The Social Lights attended Facebook’s most recent Boost Your Business event in Minneapolis, held right in our neighborhood at Aria. Small business marketing experts gathered along with a panel of local businesses to chat Facebook ads and everything that goes along with them. We’ve rounded up our takeaways from Facebook’s Minneapolis Boost Your Business event:
Jonathon Czaja, a Minnesota native who now works as Facebook’s Director of Small Business, kicked off the day with this stat about how many small businesses are using Facebook ads.
40 billion small businesses are active on Facebook. 2 million of them are advertising on Facebook. #FBBOOST
— Lindsey Frey Palmquist (@LJFrey) July 30, 2015
As someone who has worked with countless small businesses on Facebook, Jonathon also provided five lessons for those looking for some tips:
- Tell your authentic story
- It’s easy to get started
- Reach people that matter to you
- Use advanced targeting
- Measure
All five of these lessons were woven throughout the rest of the event’s activities – including the panel of local businesses moderated by Mari Smith. Panel members included leaders from The Patchery (woo- TSL client!), The Herbivorous Butcher, Greenwich Vintage, and Bright Peak Financial.
https://twitter.com/caitlinmeyer/status/626763128986927104
"Craft content to get a share-ability factor. Make your audience look good to THEIR audience." –@MariSmith #FBBOOST
— MaK* (@MaKBirch) July 30, 2015
After the panel, we had time to chat with MailChimp and score an adorable hat!
We came for the @MailChimp hat. #fbboost #mailkimp pic.twitter.com/HuekXSuqKC
— The Social Lights (@TheSocialLights) July 30, 2015
Then we heard from Nina and Catherine from Facebook. They talked about the three components of Facebook advertising: Objectives, Targeting, and Measurement.
Facebook covering its Carousel ad format. Touts its storytelling ability. #fbboost pic.twitter.com/PmOtPz8Lrx
— Aaron Weiche (@AaronWeiche) July 30, 2015
Tip: females age 25-35 on @facebook are more likely to purchase from a FB call to action. #FBBOOST try targeting them if appropriate.
— Carly Ferry (@CRLYFRRY) July 30, 2015
Conversion tracking pixels are like website cookies on steroids – they help you reach the right people wherever they are online. #fbboost
— The Social Lights (@TheSocialLights) July 30, 2015
Facebook brought their international expertise along with some local flavor (no, really, we got to try jerky from The Herbivorous Butcher). Boost Your Business events are only happening in a few select cities, and we’re glad they chose Minneapolis!
Bonus tidbit: There was talk of an overhaul of Facebook Pages is coming this fall, and now the anticipation is killing us!
