So you’ve decided to start your own online business, now it’s time to choose your selling platform. Traditionally setting up an e-commerce website is the standard way of running an online store. However, if you want to keep it simple and don’t want to deal with the hassle of building your own website then there are other options available such as Facebook as well as a whole host of other social media platforms.
Having a Facebook business page allows your small business to dip into a huge pool of potential customers in a familiar way through one of the most influential social media platforms in the world.
To create a Facebook business page, you must also have a personal profile:
• Create a page select the type based on what your business does
• Fill in the additional details input your business address, contact information and the category which suits your business.
• Click get started’ read the terms
• Choose the right profile and cover photo profile picture should be your logo or something that’s associated with your brand (like your candles)
• Discover your page be guided around your new page
• Complete the short description add a few sentences about your business
• Create a username type an address for your page; like a URL
• Update the about’ section include essential information for customers
Facebook Store
You could set up a store on Facebook. You heard right, social media is not only for promoting your store and products! Facebook has the option to add a shop section’ where you can list all your products where people can purchase them directly through the platform. Facebook has clear instructions that walk you through every step, including how to connect payment providers.
The difference between Facebook Shop and Facebook Market Place
Facebook Shop is a section included within your Facebook Business page where customers can browse your catalogue and purchase products. Facebook Marketplace is meant for individuals as a virtual tag sale to sell used items. With Facebook Marketplace, you have to upload each item for sale individually.
With Facebook Shop, you can connect with an e-commerce platform that makes it easier to sell multiples of the same item and integrate with your other sales channels. You can also run ads to have your products from your Facebook Shop appear within the Facebook Marketplace.
Why choose Facebook?
Facebook is one of the best places to advertise your products because of its range of features that are easily available. First and foremost it’s free and easy to set up and you can invite all of the people you know to get your business started. Facebook allows you to do everything from posting images and videos to setting up an online shop right up to paid advertising, if you have a budget for this! There are so many tools you can access through Facebook, it’s just a case of learning how to use them! There are a whole host of courses that you can do online to improve your skills even more!