Facebook is not only used as a social networking tool, but it also serves as a massive online medium for advertising to all kinds of people internationally. While several retail companies have used Facebook to get their product out in front of the masses, Facebook is also an excellent resource for companies looking to hire or obtain fans and followers.
An article online, “Facebook claims more than 31% of the display ad market” is pretty self-exclamatory by the title, but some are still resistant to even test out their recruiting efforts online. So if you’re not convinced just by the title, the article goes on to explain, “The social network had 233.9 billion more impressions than the next largest display ad publisher. Of the more than 1.11 trillion online display ads U.S. Internet users viewed in the first quarter, nearly one in three, or 31.2%, were delivered on Facebook, according to web measurement firm comScore Inc. The leading social network led all web sites that displayed ads with 346.46 billion impressions, a 96.5% jump from the 176.31 billion impressions it delivered in the same period a year ago. Yahoo Inc. sites came in second with 112.51 billion impressions, followed by Microsoft Corp.(53.59 billion), AOL Inc. (33.45 billion) and Google Inc. sites (27.99 billion).”
Still not convinced that it’s worth your time or money? “Facebook has increasingly focused on online advertising, rolling out offerings such as Sponsored Stories, an ad service that lets companies place their logos alongside content from Facebook posts that involve the company. Consumers can click the ads, which appear on the right-hand column of news feed pages in a box labeled Sponsored Story, to visit advertisers’ Facebook pages. Online display advertising is thriving, says Jeff Hackett, comScore executive vice president.
‘We are now seeing more than one trillion display ads delivered every single quarter and nearly 300 individual advertisers spending at least $1 million a quarter on display, numbers which underscore just how large and vibrant the online medium has become,’ he says. ‘And it’s not just about the volume but about the quality of the advertising experience that can be delivered as we see continued investment in compelling, high-quality creative that helps cultivate long-term brand equity.’”
And while so may be leery of the dangers of posting online or creating a company Facebook page (which, yes, some are legitimate), take a look at the competitors in your industry and see what they’re up to. Weight the cons and pros and really consider delving into embracing this option. Using Facebook isn’t just for making friends anymore.
