Facebook has now become a direct line of communication between food franchises and the public at large. It's a bold new frontier for customer relations. On the upside, using Facebook wisely can create true consumer loyalty On the downside, Facebook debacles can leads to all kind of negative publicity.
Mashable, one of the most important websites for those tracking social media, has issued a 13-step guide to Facebook best practice. We couldn't recommend it enough if you're a bit shaky about managing your franchise's internet profile. Here are their 13 tips. They explain themselves:
1. Be Transparent
2. You Must Respond
3. Educate Your Fans
4. Show Off Your Goods
5. Don’t Just Sell — Be Interesting
6. Share Your Press
7. Flaunt Your Social and Digital Savvy
8. Be Consistent Online and Offline
9. Don’t Give Away Too Much
10. Be Charming
11. Respect and Appreciate Your Team
12. Facebook Is Not Twitter
13. Target Consumers With Facebook Ads
Now, it's not just enough just to read these bullet-points. Read the Mashable story as well. Each section features an example of a food business demonstrating their Facebook savvy. There's some really relevant advice here for every food franchise. If Facebook is the virtual face of your franchise, make sure that people are seeing you in the best light.