Why Facebook? Specifically is not “just Facebook” it is all social networking which helps drive your site. But if your business isn’t completely online you have more leeway.

Ignoring it isn’t a good choice, but the small business owner simply doesn’t have time to “tweet” (Twitter), blog, put up videos (though this one is growing and CAN be simplified – more another time), do LinkedIn, Digg and the rest of the bunch. On top of this Google Buzz is trying to grab a piece of the social network value, and Hotmail/Windows Live recently made a big change. Anyone using Hotmail needs to check all the new permissions, and decide what information they grant access to the whole world.

Somewhere you have to decide how much time you have to devote to this. Facebook makes it easy.

• it isn’t going away
• with over 450 million users – some are likely existing clients
• Facebook is the simple to set up and use

Facebook Web Page/Business Page 1. Facebook requires you to have a personal page. If you are doing this for business purposes keep it to a minimum:

1. name
2. birthday (then go into Accounts ->Privacy Settings and turn this to “Only Me” (can view it)

website – let everyone view this!

As of today:

2. Upper right corner you’ll see “Account” – click it, then click “Help Center”.

3. Bottom category “Ads & Business Solutions” – click- “Pages for Businesses” at the next screen choose “Admins: Creating, administering, and editing your Page”, next screen: How can I create a Page? Click to expand this heading you’ll find a click “here”.

4. If you aren’t a musician, choose: Brand, Product, or Organization

5. Page Name: two approaches – for keyword advantage you can tweak your business name to include a keyword. ex. www.brendasimon.com My Facebook page is Brenda Simon Web Design OR keep your business name as is. You can NOT undo or change it later without deleting the page and losing the value of postings, and your fans.

6. URL = website address: brendasimon.com

7. Logo: use your website banner, if you don’t have a proper logo. At your website: Put your cursor on the banner – right click – select “Copy”. Minimize your browser (upper right corner on PCs to the left of the red “X” you’ll see a “minus” sign). On your Desktop – right click – select “Paste”. At Facebook where it asks for a logo you’ll see a “Browse” button. The dialog box that opens lets you navigate to your Desktop where you saved the banner – click on it, then click “Upload”. Once uploaded you can move the small square to select the part of your banner you want to be seen. Since Facebook uses a perfect square and most banners are wider than tall this can be disappointing. (If you know how to crop in a graphic program of any kind you can trim your banner yourself for a better result.)

8. Post something on your Wall: “We’re proud of our service…please drop by our website.” Be SURE and use the “Link” button beneath your post to create an active live link back to your website. The simplest way: Open a new window in your browser – go to your website. In the address window (where you would type “www.target.com”) select the entire address (you want the “http://www.” included) – right click – select “Copy”, back to Facebook click on the Link beneath your posting right click – select “Paste”.

9. Used to be “Become a fan”, now is “LIKE” your own page. On your business page – lower left below Fans and/or “People Who Like This page”. Click “Like” – the only change you’ll see is that turns to “unlike”.

10. Invite friends. On your business page: Left side below your logo: “Suggest to friends”. Everyone in your personal page comes up – invite all, ask them to post. You can invite others from your email program, but they have to join Facebook.

11. In order for fans postings to be viewable with your own postings: On your business page “Wall”, look below the Wall posting rectangle – you’ll see a blue “Share” button below that: “OPTIONS” – click and allow Everyone to post. You’re finished. You do need to post and get others to post to drive your page. An active page hits the News Feed* on Facebook and factors into people finding you. You can link to pages on your website when you post. It’s always good to point to your website. Don’t drive yourself crazy – find a comfortable stride and consider it one more marketing tool – with no cost. Remember Facebook DOES include outside websites in its searches. It is presumed they give preference to those ON Facebook. *A NOTE ABOUT NEWS FEEDS

Currently only the owner of the page posting get into the feed. If I post on your Web Page – it doesn’t help drive it. It’s great for people who come to your Facebook page to see interaction, but you need to post frequently, and point to your website. OR ask a playful question. I posted “Who uses Bing?” and people responded. It gives them a chance to participate. When their FRIENDS see they are a Friend/Like your page – you now have a referral. Check out Facebook ads. They are a far better bargain than Google, and the nature of Facebook means your ads will appear to the demographics you are seeking. You define your demographics and Facebook already has the data on the 400+ million who have joined.

Final note: Once you have 25 “friends/Likes” you can get a Username – see the above extension in my Facebook page name – easier to remember.

PS – Yes, your daughter/son, family member can do this for you :)