FACEBOOK: MAKE IT VISUAL

Is your business Facebook page looking a bit neglected? Haven’t posted since 2016?

Social media is one of the simplest ways for businesses and brands to connect with their customers. Everyone is attached to their smartphone these days - can’t leave home without it!

But it's really important that you present your business in its best light, and think about how you can add value to people’s lives, not just make more sales.

Your business Facebook page is a brilliant marketing tool, as long as it's used in the right way. Sure, you want to sell your products or get customers to book your services, but consumers are getting savvy.

Blatant marketing plugs are a turn off. A customer will follow your Facebook page because it’s interesting to them, but if all they see from you is a constant stream of sales pitch, they’ll unfollow.

So as well as coming up with interesting and entertaining content, it’s important that you catch people’s attention. Photos and images in your status updates are your friend. It’s proven posts with a photo, graphic or video gain more views than posts with just text.

Facebook wants businesses to pay for advertising, so its getting harder to get your business posts into people's newsfeed organically. (Organically means without paying).

Then you have only a split second to catch their attention as they scroll down the page.

But there are a couple of simple ways to improve your exposure.

As well as having interesting content, you need to make sure your page looks good - because consumers know what appeals to them.

Make your business Facebook page visually interesting. Make sure you have a clear profile photo and cover photo (the banner across the top of your page). A lot of businesses use their logo for their profile photo, while others use a professional headshot.

Using your logo helps you brand your business and will become instantly recognisable to your customers. Using a photo puts a face on the business. As a sole trader and freelancer, I used a professional-looking photo of myself for almost 12 months. My business was new and people were more likely to recognise my face than my business logo.

Whenever you post an update on your business page, ask yourself: could I include a photo, meme or video with this? It could be a product pic, a staff member giving a simple tutorial or explainer video, or a small ad graphic about your service or event.

It does take a bit of time and planning, but being more visual with your Facebook page will pay off.