Home Crystal Graham: Facebook is not optional
News

Crystal Graham: Facebook is not optional

Crystal Graham

I was having a conversation with a local businessman this week who said to me that he is “just not into that social media stuff.” Which is fine if he chooses not to use Facebook on an individual basis.

But if you are not using social media to extend the reach of your business, then his business is clearly missing out.

The concept behind Facebook for business is really simple — you are giving fans easy access to share their love of your business, to share your upcoming events or sales and promotions with their friends and really create the kind of word-of-mouth advertising that we all need to succeed.

And the best part of social media? It doesn’t cost you a dime. It only costs you a small investment of time.

Most small- to medium-sized companies have some kind of social-media presence with only around 20 percent of businesses ignoring it altogether.

It reminds me of someone who called this morning and asked to fax me a news release. If you are faxing a news release, you are behind the times. If you are not on social media, the same holds true.

Setting up a Facebook page does not have to be time consuming. There are dozens of tools that you can integrate with your website to make posts to your Facebook page virtually automatic.

And there’s no better way to reach out to an existing fan base who “like” you already.

Facebook shouldn’t be your only marketing strategy. It should be an extension of other marketing efforts.

You may not be into social media, but if your business is ignoring it, you are missing out.

Crystal Graham is the Vice President of Augusta Free Press LLC. Her business is online at www.AFPBusiness.com.

Support AFP

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

Latest News

jon scheyer
Basketball

A top-ranked Duke team, again, chokes away a game in March: That’s a shame

ethan anderson uva baseball
Baseball

UVA Baseball alum Ethan Anderson keys Baysox in exhibition with Shorebirds

UVA Baseball alum Ethan Anderson had a two-run double and a solo homer in an extended spring training exhibition game on Sunday between the Chesapeake Baysox and the Delmarva Shorebirds, two minor-league affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles.

eric becker uva baseball
Baseball

UVA Baseball: #9 ‘Hoos salvage series finale at Boston College with 3-1 win

Ninth-ranked Virginia, shut out for the previous 14 innings, dating back to the ninth inning on Friday night, pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth to salvage the series finale at Boston College, winning 3-1 on Sunday.

softball
Baseball

UVA Softball: ‘Hoos complete weekend sweep of Pitt with 4-1 win

vdot road
Local News

VDOT: Local road work on the schedule for the week of March 30-April 3

iran
Politics

The implications of Donald Trump’s strategic miscalculation in Iran

teen addiction recovery mental health drug alcohol3
Politics

When headlines make you snap: Managing displaced anger in anxious times