Earlier this year, Facebook launched Place Tips to tap into the physical and local market for SMBs. They have an initial trial run but as of this week is expanding nationwide. Place Tips are notifications that appear on the top of a users Facebook news feed when they are in or near a location. Facebook Place Tips come from other users or the business itself in the form of content cards. These content cards, as pictured below (from Facebook’s blog) includes different types of information about the location including photos from the locations, posts about the location or business specific information (hours of operations, menus, etc.).
Facebook Place Tips is being seen by some as competition for Yelp and an alternative to FourSquare. It’s Facebook’s way of competing in the SoLoMo (Social, Local, Mobile) market and providing more tools to brick and mortar businesses.
There are a few things to keep in mind about Facebook Place Tips:
- Users do not have to use it. Place Tips are passive and can be turned off and on. It does not interact with users but only provides location-relevant content at the moment it might be useful to them but a user must have their location turned on.
- Place Tips include user generated content, which means it will include what visitors, customers and followers say about the business, not just what the business says about itself (Meaning if someone complains about your business on a post on their own timeline but tags the business, it could show up in Place Tips)
Why Is This Important to SMBs?
SoLoMo is a hot topic in digital marketing. It ties together three fast growing digital trends: social media, mobile devices and locally relevant information.
Place Tips gives local businesses a chance to really cash in on the digital platform and bring traffic into their stores (and onto their Facebook pages).
How To Optimize Your Page For Place Tips
- Keep your page up to date and make sure all of your important information, especially location information is filled in.
- Update your page regularly with relevant and rest content. That is creating content Place Tips can use when fans visit your location
- Promote Facebook check ins.
- Promote user generated content. User generated content is pushed on place tips and gives you the opportunity to push positive content and social influence about your business. Ask your fans or visitors to post pictures, reviews or posts if they enjoyed their time with you. If you want even more content, run a contest or offer incentives for posting about your business on Facebook
Facebook is really pushing for Place Tips to succeed and they are offering it for free (for now, that is!) so there’s no reason to not try to cash in on their latest endeavor and promote your business!
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