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Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the constant stream of Facebook Marketing features and are clueless about which one you should try?

YES? – we totally understand where you’re coming from because we do too! With 2.1 billion daily active users, there are plenty of reasons why you should prioritise implementing a Facebook marketing strategy if you are looking to grow your business. Let's take a look at some tools that can assist you in strutting your way to success.

Facebook features that you need to use NOW!

1. Facebook Groups 

Facebook Groups are an excellent way to market your business. Groups are influential because simply users want to be there. Think about it like this - would you subscribe to a group or newsletter if you were not genuinely interested in what a company has to offer?

Facebook groups can help you gain exposure by expanding your audience, while also helping to retain existing customers by providing them with exclusive content, a community and answers to their burning questions. Consider these users to be your personal cheerleading squad so make sure that you give them access to exclusive content or even VIP promotions.

2. Facebook Live 

Now, going live for the first time can be super daunting - talking live in front of real-life people is not easy, but you have got this, we believe in you! When Facebook live was introduced, it gave the opportunity for entrepreneurs like you a direct channel to connect with leads and customers. 

The great thing about Facebook live is that it provides a real experience for your audience, which is even better when you can directly interact with them and get them involved. Not only can you respond verbally within the video, but you can respond in real-time to comments your viewers may leave. Live streams are an easygoing and casual way to spread the word about your company without it feeling forced.

Reminder: Make sure whatever you broadcast is beneficial to your brand.

3. Messenger Bots

Messenger Bots are one of the newer Facebook features and have the marketing world drooling over the possibilities for businesses This smart intelligence can perform customer service tasks that would normally cost you an arm and a leg to run. 

Bots converse with your customer in a human-like manner, responding to inquiries and providing instant feedback - how cool is that? It is also super simple to set up and only takes a few minutes. Here are a few tasks that your bot can handle while you are asleep or running important errands.

• Provide store hours and directions 
• Schedule appointments 
• Display product or service information 
• Segment your audience according to the answers they provide 
• Integration of your other social media platforms 
• Answer customer service questions 

4. Canvas Ads

As we are deep into the digital age, Facebook has quickly risen to the top of online advertising platforms. If you haven't looked into Facebook advertising - now is the time! Canvas Ads, also known as Instant Experiences, let you create full-screen pieces of content that are only visible within the Facebook app. You can spark your audience's interest and inspire them with images, videos, swipe-through carousels, and slideshows.

This allows advertisers to find the qualified leads they seek while benefiting from the low cost of Facebook lead generation campaigns. If you don't have a designer on hand to help you with the advertising creatives, don’t stress. Read through Facebook’s guidelines to ensure you’re creating an ad within the design specs and you are sure to create a fire first impression.

5. Facebook Events

Facebook Events are another excellent way to generate leads and strengthen customer loyalty. Your users will be more interested in your event if it looks special or has some type of incentive - so get creative. 

You can also join forces with other companies or influencers to help promote and spread the word about your event. Cross-promotion is important, so make sure to post on all social media accounts. 

Tip: Limit the number of available tickets or offer early sign-up specials to create a sense of urgency.

6. Sponsored Stories

Sponsored stories are jam-packed with cool features ideal for grabbing your audience’s attention, sparking their interest, and converting them into lifelong loyal customers. They are also a fantastic way to demonstrate what your brand offers in terms of products, services and knowledge.

Make sure that you are posting often, as this will increase the likelihood that your audience will come across your content while scrolling through their feed. Sponsored stories only have a lifespan of 24 hours - but it is still a good idea to keep them on brand and visually appealing.

7. Marketplace Ads

Every month, approximately one billion people visit Facebook Marketplace. It is kind of like Craiglist but modernised! Businesses have the ability to tap into advanced personalisation opinions, create easy mobile-friendly listings, and launch ad campaigns. 

You can also use Facebook Marketplace to promote your store, and products, or simply just reach more people. Expect more messages as your business expands and more products are sold. It provides a direct line of instant communication with your customers - it really is that simple.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that Facebook is more than just a social network. Facebook provides a platform for your company to grow and expand your current audience. The more people like and share your page, the more likely you will see an increase in your company's growth. If you haven’t started implementing these 7 surefire features into your digital marketing campaign, then today is the day! Try them out for yourself, and expect great results!

Elephant in the Boardroom is a digital marketing agency in Melbourne. We know what it takes to grow businesses. Get in touch with our social media experts to optimise your business for success.