The Beginner's Guide To Facebook For Business, Part 2: Profiles, Groups and Pages On Facebook

There are 3 different ways to represent yourself, your business or your interests on Facebook, and they all have different little perks and flaws.

 1. Profile

Your profile is your initial account. It is set up in a way that allows old and new friends to see immediately where you live, work and more. You can (and should) have a profile picture of yourself displayed on your profile.

Perks: Your profile is a great place to connect with friends and family in a free, easy and fun way. You can share your thoughts, what you're doing, photos, videos and more.

Flaws: You can 'only' have 5000 friends which is why your profile is of limited use when it comes to growing a brand and a massive following on Facebook.

Consider This: Your profile is how people that you might know find you on Facebook. Once you have set up your profile, you will receive friend requests from old friends that you haven't been in touch with for years, as well as strangers and people who know some of your Facebook friends.

Some people use their profile to create new business connections. This is ok, as long as you are crystal clear from day one of your Facebook presence that you will utilize your profile in this way.

If you decide to use your profile in this way, make sure that you keep your private stuff off Facebook and that you represent yourself in a positive, professional and worthwhile manner at all times. Your business connections are not interested in what you had for lunch, or your kid's latest adventure!

If you don't, there's a very simple and important rule: DO NOT make friends on Facebook that aren't friends in real life.

I'll tell you how to handle friend requests from strangers in a way that will grow your following in a later article.

2. Groups

Facebook groups are based around shared interests and activities, celebrities, charitable causes and even cities. They have in common that they are usually not-for-profit and therefore unsuitable for marketing your business...kind of!

I will talk about how to utilise groups to create interest in your business when we get to The Advanced Guide To Faceboook For Business.

For now, let's move on to pages.

3. Pages

Your page is where you connect with your customers (past, present and future)and where you build extraordinary relationships with your buyers and get them to buy more of your product or service. A Facebook page is a crucial part of your internet presence these days (please read Part 1: 7 Reasons To Have A Facebook Page if you haven't already done so).

Perks: Over the last couple of years, Facebook has developed sheer limitless ways of sharing what is happening in your business on your business page. Apart from posting ongoing sales and promotions, giving away vouchers, sharing videos and valuable information, you can even build your email list here and sell products directly from your page!

There are also countless 'apps' (short for 'application'), free and paid, that will help you grow your community even faster and easier.

Flaws: Possibly the biggest flaw of the Facebook page is that you don't actually own it. Ultimately, Facebook has power to give...and to take it away! It happens rarely, but make sure you play by the rules so that you don't get into a situation where you have invested time and money into your page and built a huge following, only to have it all taken down.

The Bottom Line

If you don't have a business page on Facebook yet, you must get started today. Because if you don't build great relationships with your customers now, somebody else IS!

Make sure you are professional about building your social media presence from the very beginning. This includes having a professional image on your profile and your page (preferably a 'skyscraper'), and that you have a customized Welcome Tab. Get help from the experts and contact us to find out how we can help you to cash in on Facebook.

You can also watch this article and all our Step-by-Step video guides on our You Tube channel.

Kath Luty is a successful Online and Offline Marketer who has worked with the most influential names in marketing in Australia. She is also a highly regarded author and speaker. Kath helps business owners to create websites that attract new customers to their business. In the hyped up world of internet marketing, she stands out as a trustworthy and reliable source of information on how to get the best return on your marketing dollar. Visit [http://webdesignthatsells.com.au] for your own, FREE and personalized 10min video 'The 3 Top Tips That Will Turn Your Website Into A Profitable Sales And Marketing Tool'. Simply request it through the Contact form.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5922339

How to Create an Informative and Attractive Facebook Fan Page, Part I - For Beginners

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3685358

How To Market Through Facebook Emails and Actually See Positive Results

As an internet marketer I receive many emails through my Facebook account. Today I received three emails that brought me to a point where I had to write this article. I had to think back to when I first began on Facebook a few years ago and really sit and think about when my Facebook marketing really began to explode. First let me start by saying that it didn't explode because I had over 3000 friends. Second, it did not explode because I posted a lot of quotes on my page. Now understand I totally tried these methods, yet they did not result in money in my pocket, or a response from the individuals with whom I was attempting to connect. Third, I attempted to email everyone that accepted my friendship a link which led them to my business. None of those three steps led to any kind of positive response. Actually, it led to individuals removing me from their friend list. At this moment I stopped and evaluated if my goals were reached through these methods of "so-called" marketing. The answer was an overwhelming NO! This morning I checked my inbox on Facebook and realized that there are new marketers getting on Facebook that can really learn from my mistakes and save time, which in essences saves money.

Realize that if you are using Facebook to market, and you are not using Facebook pay-per-click, you are taking advantage of FREE Marketing. Free marketing is fine, yet understand that either you are going to have money or time or both when it comes to marketing on-line. If you are taking advantage of free marketing, then expect it to take more time to get your point across. When you pay money it takes less time, usually.

Let me start by sharing what the message said, and then follow-up by the correct way to market using Facebook. The first was a message that simply asked me click on a link and like a fan page. Now I know that this message seems nice and innocent, and you are correct it is. Yet, this particular friend has never even taken the time to say Hello to me. Remember, this is a "Social" network. Most individuals accept your friend request expecting to build a relationship with that person. Not expecting that person to start asking them to spend their precious time visiting fan pages and liking them, especially when the person, sending the email, has not even taken time to say Hello to you. When you are sending out an email on Facebook, think about what you would like to receive. Would you want to receive a message from a person you do not know, and that person acts like you only have time to like their page or look over their link, or basically do something for them. I mean before you ask somebody for a favor, inquire as to what their needs are at the time. Simply send a message that says, "Hello, how are you?" Start to build some rapport, then when you ask something of them, there is a higher chance that they will respond in a positive manner.

I received another email from a person asking me to like a page and then search Facebook for a name because this person is trying to win a contest. Now they did not place a link on the email, and I guess I have a lot of time, since obviously I can search pages to like and then search people to vote for. This system is selfish and inconsiderate. Again time is expensive in my world, I'm not sure about yours, yet if you are looking to market correctly on Facebook, then you will find out sooner or later that every minute of marketing counts. If you have already built rapport with your friend list, then take the time to give them a link to click, as to cut their time in completing your favor as soon as possible. If you decide to send a bulk email to your friend list asking them to do something of this nature for you, make sure that you are willing to do the same for them.

The email today that broke the camel's back was from a person requesting my friendship on Facebook. Now, if you didn't now, Facebook only allows 5000 friends per profile, and I'm currently very close to maxing out, therefore, I send my friend request to my fan page. I still connect with my friends on my fan page, truthfully almost more than those on my profile. Well, I had a person email me and tell me that they do not connect on fan pages because they could not get "real" access to the person. I must admit this message left me puzzled. My first thought was what kind of access do you want? Yet, I wanted to understand the mind of this person so I responded to the email with a question, "What made you decide to request my friendship?" Question asking is prospecting 101 which is an entirely different article. I also researched the person who sent the response. This particular person had less than 400 friends on their profile, which more than likely means that this person is new to Facebook. He is making decisions about "how" he connects with people yet he doesn't quite understand the system he is connecting on. I bring this email up because we have to be open to learning how to understand a system prior to recreating the wheel. When it comes to Facebook, there is no reason to recreate the wheel, simply observe individuals and pick up some training. Realize that success leaves clues. Yet the main thing to remember about Facebook Marketing for Beginners is to realize that it is Social Media, so you must remember to get social.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6822859

Beginners Guide to Facebook through this Video Tutorial

How to Add Instagram to Your YouTube Profile by Finding Your Instagram Profile Web Address or URL

Instagram is becoming ever more popular. Even to the point of being acquired by Facebook for $1 Billion. But how do you find your Instagram profile web address or URL? And how do you share your feeds with other people on the net? Not only that but how do you add your Instagram account to your YouTube profile? All that and more will be answered in this article.

Step A: Find the Custom URL Submission Form
1. Sign into YouTube.
2. Click and open the drop down menu in the upper right hand corner of the page where you see your username.
3. Click on "My Channel"
4. Locate the "About" section of your channel and click on "Edit"
5. Scroll down to the form that says:

Add a new link
Title_______________
Custom URL________

6. Minimize this window for later use.

STEP B: How to Get Your Instagram URL or Web Address
1. Visit www[dot]Followgram[dot]me
2. Click in the upper right and corner where it says "Sign in via Instagram"
3. Type your Instagram username into the "Username" form field located on the Instagram page you were redirected to.
4. Type your Instagram password into the "Password" form field located on the same page.
5. Click on the "Login" button located on that same page.
6. Read the agreement terms before you authorize Followgram.me to gain access to your account but keep in mind that you will not be able to retrieve a Instagram web address or URL until you accept their terms. It's like this with all the 3rd party Instagram apps since Instagram does not supply web addresses or URL's for their members.
7. Click on the "Yes" button.
8. Type your email address into the "Verify your account" form.
9. Click on the "Send" button.

STEP C: Confirm Your Followgram.me Account
1. Open a new internet window via FireFox, Chrome or Internet Explorer.
2. Sign into your email service E.g. Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, etc.
3. Check your inbox for the confirmation email that Followgram.me sent you.
- If you cannot find it check inside your spam folder since there is a really good chance it's in there.
- If it's not in your inbox or spam folder, wait five to ten minutes for it to arrive.
4. Open the email sent from info[at]followgram[dot]me entitled "Confirm your followgram.me account"
5. Click on the link at the bottom of the email they sent you (e.g. [http]://followgram[dot]me/confirm/sda92u354ksfae934waewfrsdfj3 )
6. You just created your very own Instagram web address / URL.

STEP D: How to Add Your Followgram.me Web Address / URL to Your YouTube Profile
1. If you finished the numbers outlined in STEP C it would have opened another window with the following web address / URL:
[http]://followgram[dot]me/dashboard.
2. Look to the right hand side of the pop-up page you opened (the page that you opened after clicking on the confirmation link) and highlight your new custom web address / URL (e.g. [http]://followgram[dot]me/pinkiericegurl/ ). It's right below "Share your vanity page" and right above the "Tweet" button.

3. Press Ctrl + C or right click over the web address / URL showed in section two of this step (STEP D). 
4. Minimize the Followgram.me internet window for later use. 
5. Reopen the internet window you used to find your Custom URL Submission Form on YouTube showed in STEP A. 
6. Click in the "Title" field in the "Add a new link" form found in STEP A then type in a title that is appropriate for your Instagram profile E.g. PinkieRiceGurl (Instagram). This title will be displayed on your YouTube Channel unless you remove it later. 
7. Press Ctrl + V or right click in the "Title" field and select "Paste" 
8. Click on the "Add" button. 
9. Scroll up to the top of the page and click "Apply" just below the "Search Channel" field. 
10. Congratulations! You now have a custom Instagram web address / URL displayed on your YouTube Channel! Feel free to share your new URL on Facebook, Twitter or via email.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7016941

Social Networking: Instagram Vs Pinterest Which One Is Right for Your Business?

Instagram

The visual social network Instagram has gained over 100 million users and more than 40% of leading brands in approximately 2 years. Instagram is attractive for businesses as it provides them access to an extensive and engaged mobile user base through visual content.

Instagram recently overtook Twitter by having a larger number of daily active mobile users. Where Instagram had 7.3 million users, Twitter was slightly behind with 6.9 million. This statistic is more significant because Twitter has more than 555 million users, which reflects the high engagement levels of Instagram users. If your business is still not on Instagram, you could be missing out on all these engaged users.

You could benefit from being on Instagram if you are an online retail business and have excellent photos of your products. Instagram audience would provide feedback about your products with comments, which is more effective than Pinterest, where users tend to like and pin more and comment less. The photos on Instagram are usually less traditional, because creative photos are likely to get more attention.

Instagram could be right for you if you have an interesting story to tell. Instagram is more intimate, which is why celebrities post their photos and can connect with fans on Instagram immediately. Photos of your company events, employees and their achievements connect with audiences on a level where they see what goes on behind the scenes. Such photos would not be right to post on Pinterest.

Furthermore, it is very easy to share images from Instagram to your Twitter, Facebook or Flickr pages.

Pinterest

Pinterest is the fastest growing website that provides a brilliant visual social platform for any business to capture and engage an audience. Pinterest is different from Instagram as it does not require users to sign up for an individual account to browse and view pins. Although Pinterest has only 12 million registered users compared to the 100 million users at Instagram, the significant number or users without accounts and unique visitors make up to more than 104 million visits in a month for Pinterest. Pinterest has provided more referral traffic than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn altogether.

Pinterest is a suitable platform for your company if you have an online business with videos or photos of your products that falls into a few categories on Pinterest. your popular andrelevant pins could be visible to users interested in these categories and a click will get them to the relevant page on your website.

Pinterest would be good for your company if it creates excellent content, such as infographics, blog posts or company news. Push your content on Pinterest as you do on other social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The conclusion

Both Instagram and Pinterest offer distinctive ways to connect and engage with online audiences, so the best tool for your business would have to be Pinstagram! Since your audience members might be on any one of these sites, you might miss out on opportunities by not being on either one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7653053

Use Instagram to Boost Your Marketing Plan and Score Big

Instagram has grown to own 90 million Monthly Active Users, with over 40 million photos per day. Users love Facebook's free photo sharing tool (and who doesn't want to see all of those cute baby pictures and weird dog tricks?) How can you take this seemingly simple to use app and turn it into a key component of your business's marketing plan? It may be easier than you think.

Why Bother?

You say you've had enough of the social media scene and do not feel like learning yet another new application? Don't overlook the power of Instagram for your campaign. It is a perfect solution for on-the-go business owners who want to spruce up their marketing as they move through the day. It is an excellent tool for all of the free resources it can offer in real time.

How Can You Use It?

Look at a few tips on how businesses are using Instagram to really drive home sales and boost their brand awareness. You may find that you've put off using this tool for too long.

1. It's perfect for product or service promotion. Use real pictures of your products, right there on your store shelves, to get people talking. You don't have to worry about tracking down a stock photo. Customers love real pictures. Get a close up of the finished petals on your cake as a baker and they will flock to your business.

2. Get real and show customers what you are all about.Another way to use Instagram as a marketing tool is all about the behind-the-scenes. People want to know who you are and what you are really doing. They want to see a real person. Social media through this method can work very well. Simply take some photos of the people working in your office. Show them where the magic happens behind the bar at the club. Get them interested in how you are prepping their dish with up close photos.

3. Let your customers do the work for you.Because so many are using this free photo sharing tool, you can encourage them to show how they are using your products and services. For example, perhaps you are a coffee shop with a chic following. Host a contest for the best photos your patrons can produce with them enjoying a cup perhaps with your logo.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7515846