Understanding The New Facebook Graph Search

By now you have probably heard of the last Facebook roll-out: Facebook Graph Search. But do you understand what it does and how it works?

The term "Graph" simply describes the way that Facebook connects people and things. However, do not expect to see an actual graph of what you are searching for.

Graph Search essentially is a new way of searching using the already existing infrastructure and connections of the over one billion members and over one trillion connections within Facebook. The new Facebook Graph Search will allow people to search for what other people like, do, and think.

For example, you could ask Facebook Graph Search to show you:

• “Which Italian restaurants in San Francisco do friends of my friends like”

• “People living in California who like to ski”

• “People who love to hike, live near me and are over fifty years old

• “Delicatessens in New York that CEO's of Fashion companies like”

• “Photographs of Safaris taken by friends”, and so forth...


Facebook pulls the results from member information on Facebook which isn't available to search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo. In short, this is going to be a great new source of information which will be presented in a totally new way.

For us marketers this will have huge benefits: If you are not already using Facebook for marketing, Facebook is now positioned to become an even more important place on which to focus your marketing efforts.

It's astounding to me how many businesses don't yet have a Facebook page. In today's world it's almost as bad as not having a website.

So consider this: If you don't have a fan page, you can't get liked, and if you don't get liked, you aren't going to be ranking in Facebook Graph Search.

This truly is the new "word of mouth marketing". I cannot emphasis this enough: Services or product recommendations to friends and their friends are the most powerful form of marketing there is, especially when marketing intangibles.

Isn't it true that when when we want a good dentist, plumber, insurance broker, realtor, therapist, or any one of hundreds of service providers we tend to ask friends, family and neighbors for recommendation - now we just do it on Facebook.

Facebook Graph Search will give you access to the likes of many more people than just your immediate circle – although it can give you that as well of course.

Let's say you wake in the middle of the night with a raging toothache. . .

now you can stumble to your computer, Facebook Graph Search for “emergency dentists in my area that friends and friends of friends like” . . . and you will get an instant and valuable recommendation.

Now imagine that you are a dentist. With the new Facebook service, it's absolutely vital that you have a Facebook presence and also that you encourage people to like you on Facebook.

It's going to be just as important for people selling goods.

Imagine someone wants to know which notebook their friends like best?

You'd better be sure your business has a great looking, active Facebook page.

If, and it seems very likely, the Facebook community is going to adopt this
new and highly flexible search tool quickly, then you simply can't afford to not have a strong Facebook presence. Failing to do so would be equal to opening a store with no window display or a sign outside. Remember, just because you "build it does not mean they will come". You have to help your customers/clients find you.


You Can Click Here To Sign Up For Graph Search Now.

We offer Facebook marketing services and would be happy to help you establish a strong business presence on Facebook. If you would like more information, just give us a call at (707) 853-0702.