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Word-of-mouth recommendation always seemed like the best advertisement to me, albeit a slow one. But now with Facebook and Twitter, I'm able to promote my home improvement website with relative ease. It's free and immediate, allowing me to touch base with my followers and friends on a regular basis. I offer them better value and keep advertising my business every day.
I Created a Facebook Business Page
Unlike my private Facebook account, I created a business page to help promote my business (here's the link for creating a business Facebook page.) I posted before-and-after pictures of my home improvement projects, as well as links to my favorite articles.
Next, on my business website I created a Facebook "Visit My Page" button to let visitors know about my Facebook page and the great information they'll find posted there.
To keep things interesting, every day I post something new on my Facebook page. For example, I'll send a link to my favorite home decorating ideas or money tips. Or I'll promote the project of the month, a project that ties directly to my website sponsor revenues.
I Created a Facebook Group
To offer the appeal of a free membership, I created a Facebook Group, in which I list specific Facebook followers who asked to be included. Anyone can sign up on my website to be added to the group. And anyone can drop out at any time.
I post more frequently to my Facebook Group than I do for my business page, because I'm communicating with people who asked to receive more updates, free information and interesting facts.
I also use my Facebook Group to invite my friends to any interviews I give on other blogs or online communities, where I share my home improvement experiences.
I Harnessed the Power of Facebook's "Like" Button
Using the Facebook Developer's Social Plug in Tool, I generated the HTML code for my Facebook "Like" button. I posted it on my website, in addition to the "Like" button already present on my Facebook Page.
Whenever someone likes my business, the information is automatically shared with all their friends. This allows me to spread the word about my home improvement website like rings on a pond.
I Created a Twitter Account
I created a customized twitter page for my business and uploaded a screenshot of my business website as my background. Using Bit.ly to shorten my website URLs, I created catchy twits with links to my home improvement articles.
To simplify the process of twitting, I keep a list of these twits. This also helps me track my daily twits and prevents me from over-twitting or duplicating unintentionally.
Each time someone follows my business on twitter, I check out their account. If they look legitimate, I follow them back. As a result, in two months I have gathered more than 800 twitter followers and list is still growing.
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