Archive for Facebook
Seven reasons you need a Facebook fan page
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are using Facebook and have a business, you need to consider creating a fan page for your business. What’s a fan page? Facebook originally created fan pages to allow celebrities and large corporations to connect with more people. After all, your personal profile only allows you to connect to 5,000 people. Stars like Vin Deisel have millions of followers. That’s what fan pages are about.
the Facebook Fan Page
However, you don’t need to be a celebrity to create a Fan Page. Regardless of your business, you can benefit from having a page for it on Facebook. If you already have a personal profile on Facebook and are using it to network and promote your business, here are seven reasons why you should create a fan page:
Branding
Unlike your personal profile, Fan Pages allow you to use your business name, logo, and any other branding around your business. You can customize pages so they look similar to your website, Twitter page or YouTube Channel. This allows you to keep a consistent image between your Facebook page and any other online presence you have.
By having a Fan Page, you can differential between the personal you and the business you. This can be particularly important if you have family and friends connecting with you who aren’t as professional as you like. You can steer people to your fan page and avoid unpleasant conflict between the two.
Unlimited fans
Your personal profile only allows you to connect 5000 people. Now if you’re only connecting with people you actually know in the real world, then this limit is probably not be a problem for you. However, if you’re using Facebook as a virtual networking event, then at some point you may approach the 5000 limit.
A fan page however, allows you to have an unlimited number of fans. There are celebrities and businesses who have thousands and even millions of fans.
In addition, Read More→
Twitter Basics: How Virtual Small Talk Can Build Relationships
Posted by: | CommentsFirst thing every morning I open my email, then my web browser, then Word then TweetDeck. The same order every morning. Yes, it’s a tad anal but I don’t even have to look at the screen to switch between applications.
This morning when I opened TweetDeck I found a flurry of retweets (people passing along one of my 140 character messages). Here it is:
The thing is, this particular Tweet was written in a moment of frustration at how slowly things were progressing. I didn’t mean it to be profound. Just a little whining to make me feel better, like you might over a cubicle wall or at the water cooler if you worked in a regular office.
While I was surprised at how much this particular Tweet connected with my Twitter and Facebook tribe, it’s not completely out of the blue.
While I do try to offer useful business information to my followers I know that Twitter and other social media conversations can’t be all work and no play. Building relationships means sharing something of yourself. It means giving people a chance to get to know your personality, not just your business.
Earlier this week I also Tweeted about putting my cell phone through the laundry. That really struck a chord with people. Apparently I’m not the only one to ever accidently put her cell phone through the spin cycle. I got some Tweets that made me smile, plus received some helpful advice.
This week I also decided it was time to try out a proper RSS reader. I Tweeted about it asking for recommendations and got several replies from people on Twitter and Facebook.
These and similar Tweets are not strictly business communication. I’m not promoting a new product or even a blog post. They’re virtual small talk. Just like at an in-person networking event, you might pass along a funny joke you heard, complain about washing your cell phone or talk about your next vacation in addition to promoting your business. It’s just a natural part of building relationships with people.
When deciding what to say on Twitter (or Facebook’s “what are you doing”) don’t worry about always having something important or profound to say. Don’t waste people’s time, but don’t be afraid to be human. You never know what part of your life will resonate with others. Anything you can do – or say – in social media that starts a real conversation with individuals is powerful.
Andrea J. Stenberg
What types of comments have had unexpected results for you? Please leave a comment and share your experience. Also, if you’re not already doing so, please join my Twitter Tribe.
Get Social with Blogging Boomers Carnival #113
Posted by: | CommentsI suspect I’m like a lot of baby boomers who use social media regularly. I’m comfortable with the various tools and platforms, but I still get a kick out of the entire concept. I have built business and personal relationships with a large number of people from all over the world: other parts of Canada, all over the U.S. as well as Great Britain, Australia and many more. And yet, I’ve never actually met most of these people. For many of my virtual friends, I’ve never even spoken on the phone.
How have I built these virtual relationships? By taking the time to participate in social media – reading blog posts, making comments, connecting with people on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Over time, I’ve gotten to “know” people by reading what they have to say and taking part in the conversation. It’s not a process that happens over night, but over time I’ve gotten to know some really fabulous people.
One of the ways I’ve met new people is through being a member of The Blogging Boomers Carnival. This blog carnival has allowed me to get to know the other bloggers in the Carnival as I’ve read their posts and learned about who they are. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting new readers of The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur who have been kind enough to take the time to leave comments here and start the conversation.
I encourage you to use this carnival as a way to start a conversation with each of the bloggers represented. Read their posts. If you find them interesting, provocative or entertaining, leave a comment. Then join the conversation; subscribe to their RSS feed so you can go back for more. Then follow them on Twitter, friend them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, bookmark them on Delicious.
John at www.SoBabyBoomer.com has an interesting look at boomer relationships. He’s written: The “first love machine” was launched to break the ice when the first Baby Boomers reached 19 years of age…and…boomers continue to use technology to enhance their love relationships.
Remember the hit Broadway show ‘A Chorus Line’? It’s about 35 years old now. Read about a new film that shows how the play originally was created, from Rhea Becker At the Boomer Chronicles.
Here’s a tribute to a courageous advocate for free speech and press in schools and libraries from Cynthia at Don’t Gel Too Soon.
The Glam Gals from Fabulous after 40, answer the #1 question that women over 40 want to know…How do you dress to hide your midlife tummy?
Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut explains why she believes Twitter is the most important marketing revolution of our lifetime and cites some interesting examples of how those in the travel industry have been forced to adopt Twitter or suffer the consequences.
LifeTwo contributor Dating Goddess has published a series of books representing the complete guide for those dating again in midlife. LifeTwo has a Podcast interview about the books covering “pre-dating:” what it takes to jump into the pool again.
Somebody found the Midlife Crisis Queen’s website by googling “How to love a 50 year old man” and Laura Lee thought what a great writing prompt! How do we do that?
Ann at Contemporary Retirement did her first round of retirement coach training with Retirement Options. This week she features an article by Dr Richard Johnson, the founder of Retirement Options, about the future of retirement:
Curious about Facebook? So, was Dina at This Marriage Thing. Learn why Facebook is big with boomers and how to get started.
The eternal optimist, Janet Wendy at Gen Plus, just can’t help but pointing out the silver lining in the doom and gloom economic shadow.
And if you missed it, I’ve written a three part series about Getting Banned on Facebook.
Read on my friends!
Andrea J. Stenberg
Banned From Facebook? Part 3 – Other Things You Should Know
Posted by: | CommentsTable of contents for Banned From Facebook
- Banned From Facebook? How To Avoid this Fate
- Banned From Facebook? Part 2
- Banned From Facebook? Part 3 – Other Things You Should Know
In the previous two blog posts I wrote about Facebook’s unwritten rules which, if broken, can get you banned from Facebook. In today’s post I’m wrapping up this series with some additional thoughts on the subject.
Getting Banned Isn’t the Only Issue
If you follow ethical networking strategies on Facebook and focus on quality rather than quantity you should be okay. However, I’ve heard too many stories from people who just don’t know what they did wrong to be able to guarantee it won’t happen to you.
But getting banned isn’t the only reason to worry. If you’re on Twitter, you might remember Black Tuesday.
In the spring of 2008, those on Twitter logged on one Tuesday morning to discover all their followers were gone, and so were the people they were following. Everyone was alone in Twitter.
What happened?
Twitter’s server crashed and deleted everyone’s followers.
To the best of my knowledge, this has never happened to Facebook. However, as we all know, technology isn’t perfect. You just never know.
But there’s more. While Facebook is selling advertising they are closed mouthed about how their revenue stream is going. Facebook is growing so quickly, I find it hard to believe they will ever go under, but people would have said this about the big three automakers two years ago.
The Real Question
So real the question is if Facebook were to ban you, crash or disappear altogether, what would that do to your marketing efforts? How would that impact your business?
And I think this is an important question for any marketing strategy, not just Facebook. You shouldn’t be dependant on only one marketing tool – you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. It’s just too risky to have all your marketing focused solely on one social media tool.
What’s the answer then?
You need to create an overall marketing plan for your business. Facebook can (and for many businesses, should) be a part of that plan. But it needs to be incorporated and connected to other marketing strategies.
Plan to use other social media sites (I’m regularly on Twitter and LinkedIn as well as Facebook). Attend live networking events. Use PR. Write a blog or newsletter. Advertise. The key is, not to depend on getting all your business from one place.
When it comes to Facebook, spend the time it takes to build relationships and your list in an ethical manner. Give people a chance to get to know, like and trust you.
And while you’re busy building those relationships on Facebook, you need to have a secondary goal in mind. And that goal is to get people off Facebook and onto your own site, onto your own mailing list.
You can’t force people onto your own sites. But if you give people time to get to know you, like you and trust you, eventually you can gently and carefully encourage them to visit your website and join your own email list.
Andrea J. Stenberg
In my business, often I see people go from Twitter, then Facebook, then my blog, then my newsletter. How does Facebook fit into your overall marketing strategy? Have any tips to share? Please leave a comment here.
