Facebook vs google
Discussion
Been noticing for a while that the under 25's live on social media. No suprise there then. This group will be 30 soon and parents etc managers. I was on google maps, yell.com, from the beginning really, but I was talking to another sme owner in his 40's about things changing and how we are dinosaurs. Apparently this group don't use google search for business enquiries? They field questions amongst thier friends on fb, insta, does anyone know a plumber etc. Also with insta having videos as well as you tube, are the old ways, i.e. Lists of relevant companies on google old fashioned? Will kids laugh at this like we did the yellow pages?
markcoznottz said:
Been noticing for a while that the under 25's live on social media. No suprise there then. This group will be 30 soon and parents etc managers. I was on google maps, yell.com, from the beginning really, but I was talking to another sme owner in his 40's about things changing and how we are dinosaurs. Apparently this group don't use google search for business enquiries? They field questions amongst thier friends on fb, insta, does anyone know a plumber etc. Also with insta having videos as well as you tube, are the old ways, i.e. Lists of relevant companies on google old fashioned? Will kids laugh at this like we did the yellow pages?
And that's why I use SM for business. I'm observing behaviours and doing similar - I ask for recs on FB local groups. I can't remember the last time I used Google or a rating site for a plumber or whatever.For general info, I'll use Google eg why does my rear brake make a knocking noise then might go on FB to ask for a mobile mechanic.
And yes, these people are the new us with family lives and managerial positions.
People perceive that they'll receive a much more trustworthy list of potential local plumbers et al by asking for recommendations from their within their Facebook circle of friends or local community groups. Not necessarily always the case as quite often the person providing the recommendation is either a close friend or relative of the plumber who has never used their services.
It's just a modern way of asking your drinking buddies at the pub in that it's more of a personal recommendation compared to picking a random fancy advert from the yellow pages.
It's just a modern way of asking your drinking buddies at the pub in that it's more of a personal recommendation compared to picking a random fancy advert from the yellow pages.
If I gather correctly from your forum profile that you’re a valeted/detailer then to me it’s absolutely insane that you’re not on FB/insta!
I follow a handful of detailing companies across the country that although I don’t have first hand experience of, have seen enough of their work - 50/50s etc to know they’d be worth recommending. I’d 100% be looking to social media for recommendations in this area if I needed someone too, there’s no chance I’d be googling your website.
I follow a handful of detailing companies across the country that although I don’t have first hand experience of, have seen enough of their work - 50/50s etc to know they’d be worth recommending. I’d 100% be looking to social media for recommendations in this area if I needed someone too, there’s no chance I’d be googling your website.
Interesting question. I’m probably classed as a dinosaur although I do work in technology. At a personal level I dislike social media and think its the cause of many unnecessary problems. At a business level I realise I’m probably missing a trick.
For some businesses - particularly as previously mentioned where the “product” or end result can be easily photographed - then social media is possibly all the advertising that you’ll ever need. For others I suspect it’s far more subtle and a bit of a time stealer.
For some businesses - particularly as previously mentioned where the “product” or end result can be easily photographed - then social media is possibly all the advertising that you’ll ever need. For others I suspect it’s far more subtle and a bit of a time stealer.
My village FB page has a "recommended" trades list that is kept updated by admin. The business / trade or service has to have multiple recommends from local folk and then gets added to the list. I don't use it exclusively but I've found it to be extremely useful and it's actually now my first port of call. I'm 50+.
Steve Campbell said:
My village FB page has a "recommended" trades list that is kept updated by admin. The business / trade or service has to have multiple recommends from local folk and then gets added to the list. I don't use it exclusively but I've found it to be extremely useful and it's actually now my first port of call. I'm 50+.
Ooh, that is quite handy!If you're looking at marketing for instant transactional leads, AdWords PPC for search traffic is still the daddy. The level of intent compared to display advertising on Google or other social media sites is much higher.
We generate about 200 enquiries through Google/bing search or day and qualify about 35% of these. FB qualifies at about 20%. FB is cheaper per acquisition, but more work to get business.
We generate about 200 enquiries through Google/bing search or day and qualify about 35% of these. FB qualifies at about 20%. FB is cheaper per acquisition, but more work to get business.
janesmith1950 said:
If you're looking at marketing for instant transactional leads, AdWords PPC for search traffic is still the daddy. The level of intent compared to display advertising on Google or other social media sites is much higher.
We generate about 200 enquiries through Google/bing search or day and qualify about 35% of these. FB qualifies at about 20%. FB is cheaper per acquisition, but more work to get business.
Depends on the business I guess? My mate sells bearings, and is 100% google driven ( obviously he mail shots engineering firms etc, pamphlets) . Funnily enough most people don't search fb/ insta for ball races!. What line of business are you in? Do you favour ppc over seo or do you do both? Presumably using ppc you force your way to the top and don't really need seo? We generate about 200 enquiries through Google/bing search or day and qualify about 35% of these. FB qualifies at about 20%. FB is cheaper per acquisition, but more work to get business.
Zoon said:
Mainly because they are bone idle.
I don't see how asking for recommendations for local traders on the likes of Facebook makes somebody bone idle?My local town has a "services" Facebook group where people ask for plumbers etc and people post up recommendations. I used it recently to find a company to do gutter cleaning, 15-20 people replied with companies and I contacted them directly, its good to hear real recommendations.
I did Google companies previous to this, they all have a feedback/recommendations section on their websites but 99% of the time they are made up I feel.
I'm 30, I use Facebook and Instagram. Don't really get Snapchat.
In my experience Facebook leads are poor compared with Adwords. Google picks up people who are actively searching your service, Facebook tends to attract the more casual interest who just happened to come across you. Facebook punters are also ALWAYS looking for cheap (again IME).
We get more stupid requests, timewasters and problematic customers from FB than anywhere else. Our buyers tend to be 35+ so I'm not bothering with Insta at the minute, as I really want to be exiting before that generation start buying double glazing.
We get more stupid requests, timewasters and problematic customers from FB than anywhere else. Our buyers tend to be 35+ so I'm not bothering with Insta at the minute, as I really want to be exiting before that generation start buying double glazing.
AJB88 said:
Zoon said:
Mainly because they are bone idle.
I did Google companies previous to this, they all have a feedback/recommendations section on their websites but 99% of the time they are made up I feel. AJB88 said:
Zoon said:
Mainly because they are bone idle.
I don't see how asking for recommendations for local traders on the likes of Facebook makes somebody bone idle?My local town has a "services" Facebook group where people ask for plumbers etc and people post up recommendations. I used it recently to find a company to do gutter cleaning, 15-20 people replied with companies and I contacted them directly, its good to hear real recommendations.
I did Google companies previous to this, they all have a feedback/recommendations section on their websites but 99% of the time they are made up I feel.
I'm 30, I use Facebook and Instagram. Don't really get Snapchat.
You know rather than checking the school's official website ore reading the newsletter their child brought home.
Hoofy said:
Yep - we know of at least one plumber/heating person who had his friends and family add 5* ratings. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I'm not talking about ratings, I'm talking about people actually commenting with experience, its pretty easy to tell who is friends/family and who are customers. Just gotta look if they have lots of mutual friends etc. Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff