Today, I am a phone sales representative. My boss is a jerk. I have to sell $35,000 worth of cell phones by the end of the year and it’s just not going to happen.
So… I had to try something to keep my job.I have a son, he’s 23, and he just got mad at me for “friending” him on Facebook.
Being a “Facebook Parent” made me feel cool but I never knew it help me generate a ton of money!
I’ve heard the stories of authors, restaurants, wedding planners, and other marketers making “bank” on Facebook. I had a little strategy I wanted to try.
Could I make my $35,000 sales quota all through Facebook?
The strategy that saved my job
People get emotional on Facebook. I sell phones. What emotion would people have where they would want to buy a phone?
I thought about my 23 year old son. He would always party late and then manage to drop his phone in some kind of water. Toilets, drinks, pools, ponds, and fish bowls. You name it and my sons phone found it. … and, if his phone was wet, he’d need a new one.
Here is the opportunity
1. Type “Phone water” in Facebook search and then select the magnifying glass on the right of the search bar.
TIP: Add quotes around your search term to only show public updates with your terms right next to each other. Example: “Search Term”
2. Click “Public Posts” on the left side navigation
3. Check that out! Thousands of others folks, just like my son, enjoyed dropping their phones in water and needed new ones. Ok… 1 point for me! I was on to something…
How you get the sale
If I was using traditional marketing terms, Facebook has just spit out a ton of “leads”. What you should see each of these updates as is an opportunity to meet a need.
These folks are in distress because their phones are now not working. They are practically begging for a new phone. This is your opportunity to send them a value driven message like:
” Hey there [Insert Name], I would have tried to call you but I know your phone isn’t working. On my fan page I help folks get new phones quickly. I know it’s such a pain trying to do anything with no phone. I hope I can help you quickly so you can get back in touch with your friends!”
The key here is to focus on delivering value and meeting the emotional need the person has. Don’t spam them with your links. Tell them how you can help them and they’ll start asking questions.
Next, drive them to your fan page where they can purchase a new phone right in your tab. Keeping them in Facebook makes them feel comfortable and increases your conversion rates.
Heck yeah! Daddy-phone-sales-man is about to have massive Facebook success and get a ton of “boss love”!
Search terms for your niche
- Author (On healthy living): “feel unhealthy”
- Plumber: “broken toilet”
- Wedding Planner: “got engaged”
- Realtor in Virginia: “moving to Virginia”
- Car sales: “car wreck”
- Red Bull: “need energy”
Yeah!!!!
Great article! Great tips thanks for the webinar – you are genius!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KarenLangstoncom/128724317200548
You rock too Karen! Have you started using it??
GREAT WEBINAR! search terms I might use……..
pain, chronic pain,arthritis, pain relief
Any suggestions?
Hey Linda! Shoot me an e-mail at ashamy@Lujure.com and we will collaborate on some search terms that would work best for you!
I’ve done this a few times in the past (went through Graph API to do it) and it’s a great trick. The shortcut you describe here is invaluable to all–great share!
Woah – Wish we would have known the Graph API trick before! The new Facebook updates DID do something for Businesses
Well hello! got engaged! would be a great search term! How proactive would that be! Got to get my fanpage finished so I can start doing this!
What Fan Page are you working on David??
I posted a question to your Lujure fan page wall. I am in need of some suggestions. I’m working for an author and we’re trying to boost her “Likes” plus get more traffic to her website. She wrote a book called “Now That He’s Gone” for women who have lost their husband from death or divorce. Do you suggest searching single words such as Divorce, Widow, Death, Lost husband?
Those might be good Lauren! “Break Up” may be a good one too “Single Now” ….something along those lines. Shoot me an e-mail – ashamy@lujure.com – let’s brainstorm!!
Thank you so much- I am going to email you right now.
Yes those could work, but also implement them into sentences as well!
Be very VERY careful with this approach, as it can quickly come off as icky. Always remember the fine line between being useful and being a nuisance. People love the former and block the latter!
It’s all about the approach. We give you the know how to get there, it’s all up to you on how you implement it
Loved the webinar nathan those were great tips on collecting leads, something we will be implementing in our service. Thanks
Hey Paul – Have you gotten the chance to give it a test??
Great tips, but what about if you’re looking to generate leads for a service you provide, like social media consulting, setup, etc?
Hmm Sebastian – Let’s think. Someone who could use Social Media Help may post something about “learning Facebook/Twitter”, “Facebook confusing/help”
Had any luck finding leads yet??
Staying personal! It’s all about connecting with people one on one, while demonstrating how YOU can help THEM… Glad you pointed this out!
Cheers
Glad the tip was useful to you! Have you been providing value to your users??
Honestly, I wouldn’t be comfortable receiving one of those messages. Yes, there’s a need you can meet, but you’re jumping out of nowhere and contacting a stranger with a sales pitch. It’s like hitting on a woman in a bar after you see her have a fight with her boyfriend: skeevy.
If you’re going to contact someone in this way, offer them something helpful for free, and only then mention your service. In the cell phone example, you could send them:
“Hey there [Insert Name], I would have tried to call you but I know your phone isn’t working.
You might want to check out my article on how to dry out your cellphone. If there’s a lot of water damage, it may not work, but it’s worth trying before you shell out for a new phone.
If that doesn’t work, or if you don’t have time to try to fix it, you may want to check out my fan page, where I help folks get new phones quickly. I know it’s such a pain trying to do anything with no phone. I hope I can help you quickly so you can get back in touch with your friends!”
This is better because:
1) It’s non-skeevy – you’re offering them no-strings assistance, not a sales pitch.
2) Since you’re coming across as a helpful real person who happens to work in sales (rather than a sales person), they’re more likely to like and trust you. And they’re more likely to buy from someone they like and trust.
3) Even if they succeed in drying out their phone and don’t need a replacement, you’ve gotten them to engage with you. Depending on where you put the article, you may get them to Like your page or join your mailing list. And remember, they’re going to feel all kinds of warm fuzzies if you help them fix their phone. So while you might not sell them a phone this week, you’re investing in a relationships that could result in many sales over time.
GREAT insight! I love your tips, and your approach on it.
hm…I’m not sure if this would work for me. I have an area specific product. is there a way to refine the public searches?
I love this trick and I’m totally ready to start implementing it. I’ve been busy the last couple days preparing my fan page so I haven’t really had much of a chance to start testing it out different approaches.
I think I need to hear the first part of the webinar because I missed it. Is there a link somewhere?
THanks
hey Christopher – No link just yet! This post outlines everything covered in the Webinar for the most part. Shoot us an e-mail at support@lujure.com to request a link when it’s ready!
Question.. is everyone getting some good results even though Facebook sends messages to the “Other” (spam) tab and not the main inbox where people would actually see the message?
Woah Christopher – Never saw that “Other” tab! I wonder if that’s what is happening?!
My product is jewellery so according to you what method should be used to generate business over facebook page . i already own a business page here on facebook . Plz help me .
@Raunak – You should search for “Anniversary” or “Engaged” etc. Look for users that need silver and gold
Is there a way to filter the results to a certain region or area?
Seriously cool stuff Nathan – thanks heaps – just love your stuff!
Barbara
the only issue i have with this is as great as it is i wish i coud target people in my area or remotely close to me. See im a photographer and even tho i shoot for W magazine and maxim my personal business is giving everyday people the experience that real models get with there pictures. Doing this cool trick you mention shows me EVERYONE on facebook. is there a way to target more directly?
http://www.facebook.com/hartbass
Awesome stuff. I’m just not getting the Sell them your product from your Facebook page part. Are you saying that you have your store installed on Facebook somehow?
“Next, drive them to your fan page where they can purchase a new phone right in your tab. Keeping them in Facebook makes them feel comfortable and increases your conversion rates.”
This doesn’t make sense to me. Can you please clarify how they can purchase your product from your page staying in Facebook the whole time?
Mine oddly enough would me “living donor” or “need kidney”, but then again I don’t get paid in anything but love ❤♡❤♡❤♡