With the rise in usage of social networks like Facebook, it's important now more than ever before to establish a presence for your business, product, or non-profit organization. Creating a fan page on Facebook is as simple as setting up your own profile, and while it appears you are limited to what you can do on the page, you still have the ability to create a page that is functional, attractive, and works to win over fans. All you need to accomplish this is a little HTML know-how and time to devote to building and maintaining your fan base.
In Part One of this article: we'll look at a few basics for those who are just starting out with Facebook and need a bit of guidance. If you know the fundamentals of page setup, you may be more interested in Part Two, which covers rudimentary custom tabs.
Setting Up Your Fan Page
The first thing you want to do when setting up in Facebook is to make sure your page is categorized correctly. Facebook's directory of categories in the setup wizard is fairly straightforward - if you are building a page for your band, book series, church or store, you can easily find where you will be placed in their search. Once that is established, next prepare to fill out as much information on your company as possible. Choose a profile picture that best represents what you have to promote, and provide your official URL in the text box below to maximize exposure. On the Info tab of the page, provide hours of operation, if applicable, and the main URL again, along with all pertinent information.
Import, Import, Import
Facebook functionality allows you to turn your page into a multimedia experience. The Photos tab option offers space to upload your photo gallery, and short videos can be added to advertise what you do, or what you have to sell or give away. With the Notes tab, you can go into your edit function and import the RSS of a blog or related feed to keep content fresh on the page. For every blog post you make, Facebook will aggregate the info and allow for click-throughs.
Don't Forget to Publish!
While in edit mode, people won't see your page unless you give final permission for Facebook to publish it. When you feel satisfied with what you have prepared, click to publish and let people know through your main site, Twitter, e-mail, and other outlets that you are live. On the right hand nav of the edit dashboard, you'll find a link to obtain a badge to place on your site to promote the fan page.
Interact and React
As you attract fans to your page, you want to keep them interested in your work through regular interaction. Use the Wall (built like an endless message board thread) function to update your company's status, offer discounts, and announce events. As fans respond to your messages and ask questions (always remember to click on "Just Fans" at the top of the page to see if anybody is writing to you) be sure to reply in a timely manner that encourages further interaction.
For every post made through your fan page, use the Share option to add the information to your personal profile. This can be especially helpful if your friends outnumber your page's fans, and you wish to convert a few over with enticing news.
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