People looking to create a professional online presence have a few choices, but for those who only use Google and email, getting to grips with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other sites can be daunting. The good news is it's easy to get started - here are some tips on getting started with a Facebook page.
Why Facebook?
The first thing to think about is where to focus. At the moment, that decision is a no-brainer. Facebook use is growing in many countries, and according to Facebook itself the site now has more than 500 million users.
Online professionals have got to be on Facebook, but must be smart about using it. To get started, sign up for a Facebook personal account, but there's no need to do anything further with it. That account lets people set up a Facebook page, which is a key tool in online branding.
A Basic Page
Facebook pages include a few default tabs which make a good starting point. The Wall is where people can leave messages. The Info tab allows page owners to share information about their website, and if they have a blog, they can import posts through Facebook's built in Notes function(slow and unreliable) or use another application such as the popular Networked Blogs or RSS Graffiti.
Facebook also offers a whole slew of other options, such as a discussion board and the ability to post photos and so on. For those who don't enjoy moderating forums, comments on the wall will work well enough for most uses - and those who need to contact page owners outside Facebook can do so with the contact details provided on the info tab.
A Key Application
To get beyond the basics, by far the most important tool is the FBML (Facebook Markup Language) application. Using this allows page owners to customize a page in many ways, making it truly spectacular.
FMBL is like HTML - it's code that page owners can use to dress up a page, doing things like adding testimonials and subscription forms, and backgrounds and colour. Online professionals can also use it to create custom tabs for items such as newsletter signups, promoting particular products and so on.
More Facebook Tips
Here are a few more tips for getting the most from Facebook as an online professional:
- Be sure to fill in the basic profile information and to add some links to key points of contact on the web.
- Create a custom landing page for new visitors using FBML and give them plenty of options for what to do next.
- Update the page regularly, including a good mix of points for discussion and relevant resources.
- Visit fans' profiles and pages and interact with them there.
- Use tagging in text, video and photos to let others know when content on the page refers to them; that brings them back to the target page.
Finally, converse and share. That's the best way to get an active community on any Facebook page while enhancing branding and online presence.
Sharon Hurley Hall - I am an expert web content writer, with more than 20 years' experience writing for newspapers, magazines and websites. I write ebooks, web ...
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