The sales pipeline for a small-to-medium business (SME) is standard – it is to acquire leads, nurture into prospects and convert into customers and then, encourage repeat purchases.
The challenge for SMEs in today’s digital world is to capture the attention of their target market and keep it.
Where do you find your target market? Well, look at where they hang out. A popular channel is Facebook. In Australia, there are 4.4million user of Facebook between the ages of 25-34. As at January 2018, 14.8 million adults (18 – 64 years) in Australia, are on Facebook. The opportunity is undeniable.
Many SMEs are already on Facebook, however advertising costs can get expensive. There is, however, one avenue that isn’t being used as much as it can be, which is Facebook Messenger.
What is Facebook Messenger?
Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s instant messaging tool. It allows for 1-to-1 messages between individual users on FB as well as group messages. It also allows a user on Facebook to message a business page. So if a customer who likes or follows your page has a question, they can message your business directly and start a conversation.
How is this different to Facebook?
Messenger is the inbox or message tool attached to Facebook. All users have access to it and it’s free. It’s different because, unlike on your Facebook Page, where comments are public, messages via Facebook Messenger are private.
The key reason that Facebook Messenger is fast becoming a prefered communication tool for businesses is that it allows for a one-to-one conversation with the customer. It is these conversations that lead to conversions.
If you like clear, irrefutable evidence, here are some numbers to stew over:
1. Generate leads and grow your list
Messenger ads are a great way to turn page likes into hot, qualified leads. You do this via a ‘Traffic’ or ‘Conversions’ campaign and select Messenger as the destination.
Via Messenger, you can deliver something of value – a how-to guide on growing a veggie patch in a small space, a checklist for prepping your pool for the summer or a 10-step guide to prepping your house for maximum sale value.
Let’s see how this might work in a scenario of a real estate agent running an ad to attract potential sellers and invite them to book a meeting.
You will need an image or a short video for your Messenger ad. Here’s what it looks like in the News Feed.
The possibilities are endless:
A common misconception is that Facebook is only for consumer and lifestyle products and services. But you’d be surprised the types of businesses that bring in leads and sales from Facebook. If your target audience is of a more professional nature, you could try these:
This is Part 1 of the article. See here for Part 2 and more on how to use Facebook Messenger to convert leads to customers and clients.
Plus… Whenever you’re ready… here are 2 ways we can help you speed up your marketing :