I am dying to try the Facebook Flyer Pro advertising with a chance to set some targeted adverts on Facebook and only pay for the click-throughs. Starting at approx 5p per click (10¢) it seems a great platform to experiment with.

Facebook Flyer Pro allows for a different type of targeted advert than Google pay-per-click (currently) inasmuch that is profile related rather than search ‘keyword’ related’ (see diagram).

The problem is, and it’s a known problem (I had a reply to my querying e-mail), the Facebook system simply won’t accept a credit card coming up with a ‘field entry’ error on the entry page - one after the other - and I know my card is okay.

I am assuming it’s a UK problem as Rod on Innovation Creators talks about his experience with the platform (he might not have used Pro but I can’t get that to work either).

Come on Facebook - sort it out - I have dollars to give you.

My wife runs a beauty salon in Farnborough. It’s a business I really love and I do the website and online marketing.

When it comes to Facebook, I have never really seen the value until she recently created a group for her salon and invited her friends to join. She also managed to find a few of her clients on Facebook and invited them to join too.

It’s worth mentioning that her client-base are potential Facebook users, which helps, and she has managed to get 69 members so far. She has also created an event already and invited her members to attend.

Now Facebook may well be a fad. It may also be causing a stir in terms of privacy at the moment and face a back-lash, but from a small business point of view, creating a growing audience of members in less than two weeks (at a cost of £0.00) has value for any small retail business.

In a world where leveraging a quality client-base has more value than attracting an ongoing stream of new clients for short-term gain, Facebook does offer a real opportunity at the moment.

Group members will soon be having updates about:

• Events happening at the salon
• Monthly offers
• Discussions and links to treatments
• Links to blog posts and “How to” videos

Of course, these people are in control of the messaging, they can always leave the group. The key is two-fold:

1. Don’t abuse their trust by “overselling”
2. Give them a reason to have joined with personalised offers

The very way Facebook works, should also see new (relevant) people joining by association - watch this space.