Still think Facebook is just for socialising? Think again...

My daily 15 minute dose of breakfast TV this morning revealed that video of asylum seekers being loaded on to flights to Malaysia will be posted on YouTube and Facebook. Why? To try and deter others from coming to Australia in illegal boats.

It is believed that Facebook has become a key form of communication for asylum seekers and detainees already in Australia. I doubt even Mark Zuckerberg himself could have imagined the potential of Facebook when he started writing its code in a Havard dorm back in 2004.

Just over two years ago the “Like” button didn’t exist, now it’s everywhere. Will Facebook have the same power in two years’ time? Probably, but it will have more competition in the form of Google+. Google CEO Larry Page reportedly recently told employees that bonuses will be tied to the company’s progress in the social media arena. That’s some statement.

Globally there are more than 750 million users of Facebook. From a local perspective, the Northern Territory has more than 64,000 registered users. Whether you like it or not, Facebook and other social mediums are here to stay. For business, the challenge now is to harness the power of Facebook and other forms of social media to their benefit. But it’s easier said than done.

Venture into the “space” without a basic plan and a few guidelines in place and you’ll quite possibly run into trouble. At the very least you’ll find that your efforts aren’t getting a return on your investment. You only have to look at the Facebook “walls” of some larger Australian businesses to get an idea of the myriad of issues they encounter every day.

• We know we have to engage, but how do we do it?
• Do we respond to negative posts and if so, what do we say?
• Where can we find the resources to manage this stuff and how on earth do we measure if it’s successful?

The Captovate team have developed successful social media strategies and created professional and market-relevant Facebook page for businesses, causes and community events. We can help your business. T: 08 8941 6888