3 Reasons Why Flea Market Vendors Should Be on Facebook

Facebook...the ultimate leap into the social media world. An absolute necessity for some, a scary plunge into the deep dark abyss known as the 21st century to others. Change can be a scary thing and the world is moving and progressing quickly. So, need a little nudge?

Why hassle yourself with one more thing to do? You’re a Flea Market vendor, you’re on the road a lot and you work long hours.

No excuses! Facebook is mobile and easy to access. Have a smart phone, laptop, iPad/, tablet or computer? Then you can easily access and update Facebook.

Although there are multiple reasons why your business should join Facebook, I’ve narrowed it down to just 3 important reasons why you, a Flea Market vendor, should join.

3 Reasons Why Flea Market Vendors Should Join Facebook:

1. Facebook will actively grow your flea market business.

68 percent of all U.S. adults are on Facebook, so why not go where your customers are?

According to The Huffington Post, Facebook is the most populated “country” in the world with 1.39 billion active members logging on each month. This means you can reach more people at the tip of your fingers in seconds than you ever thought imaginable. There’s a whole world just waiting out there – Tap into it!

2. It's Free!

Do you like the sound of FREE? Yes, me too. Facebook is free. Free to set-up, free to use… free.

What a great marketing opportunity! Take a second to think about marketing… marketing is expensive and Facebook is, (say it with me), free.

You can reach incredible amounts of people at no charge to you just by setting up a Facebook business account.

3. Keep your customers informed

Facebook helps keep your customers (and prospective customers) informed. It’s an easy way to educate, excite and engage your customers. Yes, Facebook takes work—just like everything else that’s good for your business—but Facebook is a great communicator.

As a Flea Market Vendor, you might have multiple locations and markets you sell at depending on the week, month, or season. Facebook is a perfect way to communicate to customers your busy schedule. Not only does posting your current selling location help promote you and your business, but it also helps promote the market you are at because you’re getting the word out there - in turn, generating even more business for you! (I’ll talk more about ways to promote your shows in the next blog.)

Side Note: It’s important to post at least once a week to keep your business name and posts popping up on people’s newsfeeds, and to show customers that your information on the page is up-to-date.

Ready to Take the Social Media Leap?

First, take a look at other business Facebook pages first to get a feel for how they do things. (Hint: start by checking out our page (Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market). Here’s a link to our Facebook page if you haven’t already been there and like us while you're there!

Once you've taken a look at how other businesses post things, go ahead and create your business page! Here's a step-by-step guide to helping you create your business page from Post Planner. (Hint: You will need a personal Facebook page first if you don’t already have one!)

Bonus Tips!

Tips for a first-time Facebook user:

• Don’t be afraid to try different things, be creative and have fun with it.
• Look at what other people are doing and posting 
• Show your personality and be yourself. Use photos and videos – they grab people’s attention.
• The more you post the better – if you make a mistake, you can delete it!
• Invite your friends and family to “like” your page to get you started once you create your page.

Double Bonus Tips! (What?! Even More?!)

Have a hard time thinking of content for a Facebook post?

I mean, you’re only trying to be a business owner, marketer, manager, accountant, your own employee (tell me again why there are only 24 hours in a day?)… Look, there are lots of tips out there, use them! Work smarter, not harder.

Here’s a blog that gives you 31 days of Facebook post ideas.  Even if some of these ideas don’t necessarily fit your business, they will help you generate your own ideas.

We’ve found that the best posts with the most customer interaction on our Facebook page are the ones where customers get to vote, be in a contest, share their ideas or tell us what they think. The interactive aspect of it entices customer participation. They like to try their hand at winning something and they love to give their opinion (don’t we all?).

Want to see more tips on making money at flea markets? Download our free E-book.