Do you have a Facebook Local Business Page? No? Perhaps now is the time to seriously consider having a presence on Facebook
Facebook top 600,000 mobile users worldwide every month and it’s estimated that around 61% of the 1 billion users access via mobiles and tablets. While we’re talking stats, there’s around 33 million Facebook users in the UK – just over half of the population.
Rather large numbers, but what has this to do with local business?
Just before Christmas, Facebook updated the Near By section of the local mobile search. It now means that your local business page can more easily found in their local search.
Before the update, you would only see where friends had checked in. Now mobile Facebook users have the opportunity to discover other businesses in their area using the Near By tab.
I was hoping to get some screen shots, however I don’t have a smartphone – I’m old school, I use my mobile for calls only. I called my daughter who is at Uni in Liverpool and asked her to have a look on her smartphone. Needless to say, I am not putting locations like “my bed” and “whore house” here on the blog! Students!
However, it does show that local businesses in the area are not taking advantage of Facebook pages.
I’ve borrowed this screenshot from the Facebook announcement.
Facebook Local Business Pages and Local Mobile Search
How To Take Advantage of Facebook’s Local Mobile Search Results
First of all, if you don’t have a Facebook page for your business then create one. Complete all your details – business name, address, phone, opening hours and about your business. Take full advantage of the space allowed.
If you do have a page on Facebook, ensure it is set up as a local business. It’s simple to change your page category, choose local business from the drop down menu in your page settings, basic information.
You will not have the “about” text section on your Page Timeline as a local business page and the opportunity to add links. Instead, this area will display your address and phone number.
Your page is public and indexed by Google. Use the same address and phone format as your Google+ Local (Places) listing. Why? Because Google looks at mentions of your business name, address and phone all over the web to rank your Places.
Facebook mobile users will still see locations their friends have checked first. If there are no likes, checkins or recommendations from their network then the Near By rankings will default to the wider area.
Encourage your customers to like your page, check in when they visit and write a recommendation to increase your Facebook mobile local results.
Over to you…
What do you think of this move to local search by Facebook? Do you have a Facebook Local Business page?
Facebook Local Business Pages – How To Take Advantage of Local Mobile Search Results by Jan Kearney
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I don’t have a Facebook local business page, because my business name is Print Source One, which I barely use for online marketing. Why? Because that’s my print brokering business. I no longer advertise it since I began marketing online 20 years ago. 🙂
However, if I ever change my mind, this may be an option for me.
Hi Bonnie, you work from home, too don’t you? A local business page now, isn’t ideal. I know I don’t want people checking in my house lol
Jan, would you recommend this for coaches? It seems to me that this might be more for brick and mortar business. I’m not sure I’d want someone to look me up on the white pages then come knock on my door.
Hi Julia – a local business page is ideal for businesses with a location where they accept customers. If you’re like me, working from home and don’t want people just turning up then a local business page isn’t for you.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for this blog. Anything to help demystify Facebook is much appreciated.
To your happiness & harmony,
Susan
Hi Susan, thanks for popping in and welcome 🙂 I’m glad the post helped!
it looks like it could be a good tool for the right people but my business is very much international and I don’t like serving local clients as much.
Brilliant post; as always! I’ve just tried this on my BB and I agree the nearby businesses are not taking advantage of the local search facility. Having said that, the area I live in has a high concentration of kebab shops, and small businesses that clearly don’t embrace social media, so probably not the best test group. I’ll try it again next time I’m in the city centre, which will have a higher concentration of social media savvy businesses.
The other thing this post has taught me is the difference in how the About section displays for local v non-local business. That’s really cleared up a long lingering confusion, thanks Jan 🙂
Hi Marcia – I just activated my Graph Search and local businesses just don’t do Facebook. The nearby is practically useless! Glad the post helped, and do let me know if you had more success in the city centre!