Facebook Fan Pages
April 22, 2009 by
Adam
Filed under
Website Traffic, Websites
Facebook has always been touchy about members spamming, but in the past year they’ve really opened up opportunities for businesses and professionals to represent themselves on the site. The best way to make your presence known if you hope to use Facebook for marketing is to create what is called a “Fan Page” in the name of your business or organization.
The main difference between a Fan Page and a regular user profile is that the Fan Pages are public. For people to view your personal profile on Facebook, they must first register and then request to be added to your list of contacts. But a Fan Page can be viewed even by non-members. It does not contain your personal name (unless you want it to), personal photos or other information that you don’t necessarily want to share with the general public.
Another great feature to Facebook Fan Pages is that whenever anyone becomes a “fan” or adds you as a contact; it is broadcast via their profile to all of their contacts, reaching potentially thousands of other people who may not have heard of you before.
So what are the elements that will make your Facebook Fan Page stand out? Here are five:
- Use a simple page title such as your business name or something else that clearly describes what you do.
- Use an easily identifiable logo or profile picture.
- Keep your page updated, fresh, and interesting without adding a bunch of lame apps to clutter it up.
- Join in on conversations that happen on your page. People love to know that a real person is watching and listening to what they have to say.
- Be willing to make changes and add features that your fans are asking for. They are major contributors to making your Fan Page successful, so let them participate in its design and operation.
Obviously, the same rules apply to Facebook Fan Pages that apply to all other social networking: don’t be pushy and don’t force yourself on your friends. The good thing about Fan Pages, however, is that people who choose to be a fan of your page know that you will be talking about your business or product on there, so you don’t have to worry about them getting indignant at you when you post business-related stuff.
Facebook is now the most popular social networking site in the world, so if you are not using it to promote your business you are simply missing out. Make sure you have links to your Facebook Fan Page on your blog and your regular Facebook profile so people know it exists. You may need to do a little bit of promotion when you first start it up, but eventually it will catch on as people see your updates posted in their friends’ public timelines.
Take time to set up your company’s Facebook Fan Page, put some real thought into it, and then use it as yet another tool for generating awareness about your company online. Do you have a Facebook Fan Page for your business? Leave us a comment with a link so we can check it out!
Facebookin’ it. Check us out!
Our FB Page: http://bit.ly/CgmDR
Just getting it started
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/My-Little-Pebbles-Gift-Shoppe/89954651803?ref=ts
Here’s the link to my business’ public profile. Thanks!
http://facebook.salutations.com
Then if someone looks at a fan page the first thing they do is see how many fans they have. Then you have to start becoming friends and fans of everything and everyone.
Just started the CorporatePerks Fan Page. Corporate Perks (www.corporateperks.com) gives you access to thousands of offers and discounts from top name retailers. If you have a company email address (or .edu/.gov), save the $30 membership fee and sign up at no cost.
Become a fan here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corporate-Perks/75981293790?v=wall
Just wondered if setting up a fan page requires contsant maintenence? I run a recruitment business and would love a fan page but is there not the risk that people would start writing inapropriate or negative comments. I know it is unlikely but could this happen? Is there a way of stopping people writing stuff that is visible on your fan pages?
I started a fan page for both my company and one for a non-profit organization that I care about…both are already starting to reap great rewards.
CyberSunshine, Inc.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Myers-FL/CyberSunshine-Inc/73499295554
Animal Refuge Center of Fort Myers
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Animal-Refuge-Center/48261949375
I set up this “fan page” for my daughter via my Facebook profile but I’m totally puzzled as to why the words “become a fan” don’t show up on that fan page. I see “become a fan” on Susan Boyle’s and other pages but it’s missing on others, including mine. Does anyone here know how to get the phrase “become a fan” onto the artist’s site? I’ve gone all over Facebook help and found nothing. They say when you become a fan or set up a page, it will automatically show on your own profile that you are a fan of this artist/business. Well none of the ones I’m a fan of show up anywhere. What gives? Hope someone can help. Thanks.
Viga,
It’s probably because you setup the fan page and you are logged in. In other words, if you are already a fan (which you are because you set up the page) then it won’t ask you to become one. I hope that helps.
Thanks for replying Cassandra. Funnily enough, we figured that out late last night. Felt downright stupid I did. Much appreciate you taking time out to confirm our thoughts.
Nice post - straight forward explanation of Fan page benefits.
In response to Antray
“I run a recruitment business and would love a fan page but is there not the risk that people would start writing inapropriate or negative comments.”
The point of social media and social networking is that is open, honest and authentic. If someone puts a negative comment on your page welcome it. Deal with it proactively and share the experience back with your readers. This will make the difference to your business that you wish to acheive by having such a public page. If you actively try to avoid or dismiss negative comments they will not go away and will gather momentum.
And for your point about constant maintenance yes, you will need to constantly updated. No-one wants to be a fan of a bill board. Social media is conversational. You need to love your fans in order for them to love you - at the very least give them value.
We just started our fan page for our landscape architecture business. Already it has helped just by the mere fact that when someone googles my husbands name, he comes up in several places - facebook, linkd in, blogspot, and flickr. Eventually our traditional website will be done also. Any advice is appreciated. : D
to Jonnie Jensen,
you can set it up so that no one can leave comments, but then you do miss out on the positive effect that the interaction with people might have.
Great article. I started a fan page have not put much time into and have not have a following. It is a work in progress.
We started one recently for our business. My husband is not to excited about facebook, but I told him it is a very valuable resource. We haven’t done any advertising yet, but would like to target Orange County soon. Take a peek!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newport-Beach-CA/David-Pedersen-Landscape-Architecture-Newport-Beach-CA/61560039707?ref=ts
Nancy Ann
Check out my Fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/CLRVirtualConnection
Become a fan and if you let me know what yours in I will fan you in return!
Just started our page
I’ve looked everywhere for fan page instructions. Where do I set one up? Facebook searches bring up nothing. Is it an outside resource? Thanks.
Thanks for the good, clear info.
I advised a friend who set up a biz as a personal account that he needs to separate them and create a fan page for his biz. Problem is he has hundreds of friends already. Is there a way to “migrate” these friends to fans? And if not, is there a graceful way to have them join the fan page?
My Fan page is just starting at: http://www.facebook.com/melissajwhite#/pages/Santa-Fe-NM/Whitespace-Creative-Santa-Fe/166221152602?ref=ts
to Mel,
Bottom left of your page is a “share”, send that to all of your existing connections via facebook mail. There isn’t any real graceful way.
You are not allowed to have 2 accounts…Facebookwill ban you. If you go to the bottom of your profile (friend) and look it says “Create a business page” click that and then you can admin from there. If you need help, I would be glad to help you.
Do folks not know about usernames for Fan pages yet on FB? That if you have 25 fans, you can create aunique URL? One of mine is: http://www.facebook.com/WastewaterMovie. I don’t see a lot of people using this tool.
How I will created become a fan page like utsavsarees.com?