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Crystal Graham: Facebook is not optional

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.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for nearly 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. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.