The Facebook Experiment: Outcome and Analysis

Facebook is a fairly new experience for me. I resisted joining until it was a requirement for one of my previous design classes. While that class made it obvious that Facebook, and other social media are vital to any modern marketing campaign, I did not feel I had the practical know-how to successfully engage in it in that aspect. This year, New Social Media has been a fast track to opening up my awareness of how social media works, and the potential and hazards inherent within.

I must say, I am fascinated. I grew up in the era of door-to-door salesmen literally sticking a foot in the door to pitch their wares. To have a direct “one-way mirror” into people’s lives is something they could only dream of. I realize that big data mining is giving huge corporations a tremendous advantage in user data, but Facebook at least cracks the same doors open for me. I must learn to take advantage of being able to engage my own audience, and earn their trust. I must put my best foot forward.

I am pursuing my Bachelor’s in Graphic Design at Dixie State University and plan to graduate this year. It is important for me to build an online presence and get my name out there if I want to be able to make a decent living wage and provide for my family. As such, my Facebook page is a place to show my work, and start actively seeking clients and networking for the future. I was a little hesitant to jump in, but it was time to make a move, and I am glad I did it while I had guidance and feedback. 

I managed to get 67 likes so far. I am not as concerned with how many likes I have at this point, as I am with learning what works, and improving the quality of my page.

Likes

Reach

Visits

Posts

People

   

I tried to post once or twice a week, and if did not meet this, I lost audience quickly. I did manage to post an average of twice a week, which is a bit more than I estimated at the beginning of the project.

I learned a lot about posting times, and once made the mistake of deactivating my personal page for a weekend break, not realizing it would deactivate my design page. As they say, live and learn.

My assumptions about what would draw interest were often wrong, and it quickly became clear that sharing is the golden ticket. Groups are great for making connections. Certain people are natural promoters, and having them support your page can be the ultimate booster for views. I think I am starting to get a feel for how the whole social media marketing thing works, and it will be something I become more involved with in the future. As a result of this class, I am now interested in the career aspect of social media. I think promoting other businesses could be a huge part of my work as a graphic designer. I create brands, not ads.

The insights results for my page were exciting to watch. Some of the biggest surprises to me were the reach of my posts. Almost 1,000 people from all over the world engaged on a post where I asked an opinion on two different versions of an ad. Several posts had visits in the hundreds. Another post that reached a larger audience early on had to do with a book cover I designed, which had a pencil illustration, and also asked a question of the audience. Honestly, I think most people can tell when you are sincerely asking for help.

I will be keeping my Facebook design page up, and trying to improve the quality and message of the posts I create. If I could change anything looking back, I would have been more consistent and selective about what and when I posted, and tried harder to engage my audience every time. As it becomes an effective sales tool for my graphic design, it will be a place to showcase my client’s successes as well as my own.

In addition, I am going to start a new page for my vintage design and antique collecting passions. I am looking into opening an etsy online store, and linking stories and photos from the Facebook page to it. I love to learn, and while I enjoyed all my classes this semester (yes, even math!), I truly consider New Social Media a great investment in my future success.