Finally getting this Facebook thing going...

[harryball]

We are finally getting our Facebook presence doing something for us. With the new kit design and starting up our bat house workshops with more vigor this year than any before hopefully it'll help.

https://www.facebook.com/H4Bats

Feel free to Like us!

/RB

[joe]

Congratulations on your new venture.

Looks like you've done an outstanding job of promoting your Bat Retirement Homes. I've not taken the step to join FB as I don't see any advantage. I'd do just as you have if my product was mailable. So much of what I do require individual creative design work with a final product that requires installation. But still I'm envious.

I've often thought about offering my design services or getting some standard products to offer. Naw it's not my bag. Many of my FB friends have enjoy feeding their ego's. So it can be good even if there's no money in it. But I'm impressed at what you've done. Keep up the good work.

[tri4sale]

Congratulations on your new venture.

Looks like you've done an outstanding job of promoting your Bat Retirement Homes. I've not taken the step to join FB as I don't see any advantage. I'd do just as you have if my product was mailable. So much of what I do require individual creative design work with a final product that requires installation. But still I'm envious.

I've often thought about offering my design services or getting some standard products to offer. Naw it's not my bag. Many of my FB friends have enjoy feeding their ego's. So it can be good even if there's no money in it. But I'm impressed at what you've done. Keep up the good work.

Joe, it's a good, free way to advertise and show off your work. More and people are going to facebook first when looking for any product, even signs, and it's a good way to get your name in front of buyer's. But like any medium, it does take work to keep it looking nice and in front of buyers.

[joe]

Dan,

I think your right with concern of getting your name in front of lots of people. I don't want that. My product isn't easily transported and my design work depends on a visit. Nope being on FP would only cause problems.

[Sk8MFG]

Having a social media presence should be a requirement for all businesses.
Free, excellent way of showcasing work such as widgets, custom cabinet installs, signage etc.. Treat it just as you would a portfolio, but with real reach and the ability to leverage digital word of mouth.

90% of my new customers come in through social media, both my small items I ship, and my on site stuff; signage, millwork, one off jobs etc...

I have a personal, and business facebook page. I don't even bother with the personal side. Facebook is also extremely useful for keeping any eye on the competition.


Great job on the page. Lots of good content.

[bleeth]

Rob: I'm not into FB but have gone to peoples sites on their request. Sometimes sites just open up and others require a log into FB to see the site.
Your's requires the log in. You may want to look into that.

[joe]

Sk8MFG, who ever that is

I'm fond of using my real name on forums like this. That might be another social step you could make to promote yourself. Please post your website to show us what you have to offer.

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com

[kurt_rose]

Been on Facebook for a while now as you can see by my signature. It's a great tool and have received many jobs as a result.

[joe]

Kurt,

Excellent FB add. What kind of work have you received?
I'm interested in local work and don't have the time or interest to deal with long distance customers. I only want my phone to ring with a prospective customer. I get way too many phone calls now. There's only so much time in a day.

I admire your FB exposure.

[dmidkiff]

Looks like you've been busy!! Looks good and should be a good tool for spreading the word. Dave, I have a FB account and was able to view H4Bats without log in. Could not give like without log in.

[bleeth]

Discovered that the login prompt came up when using Chrome but not IE.
Beyond my tech knowledge?

[tri4sale]

Kurt,

Excellent FB add. What kind of work have you received?
I'm interested in local work and don't have the time or interest to deal with long distance customers. I only want my phone to ring with a prospective customer. I get way too many phone calls now. There's only so much time in a day.

I admire your FB exposure.

All you need to do is specify your coverage area, and that you don't go outside that area. Last sign I needed to order, the shop I'd used for years closed down their retail operation and moved to working out of their garage, and I couldn't find their last email. Pulled up facebook, found them and reordered my sign in about 3 minutes by sending them a message.

But social media isn't passive advertising, you have to participate to succeed. If you don't have the time or desire, it won't benefit you greatly. It's not for everybody, and if you're already busy enough now, then there's no need to add one more thing to your daily to do list.

[kurt_rose]

Hi Joe. Being from Cape May NJ which has an abundance of Victorian homes I get a ton of gingerbread duplication jobs. I'm working my way into the sign thing as well. I've used your work many times as inspiration and am still tweaking my design skills. Your one of many on this board that has brought me from knowing nothing to knowing just enough to be dangerous. Having the dumb luck to live only about 20 mins. from Brady hasn't hurt either. LOL!

[jerry_stanek]

Having a social media presence should be a requirement for all businesses.
Free, excellent way of showcasing work such as widgets, custom cabinet installs, signage etc.. Treat it just as you would a portfolio, but with real reach and the ability to leverage digital word of mouth.

90% of my new customers come in through social media, both my small items I ship, and my on site stuff; signage, millwork, one off jobs etc...

I have a personal, and business facebook page. I don't even bother with the personal side. Facebook is also extremely useful for keeping any eye on the competition.


Great job on the page. Lots of good content.

What does social media have to do with business? I think a good web site would be a better choice to show off your product or abilities

[joe]

Jerry,

Thanks for posting. A good website is certainly an excellent method for advertising. For me, the addition of FB is still a question. I'm going to set one up on a trial basis. Don't know how difficult it would be to become transparent if it doesn't work out. From what I understand it's easily updated which should allow for short video's. It would be fun to make a few to show work being done.

[kurt_rose]

There's a bunch of good groups to join also. Here are just a few


https://www.facebook.com/groups/309368045878303/?fref=nf

https://www.facebook.com/groups/173662742747736/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/360566657465871/

[gc3]

linking your website to social media works. where I live most people start searching fb, pintrest and instagram. I've gotten a lot of work from fb page. When someone likes that page all of their friends see that...

https://www.facebook.com/VectorStudio22
https://www.pinterest.com/vectorstudio22/
https://www.instagram.com/vectorstudio22/
http://vectorstudio22.info/es/

[jerry_stanek]

I don't use face book as there is to much drama and fighting among the users

[Sk8MFG]

What does social media have to do with business? I think a good web site would be a better choice to show off your product or abilities

Thats kind of like saying "what does advertising have to do with business". It is the foundation portion of many marketing strategist.
A website requires search engine optimization to even blip on generalized google searches. You're also competing with all the other listings in the search results with no really way to make your listing stand out. The preferred method is to use your social media to gain new potential customers and drive them to your website to close.

With social media, your clients are your advertisement. Every time they "like" a photo of yours, make a comment, share etc.. They are exposing their friends to your content. Coming from a trusted source (their friend) these folks are much more likely to investigate what you do. Digital word of mouth.

Besides the "organic" sharing and growth I laid out above, there is also paid advertisement options which are much much more cost effective than anything in print. Advertising with social media allows you to target your customer base down to city, age, gender, likes and dislikes, marital status etc.. The kind of information which would have cost million a decade ago.

I suggest doing some reading about it, it is an immensely powerful tool which should not be brushed off. There is a reason facebook makes tens of billions of dollars on ad revenue alone.


I don't use face book as there is to much drama and fighting among the users

That is a problem with the group of people, not the platform. I have zero issues with fighting or drama.

Give it a try, setup a business page for free. Load up some images of your work and some information,

[joe]

Sk8MFG

Thank you for your advice.

Please give us a link to your web address or tell us how you use the CNC. What kind of product do you make?

Joe Crumley

[tri4sale]

What does social media have to do with business? I think a good web site would be a better choice to show off your product or abilities


About 20 years ago a similar quote would be "What does a web site have to do with business? I think a good yellow page ad would be a better choice to show off your product or abilities."

Times change. Right now social media is a huge driver of business. It gives the appearance of word of mouth when person A likes/shares a post/tweet/whatever, and all their friends see it.

About 2 months ago, I friended a sign maker on Facebook, she makes those small motivational signs, really basic stuff, probable way below what most here deal with. She posts pictures of her signs when she sells them, and tags the buyers, which often causes the buyer's Facebook friends to see the post. Quite often she'll get 2 or 3 additional orders of that sign by those posts. This is her sole method of marketing, and she has more business than she can handle at times.

Now this kind of success may not translate to everyone and their products. Joe's skill and market approach of larger site signs (I believe that is what you focus on in your business) may not translate into a product that sells / markets well on Facebook. But it is a good place to post a record of what you've done and can do, and easy way to tell potential clients "check me out on Facebook to see what I can do."

[Sk8MFG]

Sk8MFG

Thank you for your advice.

Please give us a link to your web address or tell us how you use the CNC. What kind of product do you make?

Joe Crumley

We manufacture skateboards under our own brand as well as contract manufacturing for other brands. We focus on the very high end of the market, exotic materials, and customized products. The shopbot is used for the cutting of moulds for lamination, as well as drilling, cutting and engraving the skateboards.

We do any type of work which involves bent wood lamination.
As a job shop we cut resin casting moulds, thermo-form moulds, jigs, templates and some simple injection-moulding moulds out of aluminum. Basic machining of aluminum parts, signage, trophies, furniture, anything which comes in the door.

https://www.facebook.com/AMWoodSkateboardCompany/

[scottp55]

VERY nice stuff A. !
Sold Boards(basic) and bikes in 80's and had forgotten the lingo :)
Love the lam's and wood boards.
"Unicorn Hair" is that a clear kevlar build us kayakers call a "Straw Job"?
Worked moldmaking in the '70's....finicky perfect work only.
Glad I only do 'glas repairs on my own boats now.
Good Stuff!
scott
Oh, Thanks for the Wix tip. It's what we wound up using.