I’ve recently been targeting farm shops for a food retailer and whilst I have been qualifying the data I have been searching for information on the world wide web and quite shockingly I have noticed an equal split, approx. 30% have a website and no Facebook, 30% have a Facebook Business page and no website, approx. 10% have both with the remaining 30% of farm shops with no online presence at all!

So, in theory, these remaining farm shops are purely relying on local passing trade and word of mouth to maintain a constant flow of customer’s. You don't need a website to have a digital presence, a Facebook Business page might be all you need, and it’s FREE!

Your Facebook Business page can be used to develop your digital shopfront. You can grow your audience and learn more about your customers through it. Below are some of the best practices that can help you reach your business goals with a Facebook Business page:

1. Boost SEO (search engine optimisation) – if someone is searching for you online, the Facebook link will come up on the first page. Also good to bear in mind, a lot of people search on Facebook first as it’s nice to see more recent content and companies tend to update their Facebook page more than their website.

2. Having a business page allows you to be able to advertise (sponsored posts) and you can intensively target, based on location, status (married, engaged), demographics, and interests etc.

3. People can like your page and when they do, you can send them an advert (sponsored post) direct to their wall

4. When people like a post you can invite them to like your page (if they haven't already done so) ensuring they keep seeing future posts.

5. Engaging with people on a platform they enjoy, whilst on their mobile keeping it light, social and friendly

6. People can ‘Check-in’ this then tells their friends (typically 150-200 of them) they have checked in at your business/location. They can also add text and photos too.

7. People can tag their friends into posts if they are with them or just for fun, spreading the net wider to their friend's network too.

8. People can ‘review’ your business whether this is for food, service, products and their friends will see it. If you prefer, you can switch-off the review tab.

9. You can message people directly  

10. You can create events – which will pop up on the 'Home' feed of people who have liked your page, they can click on interested or share to a friend, or share to a group etc. Again spreading the awareness of the event.

11. You can manage appointments – making it easier to manage your business calendar

12. You can broadcast a live video – whilst your Facebook page fans watch and interact live.

There are more benefits to having a Facebook Business page than not having one. If you are going to set one up, you’ll need to be on Facebook yourself. Alternatively, we can help you set-up a business page and invite you to be an admin along with other members of staff or family members if a family run business.