Using Facebook Messages to Communicate with Your Prospects

Facebook has become a very popular way for people to interact with one another on the Internet. In fact, Facebook has in many ways replaced some of the traditional means of Internet communication. For example, many people now use Facebook's messaging system much more often than they use their traditional email accounts.

Lots of people log into Facebook every single day, so if their friends are already Facebook members, it's easier to send messages from within Facebook than to go to another web service like Yahoo mail or Google mail just to send a quick message. Most people also like to maintain only a single contact list or address book, and since Facebook does this for them automatically, it becomes very easy to send messages directly from Facebook.

You can use Facebook messages to strengthen the relationships you have with your customers. For example, by offering your customers the option of contacting you on Facebook for customer service issues or questions they may have, you do so in an environment that they are already comfortable in, and spend lots of time using – Facebook.

Many people feel like their traditional email inboxes have simply become a source of spam and unwanted email, and that attitude can sometimes affect how they view the people who are sending them email.

The most convenient part of using Facebook messaging is that each time you become a friend of a business contact (or potential business contact), or they link themselves to your business Page, you immediately have a way of contacting them directly. There's no need to take the extra step of asking for an email address.

To create a message, click the "Messages" Link that's near the upper left hand corner of your main Facebook page, and then click the "New Message" button that's in the upper right hand corner of the screen. You'll then be asked to enter the recipient's name (or list of recipients), the message, and you can also attach a photo, video clip, or link that's related to your message.

Using lists can be a convenient way to manage different Facebook messaging campaigns. For example, you can have lists of "current customers," "new prospects," "potential business partners," and send differently targeted messages to each. Since an individual contact can be a member of multiple lists, there's no need to struggle with trying to fit each person into a distinct category.

Be sure that you are not overwhelming your customers and prospects, however. It is very easy for someone to disable all the messages you send (effectively blacklisting you), which could make it very difficult to get into contact with them when you have information that impacts them directly (perhaps a product warranty or recall notice, or information that they have specifically requested from you).

If you strive to balance your desire to expand your business with your customers' desire to not feel like they're being "spammed", then Facebook Messages can be an effective part of your business' promotional strategy.

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