When is it appropriate to show multiple brand personalities in social media? Learn more about Facebook branding strategy below.
A client had an interesting Facebook branding strategy question. Their events management business, based at a beautiful, unique location, hosts all kinds of events, from weddings to corporate meetings. They wanted our advice on one of two options. Should they create one Facebook page to build the brand? Or two separate pages which might not be as brand-centric, but would better serve the target audiences?
Opinions from digital marketing and brand marketing professionals varied. They generally had an immediate response, as though the answer were obvious, but their answers differed. Some said it should be one page, others said two.
The one-page argument pointed out that it puts everything in one place, is easier to manage for a team with limited time and budget to keep the page updated, and it would be easier to ensure optimal SEO. All practical considerations, especially for a small business. They also pointed out that with two pages, people might pigeonhole them as only a wedding venue, or only a business events venue. Viewers would miss the complete story.
The two-page advocates admitted that it added management complications and would demand additional, precious man-hours to keep the content fresh. That’s especially challenging in a small business where people already wear multiple hats. They weren’t as concerned that people would only get half of the brand offerings if they only saw one page. They pointed out that, for the ideal Facebook branding strategy, each page should reference the other.
Back to fundamentals: know your audience and speak their language.
The more complicated marketing gets, the more important it is to practice the fundamentals. In this case, that meant putting the target audiences first, and asking, “What’s important to our clients?”
An excited bride-to-be, searching for her dream wedding location, is not going to be inspired by a Facebook page that shows updates with pictures of pinstripe suited executives. Likewise, a business meeting planner will not be comfortable recommending a potential location to his boss if it looks like bridal bouquets will be flying through the air. Because these target audiences are so different, they demand a dedicated page for each segment.
Yes, this means more staff time invested in social media. But here’s the thing with social: it’s, well, social. Social settings demand certain appearances and behaviors. Most of us behave differently in an important business meeting than we do for a Saturday evening cookout. Likewise, companies participating in social media, especially a personal channel like Facebook (as opposed to a professional channel like LinkedIn), need to consider the situation and participate accordingly.
The best Facebook branding strategy: just as in real life, be socially appropriate for the situation.
Like real life, there is no perfect answer. Weigh your options, make a decision, and then monitor and measure. Remember, too, that you can always change it and try a different way. The beauty of online content is that you can test different tactics to learn what works best. You can discover the best Facebook branding strategy through simple trial-and-error.
Red Letter Marketing is a marketing agency based in Greensboro, N.C., specializing in web development, design, branding strategy, and more.
