Word of mouth is almost just as important of a tool for a marketer as is a social media platform.  One thing that people do trust is what other people have to say about a brand.  And one thing that never fails to excite people is a special offer.

      When a business creates a special offer, they are stimulating their customer base.  Customers are incentivized to take advantage of the good deal, and to do so quickly, for special offers are usually for a limited time.  This will often create a buzz around the business, as people are eager to keep their friends in touch with a special opportunity.

One great way to create an offer for your business is to post it through Facebook.  From a business page, the user is capable of creating an “offer” post.  Most common offers are discounts and promotions, and can be redeemed in store or online.  People can then claim it by liking your page, and then there friends will see as a story in their news feed.  Creating offers on Facebook is just as effective as people spreading the word via mouth.  Facebook has its own language that most people speak fluently in these days.

Here are some best practices for posting an offer on your Facebook page: 

Make discounts substantial:

• Offers with free items (ex: BOGO) or with discounts of at least 20% off will typically reach more people than offers of lesser value.  

Use an engaging image: 

• Photos of people using a product often perform better than photos of a product by itself, and both of these generally perform better than logos.  
• Keep in mind that your Page’s profile picture will also show next to your offer in most places on Facebook. 

Set a reasonable expiration date:

• Give people at least a few days to see and claim an offer, and allow time for your offer to be shared among friends on Facebook. 

Promote your offer: 

• Create an ad for you offer, and pin pin your offer to the top of your page so people will notice it.