Facebook Pages for Business

Facebook recently made changes to their Pages, also called Public Profiles, allowing businesses, bands, and organizations better access to their fan base.

Businesses can create two types of profiles. Groups currently function as announcement boards and are too static. Pages used to function in the same way,but now they act almost identically to personal pages. “Fan” Pages as they are commonly refered to, allows businesses to create wall posts, and status updates. This creates interaction with your base, allowing them to rate and share your posts.

Disclaimer: As with anything web 2.0 you have to realize the company is no longer in control. You are on a level playing field with your base. If someone posts a negative comment on your page it is better to address the issue honestly and openly. If you try to control your page like your own site, you will find yourself on the losing end of the PR stick. Web 2.0 plays well with honest and wholesome products, scams beware.

Here are some ideas for your Public Profile:

• • Link your Blog’s RSS feed to Facebook’s Notes App. As soon as your blog post is live, it will sync with Notes, and post a summary to your Wall. It also sends updates to the news feeds of your base. There are many viral possibilities here.
• • Upload video. People expect a rich experience on the web, text just does not engage unless it is compelling.
• • Send more personal updates to Fans. You can now target fans by region, gender, and/or age.
• • Engage in the conversation. Your page is not an advertisement, its an informal meeting hall, engage and interact with your fans.
• • Think of creative ways to engage and interact with your base. Photo contest? Geo-location based games? Pop quizes?

Update: I just came across this video on Facebook from Wildfire Interactive (no connection), that helps explain the new “Page” system, and presents options for gaining fans. Contests, and discount offers can be a valuable tool for gaining fans. The more fans you have, the more viral each wall post can become.

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