Facebook Community
Make your business part of the Facebook community
Businesses with a presence in the Facebook community have advantages that others lack. Facebook describes itself as "a social utility that connects you with the people around you," and many companies take advantage of those connections to build their businesses.More than 1 million people and businesses belong to the Facebook community. By posting information about your business on the Facebook community site you can get free advertising to an audience that seeks out businesses like yours within the Facebook community. Start building your corporate presence in the Facebook community with these three easy steps:
1. Join the Facebook community
2. Make your corporate website part of the Facebook community
3. Know where to find Facebook community help and advice
Join the Facebook community
Before you can take advantage of the Facebook community you must build a business page on Facebook. You can then send messages and post information in the Facebook community.
Try: Advice on building your Facebook community abounds, so you can easily find information on building a Facebook page for your business. Check the options in business solutions on Facebook that guide your business when creating its community. Listen to the Small Business Trends audio file on how to use Facebook in business, including setting up your profile page and why it's a positive step to join Facebook groups. Answer the questions posed by Jason Preston on his forum. The answers that you provide will direct you in how to set up your business in the Facebook community. Then, follow along on Facebook Developer with screen shots of steps to take when you create your business's Facebook community pages. Finally, take that Facebook community information, and go to the Facebook site to a create business page.
Make your corporate website part of the Facebook community
When you create a Facebook page for your business, members of the Facebook community can become your "friends." Once customers or other businesses sign up as your friends they can see your business profile, which should include a link to your website. Create a Facebook community page on your business website so customers who sign up as your friends on Facebook have a reason to check out your company.
Try: Build a Facebook community page on your corporate website that sends customers to your Facebook community page, and make certain your Facebook page has a link to your corporate site. If you have computer-savvy employees, have them build a Facebook application that your Facebook friends can use. Makebeta has a Facebook application tutorial. Microsoft also has a Facebook developer toolkit.
Know where to find Facebook community help and advice
Since you're marketing your business you may need Facebook community advice from time to time. Facebook offers some help but for more detailed, business-oriented Facebook community advice you may need to look to other websites for tips and tutorials on how to manage your Facebook page, as well as additional Facebook community information.
Try: Register for an online course from Mari Smith. Her course, Facebook for Professionals, teaches you how to use the Facebook community to grow your business. Take an online tutorial from PCMagCast to learn about the basics of using a Facebook community to promote and build your business. The tutorial offers three lessons. In addition to tutorials, sign up for the Boxcar Marketing Facebook newsletter geared toward businesses.
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