Ben Pickering, Author at Social Media Examiner

By Ben Pickering
August 12, 2013

Is your Facebook Page working for your business?

Have you considered using Facebook apps, but don’t know where to start?

In this article I‘ll highlight some of the most popular uses of apps, as well as a few individual apps, so you can find the right fit for your Facebook Page.

What You Need to Know about Facebook Apps

Apps let you do all sorts of things on your Facebook Page without writing your own code.

You can import your blog, run contests and promotions, collect email sign-ups, sell product through ecommerce and provide customer support.

Social Media Examiner utilizes a variety of apps on its Page.

By Ben Pickering
December 12, 2012

Are you wondering what the secret ingredient is to business-to-business (B2B) marketing on Facebook?

The answer may surprise you.

Facebook, by its nature, is a more compelling consumer communications channel than it is for business-to-business.

Let’s not forget that behind every business are consumers. With 900 million active users, you can bet that your target customer is on Facebook.

Data indicates that B2B marketers are still using Facebook at a lower rate than B2C marketers. No matter what type of business you run, think about Facebook as a complement to, and extension of, your existing communications channels. After all, the more channels you use to reach your audience, the better!

Page Insights illustrate the effectiveness of your Facebook marketing beyond the Like.

Likes Still Matter, but They Are the Beginning, Not the End

Many marketers have been obsessed with Likes to the exclusion of other important considerations. Looking at the number of Likes on your Facebook Page without analyzing other engagement and conversion metrics is not going to win you more business.

By Ben Pickering
June 28, 2012

Have you thought of using social media contests and sweepstakes to build and engage your audience?

Previously I wrote How to Run a Successful Social Media Contest outlining some important foundational steps: be clear on your marketing objectives, know your audience, understand different promotion types and plan ahead!

If you’re looking to gain even more traction with social promotions, here are eight additional tips to enhance your next social media campaign.

Ensure Your Promotion Doesn’t Get You In Hot Water

It’s difficult to run a successful campaign if your promotion is blocked, removed or challenged in a court of law. So before we get to the fun part of marketing, there are a few logistical tips to keep in mind.

By Ben Pickering
May 3, 2012

Are you considering Facebook Ads but are confused by all the options?

You’ve undoubtedly heard that “social ads” are the future of advertising, but what does that mean in practical terms for you today?

This article will help you make smart decisions about how to promote your brand and engage with fans through advertising on Facebook.

As a Facebook Preferred Developer, I’ve had the opportunity to gather a lot of information from the proverbial “horse’s mouth.”

This article will provide a useful lay of the land around the new ad solutions that were introduced at the Facebook Marketing Conference (fMC) in February.

Understanding Facebook’s Sales Process and Where You Fit

Before delving into the various advertising options available on Facebook and how you can utilize them, it’s helpful to understand how Facebook interfaces with advertisers.