Small Business News

Facebook Introduces New Tools Aimed at Small Businesses

Just in time for Small Business Week, Facebook has just unveiled some new tools that come with an emphasis on small business users. As Inc reports, these include tools for creating automated ads, editing videos, and allowing customers to book appointments.

Starting with the advertising part of their announcement, Facebook will now make it even easier for small businesses to promote their businesses on the platform. Automated Ads will first ask business owners a series of questions about their business and their campaign goals to craft a promotional plan. This includes a recommendation of what audience a business should target and what an effective ad budget might be. It will also create up to six different versions of an ad that businesses can run across Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook’s Audience Network. Of course businesses are still free to set their own budget and parameters when using Automated Ads or can still set up campaigns in the same way they currently do.

According to Facebook’s Director of Product Management Nikila Srinivasan, these automated ad tools are “really built for small businesses that are one- to two-person businesses with very little marketing expertise.” Additionally, while these features will allow businesses owners to “set it and forget it” to a certain degree, they will still receive updates about how their campaign is performing. In these updates Facebook might also include tips for how advertisers can further optimize their efforts.

Next up, Facebook is adding some simple video editing tools that can help small business owners start taking advantage of the visual medium. These tools will make it easier to add text or overlay images (like a logo) to video as well as trim and crop a clip. While these editing tools may be basic, the hope is that they’ll provide users with what they need to start using video on the platform without worrying about how expensive and intimidating editing software.

Last but not least, businesses can now manage bookings and allow customers to make appointments through Facebook and Instagram. As they explain, “You can customize your business’ menu of services, display availability and accept and manage all appointments directly from your business page.” Businesses can accept these appointments, at which point customers will receive updates about their booking via Messenger or texts. Once again, this could provide businesses with a built-in solution instead of seeking a third-party platform.

Given the platform’s massive reach, it’s safe to say that most small business owners have already come around to the power of Facebook — whether they use it to promote their businesses, interact with customers, or even serve as a free business website. In turn small businesses have been a big part of Facebook’s ad revenue strategy, which would explain why they continue to introduce new features like they have this week. All in all, this week Facebook proved once again that they’re a big business that’s also a small business ally.

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