Do you spend a significant amount of time on Facebook every day? Do you constantly comment on the posts of others, share witty pictures and use your profile to establish business connections? If so, why not allow your social media presence to turn a handsome profit? Monetising a Facebook presence is an excellent way to reach a massive target audience and to enhance your branding across the Internet. Before we look at how to sell Facebook pages, it is prudent to appreciate the reasons why this method is becoming one of the most powerful tools within an existing marketing campaign.

The Power of Social Media

Most individuals spend at least 30 minutes browsing social media portals on a daily basis. While websites such as Twitter and LinkedIn are indeed popular, there is no doubt that Facebook still enjoys the lion's share of inbound hits. It therefore stands to reason that businesses which choose to make their presence known within these circles are set to enjoy a higher number of inbound hits and a greater ROI.

Another major reason why social media marketing represents the next leap forward involves the sheer number of available smartphone applications. No longer will users be required to possess a static personal computer or laptop to access their pages. It is now possible to browse relevant news feeds while out and about. All that is required is a secure wireless connection. Businesses are leveraging the power of social media apps to their advantage, and with some truly stellar results.

The third beneficial factor of social media is that it is able to provide businesses with real-time feedback. Managers and marketing specialists can appreciate what customers have to say about a specific product, how they are reacting to a recent sales campaign and if any complaints need to be addressed. Such proactive capabilities will allow on-the-fly changes to be made if necessary; a great way to avoid more profound (and costly) marketing mistakes.

Social Media Sales 101: The Basics

Assuming that you already have a product or service, you will need to connect with the appropriate viewing audience. While it is always possible to advertise directly via your profile page, linking to other relevant connections is just as important in terms of exposure. It is also wise to download a retail-related app so that you can instantaneously engage your customers in order to fulfil orders or to answer any questions that they may have. Some other worthwhile suggestions include:

• Using social media influencers to establish brand authority.

• Synchronising your page with other portals (such as a standalone website).

• Implementing an intuitive and advanced e-commerce platform.

This last point is particularly important, as the retail architecture employed will often spell the difference between social media success and failure. Thus, many budding entrepreneurs are utilising the tools and services offered by bundles such as Shopify. If you have been looking to take your social media presence to the next level, the tips mentioned above will prove invaluable.