If Facebook was a country, it would be the most populous (and most diverse) in the world.

With over 1.79 billion daily active users, Facebook is the biggest social network on the planet. Every 20 minutes, one million links are shared, around two million friend invitations are requested and three million messages are sent. The average time spent on Facebook per month is 600 hours, which makes the average time per visit 20 minutes.

Facebook is continuing its plan to wire the world and put every single human being online.

Where are your customers? Well, they are on Facebook!

A Facebook “Business” page (a specific type of profile that is created for businesses, brands and organizations) allows a business to categorize itself accurately, auto-accept friends (fans) and create a friendly forum, where consumers can connect with a business by commenting on statuses, links, events, photos and videos.

Traditional marketing is becoming more and more obsolete because consumers trust endorsements from family, friends and other third parties more than they trust typical brand marketing. Therefore, to establish a profitable future, companies need to connect and engage within the new digital domain by producing interesting, more relevant content for their consumers through strategic marketing and creative campaigns.

Other important factors on why Facebook is a rewarding opportunity for businesses are:

• Increased SEO and visibility online. Creating a Facebook page is a great way to acquire more valuable space on a web search results page. Google, Bing and Yahoo all love Facebook and will often show a business's Facebook page in a prime position.

• Keep Your Customers Informed. Keep your customers up-to-date with photos, links and videos that will show up in their News Feed. These updates are great for letting customers know about events, promotions, or simply providing holiday store hours.

• More exposure than you can imagine. The average Facebook user has around 155 friends. That means that if your page is 'liked' by one person, it will show up on the News Feed of their friends, exposing your business to even more people. An effortless way of virtual word-of-mouth referrals, that no business should be ignoring.

Presently, Facebook is essential for your business. It can boost SEO rankings and visibility, show off your business in a way that people can relate to and trust, and it is a free opportunity for your business to reach out to consumers in their new adopted digital environment. Facebook is going to give you an advantage in marketing your business by generating a strong, dedicated following in today's digital generation.

Today’s marketplace is crowded and the competition is intense. As a business, you can’t afford to sit on the sidelines in this digital world. The key is to use Facebook marketing correctly and make sure that your efforts help you stand out from the crowd. To find out how our Social Media Marketing Specialists at Wilmington Design Company can help you harness the power of Facebook, contact us at [email protected] or 910-395-9997.