Fun for today!: How to get web traffic using Facebook

Having just passed its' 500 millionth user worldwide Facebook is one of the most important platforms you can use to generate additional web traffic to your website or page. If you target marketing and social media networking via Facebook - and it's free - you can get a significant amount of highly targeted traffic.

Within those 500+ million users, there are a significant amount of potential leads for your business, but before you plunge into marketing to everyone there are very important aspects you must take into account before you begin.

First you need to target your market, by doing your own research, and it can take quite a bit of time, but there are already many successful businesses already profiting from their Facebook marketing. Start by adding friends to your page, once added you can view their profile and gain an insight into their background, if they are associated with any groups, and if their interests connect with yours.

Bare in mind though, that Facebook is the 'social' network, when first connecting keeps your posts and updates friendly, non-sales oriented, but do offer valuable content such as tips and techniques on your relevant industry. Also add a fan (like) page and load it with quality content to warm your leads up. Once you have provided this content you can start to add links to your site and special offers to your new friends. The more relevant the content, the more likely your prospects will turn into clients.

Join various groups on Facebook - there are hundreds and hundreds, and some more than likely, will cater to your business or product. The groups can give you access to a huge amount of people who are already interested in what you have to offer. Start posting on discussion boards, post your own ideas and tips and answer other's questions, this way other members of the groups will add you as a friend.

Start off with the mindset of making friends, not clients, and eventually it will evolve into a great marketing campaign naturally.

When posting, include personal anecdotes, useful information without pitching your business - remember, very important - do NOT sell yourself immediately - but do post things that will encourage people to engage back with you. Also include a link to your blog, it's not a direct promotion but a subtle one which should include your website link - just a little way to let your friends know you do have a business too!

If you can gain respect, response and recognition on Facebook, you will soon find yourself with an ever-growing following to your fan page, home page, blog, groups, there's limitless possibilities. And go ahead and create your own group(s), encourage other group members to join yours, soon you will have a huge sphere of influence through which to grow your business and reputation.