Facebook has become so much more than just a social networking site. It has really catapulted into a powerful marketing tool that caters to businesses of all sizes. Even with over 2.91 billion monthly users, the platform still gives businesses an immense opportunity to develop close, authentic relationships with their audience.
Having a Facebook Business Page is a cost effective way to amp up your online presence. You can do this by sharing recent artworks, links, images, videos, workshops, etc. on your Facebook page. And beyond that, it's truly a great resource for businesses to reach more potential customers.
As an artist, you can use Facebook to systematically tell your story to your audience to build deeper relationships. Facebook can help you establish yourself as a professional artist and get your artwork in front of a much broader audience. It allows users to easily create and share content with their audience which is so important in today's day and age as these social media platforms are driven by original, thoughtful, and well-timed content.
Follow these 5 easy steps to start using Facebook:
1. Setup and use a Facebook Business Page to promote your art, not your personal account. A Facebook Business Pagegives you more tools that will allow you to effectively utilize the platform as a true professional (see number 5 below). To share your work, updates, or other information, you can simply "share" the posts you create on your business page to your personal page.
2. Your Business Page name should include your name to make it easy for people to find you on the platform. The most important aspect in marketing is to make sure that you're accessible to people who are seeking you out. If someone types in your name in the search function on Facebook, they should be able to easily find your Business Page.
3. Use a cover photo that clearly shows a recent and available artwork. Be sure to update this monthly with new artwork so you're showing a variety of available pieces. Or, if necessary, more frequently if a piece sells.
4. Use a headshot for your profile picture so people can begin to build a connection with you personally. As much as people may drawn in by your artwork, it's also important that they can see the person behind the art.
5. Setup a Facebook shop with art that you want to sell. To do this, you must setup a Facebook Business Page. Add artwork to your Facebook shop that links to your Artwork Detail page on Facebook. Be sure this information is accurate and updated regularly to avoid inconveniencing potential customers.
While Facebook is a great marketing tool to grow your audience, it should absolutely be used in conjunction with your website for maximum effect. At FASO, we specialize in creating beautiful, functional websites specifically for artists.
The goal of your Facebook Business Page is ultimately to drive potential customers to your website. Then with your website, you can deliver a more immersive and realistic experience of your art for your visitors. You also have more opportunity to tell your story in a clear and concise way that resonates with your visitors. Doing this gets your visitors more emotionally invested which ultimately leads to increased connection and higher buying potential.
More specifically, you should always direct website visitors to sign up for your newsletter so they are subscribed to a channel that you completely own. This will allow you to continue to nurture these relationships while staying top-of-mind.
Stay tuned for next week, where I'll dive into the specifics on how to setup your Facebook Business Page.
