Facebook is the leading social media site with 2.23 billion users globally (Kallas, 2020). Without a doubt, it is also one of the most utilized platforms for business marketing today. The attraction of companies to Facebook comes from the opportunity to reach the masses. The user base includes all types of people of all ages. The statistics show that most of the users are over 18 years old, which is ideal for businesses because they want their audience to have the money to spend on their products or services (Sherman, 2019). Another feature of Facebook that is optimal is targeted advertisement. This platform allows business to target their audience with marketing that will be displayed to their specific accounts (Sherman 2019).
If you do have a Facebook account, it’s safe to say you’ve been exposed to brand marketing the majority of times you’ve logged in. You’ve also probably noticed that there is little way to avoid this, unless you choose to mute a certain brand or company. Off the top of my head, one form of marketing that appears on my Facebook feed is advertisements of products I’ve recently searched for on Google or have visited on a website. In my own opinion, and can say from the majority opinion of other people I know, it’s outright “creepy.” We all know all our searches and online activity are never truly private. No matter how many times you delete something or clear your search history, nothing is ever truly gone or erased from technology’s memory. The business world has take full advantage of this, and as much as it is “creepy,” it is equally genius. If I’ve recently searched for a product and already have an interest in buying it, there is a good chance I’ll click on the link.
Though a lot of these advertisements show up without user initiative, such as those previously described, many of the ads I see on Facebook come from my “friends” shares. Companies are smart in the images and captions they use. For example, currently on my Facebook feed, I am viewing a picture of two newborn elephants at a local zoo. It was shared by someone I am friends with on Facebook. Most likely, the person shared this photo because it was cute, not so much to promote the zoo’s business. Ultimately, they actually are promoting the business because they are spreading brand awareness. Chances are, you’re friends with many people who live in your local area. Therefore, a local zoo is most likely more attractive to the community because it is convenient. The potential customer, like myself, is convinced to click on the zoo’s website link for two reasons: the cute animals and the close proximity.
Facebook is a great way to receive information about brands, whether it be intentional or presented on your feed. I do enjoy this feature, but sometimes it seems a little overload. Businesses should certainly continue to capitalize on the opportunity to market on Facebook, though, as it is proven successful and an easy way to reach their target audience.
References
Kallas, P. (2020, January 2). Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites and Apps [2020] @DreamGrow. Retrieved January 19, 2020, from https://www.dreamgrow.com/top-15- most-popular-social-networking-sites/
Sherman. (2019, August 12). The Best Social Media Platforms for Your Business in 2019.Retrieved January 19, 2020, from https://www.lyfemarketing.com/blog/best-social- media-platforms/
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