Wendell got me thinking..Facebook as Marketing Tool?

I used to be anti FB too, for the same reasons, not as bad as I thought AND you have the control over a lot of that stuff.

You could set up a personal FB page and basically just have the info you want to get out AND not really accept friends, they could find you there AND a link to a second business survey FB page when you post your surveying stuff (AND people can like your business), that is kind of what I have done EXCEPT I have almost 300 friends on my personal page, BUT almost always post my work stuff to the business page, keeps things separate.

In the beginning I was going to use my web site for what I now do with the business FB page, I find that it is just quicker and easier to post work status updates on FB vs. my web page, basically the web page is a place holder with contact info and updates are done on FB.

Have I got any business from it, not that I know of, but most folks search online these days and the more electronic footprint you have the better in my opinion.

SHG

You can setup a Facebook page for your business and focus that specifically on surveying and your business.

As Shelby mentioned, it's pretty easy to just update the Facebook page. However, with the right tools, you can build a website that automatically posts your blog posts, new portfolio items, project articles, etc. to your company's Facebook page. This allows you to keep your website "fresh" but also keep new stuff flowing to your Facebook page. Using these same tools, you can also have your automatic posts go to Twitter, Google+ and other social media sites.

My Harness Technology Facebook page is a good example of that functionality. Keep in mind that not all the posts are automatic, sometimes a post is most appropriate only for Facebook or only for Twitter, so it just depends. But my general rule of thumb is that if it's good enough for a post on my website, then it's good enough to be broadcast to the social sites. Since keeping fresh information on your website is good for SEO, it's also a good excuse to post new stuff on your website first and then share it with the social sites and it drives traffic back to the website.

blatant plug -->

Just cancelled my personal FB page this week. It is a little weird after having one for 3 years, and having a myspace (what is that anymore) for a few years before that.

A little weird, but very freeing. Though I am not a business owner, that may be different.

The key is building your audience. The great thing about FB is that it has analytics built in to help you understand what works.

http://www.theonion.com/sponsored/brilliant-innovative-ceo-just-wrote-words-social-m,15/

I saw the above link today and it made me think of the bozos that are infiltrating the company I work for.

I would say not to worry about social media that much and focus on your website popping up through a Google search. If you have an individual FB account for yourself, then that should be enough to drum up business. FB will most likely get connections locally, which are the connections that tend to be more personable.

One key to having a presence in Google searches, especially most recently, is to have a Google+ page for your business. That has become a HUGE deal. Try searching for a type of business in your area -- you'll see a list of businesses with Google+ pages on the first page, near the top.