For the first time in three years, Facebook has unveiled a redesigned newsfeed aimed at improving the mobile user experience. The overhaul, which was widely expected, confirms that the social network of more than one billion members has come to view itself as a predominantly mobile platform.
Shortly after Facebook’s announcement Thursday, business leaders, retail experts, mobile advertisers, and eCommerce professionals all began weighing in on Facebook’s “mobile first” strategy.
What lessons can be learned from the shift? Here’s what the emerging general consensus suggests:
1. Carve Out Your eCommerce Plan
Facebook revealed this week that more than 15 million companies now have Facebook pages, the overwhelming majority of which lead consumers to a website where products can be purchased. In response to Facebook’s shifting attention to the red-hot mobile channel, more companies are expected to pile into the social network.
Now more than ever, it’s essential for businesses of all sizes to establish a Facebook presence and leverage the exposure to drive online sales. According to North American Bancard , a leading credit card processing provider well known for its security prowess and service excellence, businesses that fail to offer this service “are missing out on a huge chunk of revenue.”
2. Think ‘Mobile First’ For Yourself
Less than one year ago, Facebook was derided as a dunce on all things mobile. But with shares of FB tanking on Wall Street and pundits asserting that Facebook didn’t know how to monetize mobile, Mark Zuckerberg and company made a strategic decision last spring to embrace mobile. The riches have since followed.
Businesses large and small can similarly gain by accelerating their adoption of modern mobile tools and practices. Dan Meyers, owner of a third-generation Indiana-based dry cleaning service, recently made a minor but significant move into mobile territory. “We chucked our old cash register last year and now use a mobile POS solution from PayAnywhere,” he admits. “Consumers like the convenience and security of paying with a quick swipe when we deliver to their door.”
Sometimes the smallest steps in mobile can result in the biggest improvements for businesses.
3. Make Targeting a Top Priority
Mobile advertising was central to Facebook’s redesigned newsfeed. Advertisers can now better target mobile audiences based on demographic factors like location, age, gender, education, work history and more.
Mobile technologies, ad networks, and social media platforms have made it easier and more affordable than ever for even the smallest of businesses to capitalize on targeted advertising. “People want to receive relevant, timely, and targeted offers on things they are interested in,” says Airpush, a leading mobile advertising network known for their effective innovations in mobile ad formats and ad targeting capabilities. Airpush suggests that the performance of its own network proves that this demand is real and growing.
To learn more about Facebook’s revamped newsfeed and what the changes could mean for the way you conduct business, visit the official Facebook newsroom here.