Facebook has become a much friendlier place for businesses since the fan pages (think business pages) have been given increased functionality.
Here are important tips for optimizing a fan page:
• The title of the fan page can have up to 75 characters (including spaces). Use as many characters as possible and think keywords. This is especially relevant because these titles can be searched inside and outside Facebook.
• Mini-bio box: This is under your photo/logo and you can include a live link here.
• Change the wall settings from the default that only allows for psots by page (that’s you or other page admins). Switch this setting to “posts by Page and Fans” so that your fans can interact here.
• Use the static FBML application to put your website’s email optin on your Facebook fan page.
• Then put your Facebook fan page widget on your website. (Below is one of three different formats for the widget.)
Disclaimer: As Facebook changes functions almost constantly, the above info may no longer apply. Perhaps the most significant info from this post is that Facebook has many opportunities that are often difficult to discover.
That’s why it’s a good idea to continue to read about Facebook so that you can take advantage of new opportunities when these are introduced.
In the meantime, for more information check out the video and workbook for “How to Set Up an Effective Facebook Fan Page”
(c) 2010 Miller Mosaic, LLC
Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is an Internet business consultant. If you liked this post, you’ll love her new FREE report “Twitter, Facebook and Your Website: A Beginning Blueprint for Harnessing the Power of 3 for Your Business” – claim your report now from www.millermosaicpowerof3.com
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: WordsmithBob
February 28, 2010 at 6:04 am
I’m just curious. I have a Facebook page for my business. I set it up before Facebook got all weird about using Facebook pages for business and before they had fan pages. I have my blog posts uploading to my Facebook page now.
Would you recommend that I get a Fan page or would you keep the Facebook page as is?
Thanks!
Bob, I assume you mean that you are using your Facebook profile to promote a business, correct? If so, according to Facebook’s terms of service that is not allowed and the page can be shut down.
In addition, Facebook has recently made the fan pages so powerful that you would want the benefit of that power for your business. And Google has just given even more power to fan pages — see http://budurl.com/FBrealtime
Thus I would definitely recommend that you get an official Facebook fan page. Just be sure to play around with your fan page title before you create the page — use as many of the 75 characters allowed (and use key words) as you can. Once you enter the title it can’t be changed.