questions about using facebook for finding a tractor related business or advertising

[EddieWalker]

I tried websites several times and all it really did was give somebody I was already talking to a place to go look at pics of what I had done in the past. The websites where more effort then they where worth. FB has proven to be very easy to do and the results have been huge!!! I remodel homes, so the trick was posting pics of what I was doing, before and after pics, and also pics of what I was working on. I might comment on a political post, but I never start or create anything political on there. While it's my page, it's all about marketing myself. I also friend everyone and anybody. The goal is to get your name out there and show people what you can do. My business has gone from just making a living to charging double what I was a few years ago and having a 4 to six month waiting list of jobs that I selected to do. I don't pay a dime in advertising and I'm able to turn down all the jobs I don't want to do, or people I don't want to deal with. When a person calls me, they have already seen my pics, talked to people that know me, and already feel comfortable giving me the key to their house. Trust is HUGE in my industry, and keeping it by being accessible on FB is the secret.

It's not for everyone, but it's proven to be very good for me.

Eddie

 

[riptides]

The problem you will face on the web is separation of your personal life from your business life.

One slip up on either side, if someone or something puts it together can be really damaging to one or both identities. The really bad stuff will even move beyond your network and on to your customers or friends and family compromising their trusts too.

Whatever you choose, have a backup (identity theft, breach of service, etc. etc.) remediation plan handy.

 

[RDrancher]

The problem you will face on the web is separation of your personal life from your business life.

One slip up on either side, if someone or something puts it together can be really damaging to one or both identities. The really bad stuff will even move beyond your network and on to your customers or friends and family compromising their trusts too.

Whatever you choose, have a backup (identity theft, breach of service, etc. etc.) remediation plan handy.

Good point. It's also a good lesson for men to stay away from a personal page on FB. Nobody needs to know what you had for breakfast anyway. And, if you don't care what a tweet or instagram is, you're already ahead of the game.

As far as posting on forums or youtube...I know of three contractors that made questionable comments about their customers and ended up having to go through the hassle of removing entire threads (along with photos and videos) off of multiple sites. It's pretty easy for anyone with time on their hands to put your business and you together, so be careful what you say.

 

[JJZ 109]

The problem you will face on the web is separation of your personal life from your business life.

One slip up on either side, if someone or something puts it together can be really damaging to one or both identities. The really bad stuff will even move beyond your network and on to your customers or friends and family compromising their trusts too.

Whatever you choose, have a backup (identity theft, breach of service, etc. etc.) remediation plan handy.

Always a good idea to have separate business and personal phone numbers. I use a cell for all my personal stuff. Most of the time I'm not in the office, so I have a MagicJack internet based phone with an answering machine for business. If I happen to be home I'll answer it. If not, the machine gets it and I check in when I get home.
Also, if you have or will be getting a website, go for the private registration to keep many of the unsavory internet types away from you.