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Facebook Guide for Professional Business Owners; The Next Step

facebook How to // Simon Tan // January 25, 2012 // no comments

Facebook for business owners…

You have set up your professional Facebook page using any number of online sources.
You have updated your info, uploaded your photos and maybe added an app or two.
Now what?

Here is a step-by-step guide about the “Next Step” for professional business owners.

Get the word out

Use your existing email list or customer contacts, Facebook will generate an email to all those contacts you already have!

Log on to your Facebook business page.

  1. Go to “Edit Page” on top right hand side of your business page
  2. Go to “Resources” on the left hand column
  3. Go to “Tell your Fans”

A pop up window will appear that looks like this:

This allows you to send a mass email to all your contacts in your current Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL or other accounts.  (Use “Other Email Service” for your Gmail account), simply by entering your email and password.

“Other Tools” allows you to down load content from Microsoft Outlook Express, Constant Contact and many more.
Follow the instructions to upload your file using “How to create a contact file..”
Once you have entered in all the information, Facebook will generate an email to everyone on your list letting them know you have a Facebook Page, and where to find it…
*A maximum of 5,000 contacts can be supported using this feature.

 

Tell your Friends

If you already have a personal Facebook account, you may already have friends. So let them know about your business page!

This process will send an email to the friends you have on your personal Facebook page.

Log on to your  Personal Facebook account.

  1. Go to your business page by using the “Search” feature at the top of the page
  2. On the right hand side you will see “Invite Friends”
  3. A new window will open that says “Suggest ‘Your Business’ to friends”
  4. Select the friends you want to invite and select “Submit”


NOTE: Facebook does not allow mass email sending on this feature. If you select everyone on your list, Facebook will see this as strange behavior and cancel your request. My suggestion is to send two or three “email invites” a day until everyone on your list has received an email.
When you have made your selections, click “Submit” and Facebook will send your friends and family and email that looks like this…

When they confirm, you now have one more “Like” on your business page!

 

The “Like” Button vs. The “Like” Box

The Like Button lets users share pages from your site back to their Facebook profile with one click.

The Like Box enables users to like your Facebook Page and view its stream directly from your website. This enables users to Like the Page with one click, without needing to visit the Page.

Make it easier for people to like you by adding the “Like” button to all your media outlets. Websites, emails, Constant Contact, blogs, let them know where to find you!

Log on to your Facebook business page

  1. Go to “Edit Page” on the top right hand side
  2. Go to “Resources” on the left hand column
  3. Go to “Use Social Plugins”
  4. Go to “Like Box” or “Like Button”
  5. Insert your Facebook Page URL, and fill out all the options
  6. Select “Get Code”

When your code appears, copy and paste the code to your websites, emails, Constant Contact, blogs, and other social media outlets to let them know where to find you!

 

Like other businesses

Start liking other business pages! Chamber of commerce, venues, places, restaurants, groups, friends, family, etc…
Do you have business affiliates, or just want to see what other people in your business have on their mind? Start liking other people to get the word out, and so you can share comments with other people in your industry.
Not sure where to find them?!?
Start with the “Search” Feature at the top of your Facebook page.

 

See who your friends like for more ideas.

Log onto your Facebook business page.

  1. Go to your friends business page, or one that is of interest
  2. Go to the left hand side under “Likes”
  3. Go to “See All” the blue link next to the word “Likes”
A new window will open, which shows you a list of all the “Likes” that business has liked.
You can scroll down the list and “Like” as many businesses you want. That window looks like this:
**Hopefully while you are liking these businesses, they are liking you back, and if not, don’t be afraid to ask!
         “We have just visited and LIKED your Facebook page and look forward to your updates.
          We hope you will enjoy seeing our posts and updates and give us a LIKE in return! Thanks …”

Content and Consistency

Now that you have someone to talk to, what will you say?
It’s a fine line between self promoting and getting the word out in Facebook land. It’s also very personal.
Remember you are the voice of your company.  So keep it clean, but don’t be afraid to share that funny dog video you saw last week!
I always tell my first time Facebook business people to look, listen and like.  Spend the day “liking” other business pages and reading their comments. Add your own comment to an ongoing conversation. You will find you have more to say when you are not pressured to start the conversation.
Try different things, questions, links, word of the day, Tuesday Tips, or reposting interesting articles. It can be fun and entertaining.  Give them something nobody else is offering and keep it engaging.  Offer tips or advice only your company can provide.  Let them know what’s going on in your community by supplying links to interesting restaurant openings or a new venue you adore.  And keep it consistent! If you only post once a week, make sure you post EVERY week.  If you post on a daily basis keep it consistent! People will become familiar with your presence and tell their friends about your business.

Final Thought.

Facebook is ever changing and never “one size fits all.”   It’ changing the way people do business and how companies are found online.
Social Media Marketing is not going away, in fact, it is getting bigger every day!   So if you are a business owner, get a Professional Facebook Page, put a marketing plan together,  and start being found online.
Good Luck! And see you on Facebook!
Lorra Longamore

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