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Something else.  You tell me.  Does anyone have a preference? (This should be a poll).  Pros and cons would be good.

@andrea-vahl  Oh sorry, this was a non-facebook related question I should have posted it in “Small business”… because my feeling at the moment, is facebook is not cutting it for businesses.  Twitter, not really.  Ning, too clunky.  Google, too far behind and seems to be doing copycat with fb.  Blog site, lot of effort to setup, Email list <<< seems to be the old reliable. 

@vincentedwards    love  your   comment on  ning, i  tried it and   ikkkk….BUT for  downtown  businesses  facebook is  definitely   cutting it….  check out    some  resturants and   retail stores  and see  how  well its  doing….

im in  connection with lots of   retail shops  and   they are  doing   more and more with  facebook…..  its  making me  money every day…lately  ive  been  getting   40 or  50  connections  each day…..and  i hardly know   past the  basics…

EMAIL is  second on my list…..  we have a data base of  actual  customers  and  consider it   a  golden egg….we use it about  20 times a  year…

my BELOVED   blog is  dormant and i  havent  worked on google+, nobody ever mentions it    to me  except on line,  …my   customers  are on  facebook  so  thats where i am…  our store   on the  fun side of life..and  thats  perfect  for  facebook….

i dont  twitter,  and  dont  even  carry a phone…except in the car…

@katiestucky it almost   is  for me katie  andi havent  even  been on  for  2  months…..   its  so amazing…its  drawing  peole to my store too….we  selll lots of vintage    diy  stuff…

@katiestucky  For now I agree, I would actually rather advocate people tap Pinterest rather than facebook (at the moment anyway).

@annfurnivall Nice. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences.  Dont get me wrong, I have clients that are doing very well with facebook (almost seems it is serving them better than their actual website in some cases).  However, yes, my situation is different.  I’ve always been driven by discontempt and indignation for whats out there… It keeps me pushing forward to develop great ideas and keeps me driven.  I just see a shift happening at the moment, the shift is developers are going into mobile (I usually follow the developers signs because they know whats coming) and it looks to me like facebook is putting up barriers for developers and google is trying to open the doors, and wordpress is opening the doors and mobile is opening the doors.  So, my view is slightly slanted from a developers view (which is what I do).

 Facebook for me is to connect with friends, and past classmates, I have connected with some business associates and clients and have and still attempt to do business, but it is tough.. Just set up my FB page to see if that would matter? Invited all my friends 500+ and only had a few sign up to like my page.. I was shocked. Google+ is getting me more business now, did a couple of expirements and still testing out this platform, Linked in- I am still working on, got a few hits from but not enough to retire on. However, the quality of people on linked in our a little bit better then most other social sites. I am B2B so I am sure that has a lot to do with it.  Twitter i have tried to do something with, nothing really coming out of it.. think I need a lot more followers but who has time to look at the streams. @vincentedwards @annfurnivall @katiestucky

@annfurnivall – yes B2B is different on Facebook, can it work- sure… I just created my FB page so maybe I am expecting too much? I did look at your site and you have a great head start- 30 years of being in business. I also have a client/ partner that I have been working with for about 1 year now and we have over 100 people, but that is not going to convert much until they are ready.

I may also be able to help you with something that some of my clients are using and they really are liking the results, let me know and I can give you a demonstration on it and its benefits.

@melissaholmes I have been watching that guy.  Hes on the mark.  When it all boils down to it this is what his message is “Use facebook as a funnel to build your email list”.  Hes a classic marketer.  Lately, Im starting to think (you can see my posts on here) that the good old trusty email is still the way to go.  I had an idea to build a newsletter squeeze app (that works for any facebook app ) and I might just see it through.  Cheers.

Personally I have a page on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and a blog.  I use Facebook almost exclusively.  I closed my brick and mortar location and work exclusively from online venues including teaching workshops – whether it is on Facebook or skype.  I have a very small email list but have an 85% click through rate on emails because I have worked with nearly everyone on the list (just under 1000).  I have never bought a facebook ad so can’t speak to that, what I have done is build community, engage “fans”, and have soulversations.  

Conversion for me means that a “fan” takes a workshop or engages in a service that I provide.  Workshops fill within hours of posting as I keep them to 30 people.  I book client sessions currently a month out.

My experience has been that the more I engage with quality original content, the more authentic I am and do not try to hard sell anything, and the more I am available I am in soulverations with “fans”, the higher the conversion rate is.  

I have worked with a few people who do have product to sell and a brick and mortar story, we used facebook to take her business from a local only to an international business.  14 months ago she was sell from her studio only, Through facebook connection and some intense soulversations with people, she is now distributing her product in 100 locations both nationally and internationally.  And since shifted her business/sales strategies to a sales team (thank you Great Spirit).  Hard work long hours but it paid off for her without buying a facebook ad and only using facebook as her primary vehicle for marketing online.

Just some thoughts.mwahCarla

@annfurnivall I am not supposed to talk about my business on this forum… you can message me and then I can let you know more. We have one guy, who was in business for 30 years using this system. He was spending around $3,000/ month in traditional advertising. He cut out his expense by over $2,500 dollars. If you accept my friendship we can conversations in more detail. He has a Living Assistance Business.

@annfurnivall I know but I need to send you to a link and because I am part of a program that is not allowed here.. like I said I would be happy to meet with you online.  will know if I get slapped by the moderators. http://explore.iwowweservice.com – I can set up a live demo for you. My schedule of availability is at bitly.com/prestonstime as long as you have GMail. Or let’s talk by calling me number should be on the links on my profile.Thanks

Okay, how do you want to see the demo? What is the best way to contact you? @annfurnivall

Okay, what video information do you need? Video is the future and video will build trust faster then any text or even HTML can.  Video is what video is, it will be able to create emotion with your audience. Think of TV, Even if you don’t watch it anymore you still are going to tune into a commercial or show faster then looking through an email or some other way.  @annfurnivall

@annfurnivall Video Cameras now are very inexpensive… getting a you tube channel is good, for traffic but you will find that it may not get you traffic to you, because there are other videos that will pop up on the right and the customer might click on those as well. You can hire someone, but why create another expense you don’t need.

You can try our product at no cost.. Msg me for the link… Don’t worry about making it perfect, just do like a video blog about your business expirence or what you do, what products that sell the best during the season. I know most people don’t like being on video, but once you are, you will notice a significant increase in trust.

If you have 15min this week, let me know and I will call you at your store. I know our product and service will help you more than I can explain on this forum.

Gotta go… check in a bit later

Have great content, first and foremost. Also, host a giveaway or two and encourage fans to mention you for a chance to win.

Oh, and sorry!  The best way I’ve found to build FB fans is to have a good ad campaign.  Look at what other businesses are doing, and find a solution that works for you.  I took a creative approach to my ad, and even though it has ups and downs as far as clicks, I’ve gotten over 2,000 fans in about two months.