this was a great series and you captured all the reasons that businesses should consider Facebook. For anyone seeking to reach the mainstream, Facebook is undeniably the virtual place to be. Unlike Twitter which attracts more of the leading edge early adopters, Facebook is main street. Businesses must adapt their language and approach on Facebook but it’s definitely a tool worth adding to the social media toolkit.

By: Jeanne Dininni

Jeanne Dininni — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:43:52 +0000

Facebook certainly does seem to lend itself particularly well to the mobile medium. I can’t help but notice how many of my FB friends use their mobile phones to connect there — though I have yet to do so myself. Chalk it up to my low-tech cell phone and the fact that I’m in front of my computer writing all day anyway, which makes my PC the most convenient way for me to access FB and the rest of the Web.

Yet, for many people, who tend to be on the go a lot, the mobile Web is the most practical way to stay connected while out doing other, equally important things. Facebook is clearly benefiting from this phenomenon and is poised to enjoy even greater gains as the mobile Web continues its incredible growth.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:25:45 +0000

Jeanne, Very interesting developments. As recently as a year ago, the business value of Facebook was an iffy proposition at best. Now, companies are stampeding toward it with ever increasing velocity, and who can blame them? Facebook is a superior advertising platform and facilities community building and conversation far better than Twitter. I think the coming surge of the mobile Web is the best thing that could happen to Facebook – don’t you think the platform lends itself particularly well to this medium?