FACEBOOK'S ROLE IN HOW WE CONNECT AND CONDUCT BUSINESS

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Background on Facebook


In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates created a networking platform exclusively for Harvard University students (Phillips, 2007). Clearly, it has gone very far from its initial use and audience as the social media platform, formally known as Facebook, is one of the most influential and used social media platforms globally. 


My First Experience

The first time I used Facebook was back in 2016 when my secondary school advised us to follow their official page on the platform. I then created an account to receive updates and be informed of upcoming student events.



It was during this time that I realised Facebook did not land with me as I preferred social media apps that were more visually appealing and fast-paced. Facebook is fairly easy to navigate but I don’t keep up with it often to know about its new upgrades and features.



The Best Ways I Have Used Facebook


Although Facebook might not be my favourite platform, I can still appreciate the multiple uses it offers to its users. It also allows its users to share photos, videos and posts about their thoughts, experiences and interests. Facebook is used for individuals to keep in touch with friends and family. I have also found myself using Facebook for employment opportunities as jobs are posted there. Users can also access news to be kept updated about events happening near them. When I want to know more information about a store I’m going to visit, it helps if the business has an online presence. Locally, the predominant social media platform used by business owners is Facebook



Facebook's Distinctive Features 


This platform allows a large amount of people to join groups which sets Facebook apart from other platforms. Facebook Groups are formed when a group of people have similar goals or hobbies (Moreau, 2021). For instance, there is a Facebook group called ‘The Trinidad and Tobago Entrepreneurship Hub’ aimed at bringing aspiring entrepreneurs together to collaborate on their business ventures or share knowledge with each other.




The platform also has Facebook Marketplace where users can buy and sell products through this feature. This is unique because no other well-known social media platform has an e-commerce feature built into it. Facebook Marketplace has price filters, search filters messenger integration, saving listings and other elements which allow users to navigate it better.




Possible Uses of Facebook for Business Owners


Business owners can use Facebook for multiple purposes. For one, they can set up a social media page to provide potential and current customers with useful information related to their business (Freedman, 2023). 

This also acts as a form of marketing as internet browsers can come across the page and grow interest in the products or services. 

Businesses could also pay Facebook to send out their advertisements. They can design the ads, decide who their target audience will be and receive metrics offered by Facebook, describing how successful their advertising was. Here is a video by Gadzhi (2022) that will teach businesses new to the platform how:





Facebook can also be a good communication channel between the customer and the business. Customers may have questions about the business that can be quickly answered through social media platforms like Facebook. 

Note: If the business owner is very comfortable with Facebook, integrating their shop on the platform might be a viable option. 


All in all, Facebook definitely has its space in the social networking space. Even if it is not my go-to platform, it definitely has a place in billions of people's hearts and minds. I can't deny that and I never will try to. 




References 


Conlin, B. (2023, October 26). 10 Unexpected Ways Facebook Is Good for Your Business. Business News Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2534-facebook-benefits.html

Freedman, M. (2023, October 24). How Small Businesses Can Use Facebook. Business News Daily. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7761-facebook-business-guide.html

 Gadzhi, I. (2022, January 20). FULL Facebook Ads Tutorial for BEGINNERS (2023) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I9jbS4_GxE&ab_channel=ImanGadzhi

Moreau, E. (2021, July 15). Everything You Need to Know About Facebook Groups. Lifewire. https://www.lifewire.com/facebook-groups-4103720

 Phillips, S. (2007, July 25). A brief history of Facebook. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/jul/25/media.newmedia


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