Many local business owners turn to Facebook because it’s a great (and free) way to connect with customers right in your area. Don’t get me wrong. Facebook is a fantastic tool, but if I am being completely honest, I have a bit of a personal vendetta with it, and it is one of the biggest reasons why I started this company.
We were one of those On-terrible couples that packed their bags during COVID and found a quiet forever home just off the 126. We love it here, but it didn’t come without challenges.
One of the biggest challenges was Facebook. I had sworn off Facebook years ago, and my partner didn’t even have a profile. We quickly came to the realization that if you want to be part of a community here, you NEED Facebook. So now, every morning as we drink our coffee, we add “check Facebook” to our to-do list for the day.
That is where the idea of Miramichi Boost came to fruition. The mission? Get the businesses of New Brunswick a website, and do it now.
As a research marketer, I pride myself on being resourceful. I can find you anything, anywhere, anytime. But a heat pump specialist when our AC went out during the biggest heatwave of the summer? Nope. Just large corporations with big wait lists and even bigger prices.
I believe in shopping locally. Community is everything, but supporting it is difficult when you can’t find the local businesses that provide valuable services. And if I can’t find you, there is a big chance that many others are skipping your business for someone easier to find.
Yes, Facebook is a Must, and a Great Tool
I now use Facebook religiously. I even use it to market my own business, which is slightly ironic, given my mission. But if you can’t beat them, join them, right?
Because it is free, and because it connects you immediately with local people, I would never advocate against it. I have quite a few leads from Facebook, and it’s proven its worth. So, yes, use it!
Here’s why:
- It costs nothing to create and run a professional business page.
- You can target the exact people you want to reach by location, age, interests, and behaviors
- Regular posts keep your business visible and help build trust
- Customers can message you directly for quick answers, which makes customer service simple and personal
- It works great for promoting local events, sales, specials, and offers to people who live or shop nearby
- Facebook Groups let you join or create hyper-local conversations where people actively look for recommendations
- Built-in insights show you exactly who sees your content and what works best, so you can improve over time
- It drives traffic to your website, gets people through your door, or generates leads without a big budget
There are over 32 million Canadian Facebook users, so you are definitely in the right place to make some real connections.
The Pitfalls of Over-Reliance on Facebook Alone
As a business owner, you know market research is everything, and you need to get to know your audience. After all, just because I am struggling doesn’t mean that the rest of New Brunswick is running into the same problem.
So I did my due diligence and put on my best research cap. Then I found this Reddit thread. If you are a business owner, I recommend you read it; there are 85 comments mentioning the exact same thing I am. People will ruthlessly skip your business if you don’t have a website.
One user said, “I don’t have Facebook and won’t. You want my business, have a website. If not oh well…..I will spend money at the company that does.”
If that is the sentiment of people looking for your services, what else are you missing out on?
Relying on the Algorithm
It’s not the only problem with Facebook, either. If you are simply posting on your page, you are relying on an algorithm you have no control over.
How many times does Facebook show you a post that you simply don’t care about? Quite often, right? Your posts could land on the feeds of people who are just annoyed to see another ad.
The algorithm is advanced, but at the end of the day, you are either screaming into the void or adding your voice to a chorus of competitors saying the exact same thing.
Doomscrolling
Another issue is that you cannot control when people see it. We all know the issue of doomscrolling. It’s bad for our brains, but it is also bad for business.
If your post shows up while someone is waiting for their kid at hockey practice, it is unlikely that they will want to call you for that leaky sink in the bathroom. Or worse, even, when it is well past midnight, and all they want is to put themselves to sleep. No one wants to think about chores, then.
They might see your post, think about it for a split second, but they are moving on to that meme about LOTR.
Website vs Facebook: Don’t They Do the Same?
Yes, and no. Without the right setup, you, unfortunately, are still screaming into the void. There are roughly 200 million active websites on the internet, and many of those companies have buckets of money to throw into reaching the very top of Google or other search engines.
And now with AI? Most real people don’t even touch websites anymore. They just get the answer from ChatGPT or whatever platform they used.
It is certainly discouraging for small business owners.
Many people may still find you on Facebook because you have an active business page and are posting regularly. That’s great, and keep doing that! However, even if a small percentage of your customers have the same sentiment as that Reddit thread from earlier, you are hurting your business.
But websites are different in several ways:
- You own your website completely. No one can shut it down, limit who sees it, or change the rules overnight, the way social platforms sometimes do
- Your business appears in Google search results when people look for local services, products, or recommendations right here in New Brunswick when they are ready to buy
- A professional website builds instant credibility
- You capture leads and customer information directly, so you build your own email list instead of renting space on someone else’s platform
- Your content stays visible for months or years through search engines instead of disappearing in a fast-moving feed after a few hours
- You control your full brand story with plenty of room for photos, details, testimonials, and everything you want people to know about your business
- Your website reaches newcomers, tourists, and ready-to-buy customers who search online before they ever open Facebook
- You get full ownership of your data and analytics, so you know exactly who visits and what works best for your local audience
I want to be clear, having a website doesn’t mean that you’ll become an overnight sensation. I am not promising miracles or viral moments that will rake in billions. What it will do is capture those hesitant ones who want to investigate a little more before they make a call.
How SEO Helps Websites
I mentioned that without the right setup, you are competing with the big companies that have millions to spend on ads and marketing. So, what is the right setup so that you can target your audience?
The answer is local SEO (search engine optimization). With it, you use certain keywords on your website to target your customers. However, it goes a bit beyond that:
- Sign up for Google Business Profile
- Get listed in local directories
- Link from your website to other local websites
- Link from your FB page to your website
These few tactics help you stand out from the crowd so that your audience can actually find you.
Facebook Marketing Strategies That Work In NB
If you are just starting out and are trying to get your name out there, definitely use Facebook. It is not my mission to turn people away from it, but to help people expand beyond what is currently working or not working.
Tweaking a few methods might help you land the next big job that propels you into a bright future. Miramichi Boost is here to help. Not just with websites, but to help you grow in whichever way you choose.
In our next post, we will go over some working strategies for Facebook marketing, so keep an eye out. For now, here are some quick tips to help you get started:
- Focus on content that actually helps or interests people in your community instead of posting sales messages every day
- Join and actively participate in local New Brunswick Facebook groups where residents already ask for recommendations, services, and honest advice
- Post on a steady schedule so people in Miramichi and nearby towns start to recognize your business and trust what you share
- Reply to every comment and message quickly and in a friendly way to build real relationships with your local audience
- Talk about local events, community news, or seasonal topics that matter to customers in your area
- Give useful tips or answers first, and let sales happen naturally once people know and like your business
- Keep your posts short, clear, and easy to read so busy locals can quickly see what you offer
- Use simple calls to action like “Comment below if you need help with this” to encourage real conversations
- Track what works with the free insights tool on your page so you spend less time guessing and more time connecting
Facebook Marketing in New Brunswick: Creating a Strategy That Lasts
Facebook marketing in New Brunswick works best when you treat the platform as one valuable tool inside a bigger plan. Some people love Facebook, and it is likely that you are already capturing those leads. But there is a real chance that you are hurting your bottom line by not having a simple website to add to that overall reach.
Here at Miramichi Boost, the mission is, above all, to help local businesses grow. If you don’t want a website but need some help with your Facebook outreach, don’t hesitate to call.