With recent changes, Facebook has become more important than ever for reaching local customers. This guide will help you to understand the new Facebook Graph Search and Facebook Nearby features, and deliver practical advice on what your business can do to take advantage of them. Small businesses have big opportunities with social media, and it's time to put your best face forward.

1. Facebook
+ The Local Business

2. Why Should A Local
Business Use
Facebook?

3. Your Customers Are On
Facebook
Over 2/3 of online adults in the US
had a Facebook account in 2012.

4. Your Competitors Are
On Facebook
70% of local businesses had a
Facebook page in 2012.

5. Facebook Users Are
Mobile
Nearly half of all Facebook visits in
the US are from a mobile device.

6. Facebook Is Getting
More Local
In 2013, new features changed the way
users interact with their location.

7. The Social Network
Is Now A Social
Search Engine

8. Facebook users can
now search by location
to discover businesses
nearby.
That means local
customers are searching
for businesses like yours
from their home…

9. … And on their mobile
phone when they are
looking for something on
the go.
A great Facebook page
gives your business an
advantage in getting
found.

10. How Can You Keep A
Great Facebook Page
For Your Local
Business?

11. Create
Engaging Posts
A user’s Facebook newsfeed gives priority
to content from the pages that person
interacts with most

12. Giving fans a reason to
interact by liking,
commenting or sharing
your posts will increase
the chance they will see
your content in the
future.

13. Post Often, But Not Too
Often
It’s important to keep your content fresh to keep
fans engaged, but don’t post unless you have
something interesting to say.
52% of consumers say they have stopped
following a company on Facebook because the
posts became “too repetitive or boring.”

14. Create
Special Offers
Access to specials or discounts is among
the top reasons consumers "like" a
company on Facebook

15. For the local business,
specials give your
customers something
actionable that can bring
them offline and into
your business.

16. Share Photos
Snapshots of your products, staff or storefront
are the type of images that make customers
feel more connected to your local business.

17. Images drive visibility for
your business,
delivering up to 120%
higher engagement than
the average Facebook
post

18. Keep it Short
And Sweet
Facebook users tend to scan their
newsfeed for interesting content rather than
reading every post.

19. Keep your posts brief
and easy to digest to
attract your fans’ interest
without giving them too
much to handle.

20. Mix Up Your Timing
The best time to post your content will vary
depending on your customer base, so try different
times or days and compare your results.
Many local consumer businesses benefit from
weekend posts, when customers access Facebook
outside of work and have time to go out to shop
and play.

21. Ask Questions
And Listen
Asking for feedback gives loyal customers
and fans a way to stay connected to your
local business.

22. Questions and polls give
people an easy way to
engage with your
content and increase
your visibility to your
customers’ social
network.

23. Create And Promote
Events
Events are a perfect way to connect your
offline and online communities and get
people into your business.

24. When Facebook users
RSVP for your
Facebook event, your
business will gain
visibility with your
customer’s social
network.

25. Respond to Comments
As a business page administrator, you’ll
receive notifications of new fan activity on
your page.

26. Let your customers
know you are paying
attention by answering
their questions,
responding to their
concerns, and thanking
them for praise.

27. Get Liked, Rated And
Recommended
Ask existing customers to connect with your
business on Facebook. Likes, visits and ratings
influence your Facebook nearby search ranking.

28. Happy customers can leave
endorsements on your page
that will be visible to others.
Visitors who check in at your
location can add a star
rating.
Likes, visits,
recommendations and
ratings all influence your
ranking in local Facebook
search.

29. Find Inspiration
Find out how businesses like yours and
businesses near yours are reaching
customers on Facebook.

30. Perch is a free mobile
app designed for small
business owners.
Use it to find, view and
create a Watchlist of
other business social
media in your area

31. Get Perch Now
Visit perchapp.com.