How often these days do you hear the term 'Fan Page', or just 'Page' in relation to Facebook? Do you even understand what this means? Lets have a quick review of what a 'Fan Page' is and why it is so important to you to get this right if you are in Business today.
A simple definition - Pages are the Business side of Facebook for businesses, bands, organizations and celebrities.
A Page allows you to connect with people in a professional way and to advertise yourself and your products to your 'Fans'.
It is created and managed from your personal Facebook account.
Unlike your personal Profile you can have many Pages and you can have tabs linking you to different pages within your Fan Page almost creating a mini website within Facebook.
All your marketing could in effect be carried out from your Facebook Fan Page! Where do I start? From your Facebook login page, at the bottom right, click on 'Create a Page'.
Choose a category and input your details to set up your Page.
If you are loading a photograph the best size of image is probably 180 wide by 540 tall.
How do I get a nicer page name? Don't worry about the URL name at the moment - this can be changed.
All you need to do is encourage 25 friends to view your new Page and click on 'Like'.
This will then open the option to change your Vanity name to one of your choosing.
Be careful though - once you set your new name you cannot change it - please ensure the spelling is correct! Welcome Page I would suggest having a welcome page that you point your viewers to the first time they come through to your page.
This should include a 'Like' button with instructions to click on it.
It could also include a video or opt in form for you to collect their email details in exchange for a free gift or information.
If you have an external website you could have a link through to that using IFrames.
IFrames IFrames are a snapshot of a webpage which looks as though it is part of your Facebook site.
This means that you can direct your viewer through to your landing page or a specially designed sales page on your website without them realizing they have left Facebook.
Welcome Tab Create a Welcome Tab on your sidebar for this page by creating an 'app'.
An 'app' is just a name for something that allows us to do something - don't panic! To do this go to your personal profile in Facebook and in the search bar key http://developers.
Facebook.
com.
On the top right hand side click 'my apps' and then on the 'set up new app' button.
Once you have created the app you need to click on Facebook integration on the left hand side of your screens and fill in 3 fields - 1.
Canvas URL - this is the website address that you want to IFrame and add a forward slash / at the end of the address.
2.
Tab name - this is the wording on the page e.
g.
Welcome or Free Gift.
3.
Tab URL - this is the same address as step one but without the slash / at the end.
You have now created the app or tab and you have told it where to link to on your Welcome page.
Now to add this app to your Fan Page...
Now you just need to add your new app to your Fan Page.
Click on Application Profile Page on the right hand side of your screen.
Then on the left hand side - 'add to my page'.
It will ask which page we want it add to.
Click 'add to page' and that's it! Almost there - just double check its all working! You're on the home straight now - to double check your Welcome tab is working click on 'Account' and then 'Use Facebook as Page'.
Switch to your Fan Page and your Welcome button should now be in the tabs on the left hand side of your screen.
Just 'edit' your page and under 'posting ability' change the default to Welcome and save your changes.
This ensures that the Welcome page is your default landing page.
A simple definition - Pages are the Business side of Facebook for businesses, bands, organizations and celebrities.
A Page allows you to connect with people in a professional way and to advertise yourself and your products to your 'Fans'.
It is created and managed from your personal Facebook account.
Unlike your personal Profile you can have many Pages and you can have tabs linking you to different pages within your Fan Page almost creating a mini website within Facebook.
All your marketing could in effect be carried out from your Facebook Fan Page! Where do I start? From your Facebook login page, at the bottom right, click on 'Create a Page'.
Choose a category and input your details to set up your Page.
If you are loading a photograph the best size of image is probably 180 wide by 540 tall.
How do I get a nicer page name? Don't worry about the URL name at the moment - this can be changed.
All you need to do is encourage 25 friends to view your new Page and click on 'Like'.
This will then open the option to change your Vanity name to one of your choosing.
Be careful though - once you set your new name you cannot change it - please ensure the spelling is correct! Welcome Page I would suggest having a welcome page that you point your viewers to the first time they come through to your page.
This should include a 'Like' button with instructions to click on it.
It could also include a video or opt in form for you to collect their email details in exchange for a free gift or information.
If you have an external website you could have a link through to that using IFrames.
IFrames IFrames are a snapshot of a webpage which looks as though it is part of your Facebook site.
This means that you can direct your viewer through to your landing page or a specially designed sales page on your website without them realizing they have left Facebook.
Welcome Tab Create a Welcome Tab on your sidebar for this page by creating an 'app'.
An 'app' is just a name for something that allows us to do something - don't panic! To do this go to your personal profile in Facebook and in the search bar key http://developers.
Facebook.
com.
On the top right hand side click 'my apps' and then on the 'set up new app' button.
Once you have created the app you need to click on Facebook integration on the left hand side of your screens and fill in 3 fields - 1.
Canvas URL - this is the website address that you want to IFrame and add a forward slash / at the end of the address.
2.
Tab name - this is the wording on the page e.
g.
Welcome or Free Gift.
3.
Tab URL - this is the same address as step one but without the slash / at the end.
You have now created the app or tab and you have told it where to link to on your Welcome page.
Now to add this app to your Fan Page...
Now you just need to add your new app to your Fan Page.
Click on Application Profile Page on the right hand side of your screen.
Then on the left hand side - 'add to my page'.
It will ask which page we want it add to.
Click 'add to page' and that's it! Almost there - just double check its all working! You're on the home straight now - to double check your Welcome tab is working click on 'Account' and then 'Use Facebook as Page'.
Switch to your Fan Page and your Welcome button should now be in the tabs on the left hand side of your screen.
Just 'edit' your page and under 'posting ability' change the default to Welcome and save your changes.
This ensures that the Welcome page is your default landing page.