Comments about Lauriane's article

I totally agree with Lauriane. The combination social media + loyalty program is very clever and it is a very good strategy.
Today, it is essential to be present on social networks, like Facebook...with these social networks we can attract a larger number of people, fans, followers. Social media is a new way of communication , and permit to us to collect more feedbacks and reviews in a short time, and at a low cost, as Lauriane said.
Finally, I think that American Airlines is a very good example of a successful combination social media + loyalty program (or marketing campaign). American Airlines made this campaign on Facebook and on Twitter (post on February 22nd), two of the most important social networks, which have each a huge community.
The success of American Airlines' campaign will be to convince and encourage other companies to adopt this same strategy.

Link to Lauriane's article

10 Facebook Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

Today, hotels cannot ignore the impact of Facebook on their business. In this sense, social media in general, takes a place more and more important in a marketing and communication strategy. But, some small business owners think they do not have enough time, money or other resources to be present on social networks like Facebook, so they do not dare to create a Facebook's page. 

This article gives and explains 10 ways for these small businesses to maximize their presence on Facebook with minimum resources.

• Manage expectations: It is essential to set goals when we start on social media, but these goals need to be realistic. For example, a small business cannot expect to have more than one thousand fans in only one month, but it can be realistic to set the goal to have more than one hundred fans in one month

•  Make time: Have a Facebook’s page is not enough, it is essential to updates at least once by day our Facebook’s page with comments, status, pictures, videos,... We need to take the time to do this every day. 

• Learn as much as we can: In order to use sufficiently our Facebook’s page, it is important to read as much we can on the site help center.

• Start with a small budget: The advantage of Facebook, and several other social networks is that to promote our business is free. However, in order to be more sufficient and to maximize our presence, it can be better to buy advertising, but it is essential to start to do this with a small budget. 

•  Create a page, not a profile: With a Facebook’s page we can have more fans and followers than with a profile.

•   Post cool status updates: It can be comments, videos, pictures...Our Facebook’s page is not a marketing brochure but it is a new way to communicate with our clients and fans.

• Have one on one conversation: It can be by responding at a fan’s comment, by thanking and welcoming the new fans...

•  Do not spam : People do not like this.

•  Create coupons and promotions : It can be special facebook's promotions, it is essential to attract more fans.

• Encourage check-ins.

This article is very interesting and can be a great help for small businesses which think they do not have all the necessary resources to be present on social networks. These ways are for Facebook, but I think that the majority of these can be valid for the other social networks such as Twitter…

 This article shows that the small business owners can be present and can profit to the impact of social media like the big businesses...it is harder for the small businesses but with these ten ways and with motivation they can have the same benefits or higher benefits than the big businesses. On social media, I think the importance is not the size of the business but its way to use Facebook, to use these social networks.

Finally, for me there are others ways that we can give to the small businesses to maximize their presences on Facebook, on social media, like to be more confident and transparent with their fans and followers. 

And you, do you have any additional advise to help the small businesses to profit of the social media’s impact?