Does your brand need a Facebook page?

The short answer is yes.

While some may argue that another platform will come down the line to replace Facebook, the reality of the question is more about a Brand's necessity to dive into the world of social media.

The value of social media can be broken down into the "Four A's":

Audience:

There are more than 100 million active Facebook users.

There are more than 75 million active Twitter users.

There are more than 50 million blogs worldwide.

These are simply numbers that a brand manager cannot, in good conscious, pass up on. The ability to tap into the various demographics and use them to target a very specific group of shoppers and consumers allows for extremely effective and personalized marketing efforts that can not be achieved through traditional marketing efforts.

Affordable:

The cost to create, maintain, develop and effectively use social media as a marketing tool is far less than the budget busting dollars spent on traditional marketing plans.

Take a look at your design costs, consulting fees, add in those printing fees, don't forget media buying, shipping, more shipping and hours and hours of manpower. They add up to one large invoice after another for traditional marketing.

Take the dollars that you are spending on just two of these projects and you have a large enough budget to run a social media marketing program for an entire year. Social media is dependent on your consumers being your primary advocates. The community built around your brand does the bulk of the advertising work... not your dollars.

Action:

Social media is actionable from moment one. Regardless of whether you are diving into the deep end or tip-toeing into the shallows, social media creates an immediate impact on your brand.

This is an instant way to connect with consumers and shoppers on their home turf. Launching a brand? Get to to the viral market long before it hits the store shelves. Retailer specific promotion coming soon? Announce it, plug the retailer, ensure its success. Just want to know what your consumers think? Go ahead and ask.

Awareness:

Brand Awareness spreads through word of mouth. Social media allows for users to be your spokesperson. They can suggest your page to friends, share your posts, retweet your contests and comment on your latest event photos. Viral brand awareness grows faster than any form of traditional method (outside of Oprah). This is an opportunity for you to get your brand message across, spread and known!

Want to know more? Just ask: Justin@wag.com

Justin Noland

CPG Marketing Idealist

(510) 594-1300