Facebook events, like Facebook parties, can add to your company's presence in the communities it serves. Use Facebook parties to invite customers to sales events, customer appreciation luncheons or informational seminars. Or, use the Facebook parties site to get your employees together for training or the annual picnic.

Facebook, a social networking site that many companies use as part of an effective marketing strategy, has Facebook parties information on its site (we'll show you where in a minute). But if you really want to maximize Facebook's value as a corporate marketing tool, follow these three steps:

1. Find and attend Facebook parties.

2. Get Facebook parties advice from your employees.

3. Plan Facebook parties for your customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find Facebook parties in your area, and attend a few events

Once you log in to Facebook, look for Facebook parties by searching the events page. Search for the sort of Facebook parties that you think your company may host in the future. Finding the events isn't enough; you'll also need to attend the Facebook parties. That's why you should look for events that match your company's goals.

I recommend: Look for help on Facebook's site. This is new stuff for everyone, not just your company, so there's no shame in not knowing. It may feel like playing, but lurk around on the Facebook website until you feel confident with the way it functions. Once you've found the event, add it to your schedule. If you use an Apple computer, then learn how to import the events into iCal or Entourage using the tutorial at Simple Help. If you use Outlook, then learn how to import Facebook events at the Microsoft-sponsored technology site, on10.net.

Get Facebook parties help from your employees

The best way to learn how to host Facebook parties is to throw one. Use your staff as the testers, and you'll both benefit--they get to enjoy a party, and you get Facebook parties advice.

I recommend: Mashable! has an add-on application that lets you plan casual Facebook parties, which you can try in order to get a feel for planning a small event. Find Facebook parties help and tips for using the Facebook parties site at 5thirtyone.com.

Plan Facebook parties for your clients

Now that you've planned an event using Facebook and received Facebook parties information and feedback from your staff, you can confidently plan your first of many Facebook parties.

I recommend: O'Reilly Media publishes "Facebook: The Missing Manual," which includes an events chapter that can help you plan Facebook parties. Wild Apricot has an excellent blog entry about planning Facebook parties.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When planning Facebook parties, remember to keep a business focus without hard-selling your business. Facebook is primarily a social website that businesses use, so try to keep the focus light.
• •  While you don't want to turn your Facebook parties into hard-sell events, strive to provide those who attend with information or benefits they can't get anywhere else--perhaps with a certificate for a free trial of one of your new services or products. You want your Facebook parties to offer your clients something they can't get anywhere else so they'll keep coming back to your events and your business.