Getting Started on Facebook

1.  Personal Account

Sign up for a personal account in your own name. Go to http://www.Facebook.com and get your account.  Use an email address you will actually check.  Don't put in more information than you want to but don't be afraid to fill out the forms. Skip steps you aren't comfortable with.

Spend a little bit of time exploring your new Facebook account.  Learn where the various navigation tools are for future use.

2. Create Your Business Page

Click on the link from the left hand navigation that says WELCOME and then scroll to the bottom of the page.  Click the link that says " Create a page".

SLOW DOWN!  Be very careful from this point on.

Choose your category.  You have six choices.  

• Local Business or Place
• Company, Organization or Institution
• Brand or Product
• Artist, Band or Public Figure
• Entertainment
• Cause or Community

If you are not sure which category your page should fit into, click on each and scroll through the sub-categories to see where you fit.  Starting off right can save headaches later.

Make your selection, check the Facebook terms box and click through to the next screen.

Congratulations - You have a Facebook Page!  

3.  Setting up your page

Image:

First things first.  Add an image that will be your "Profile Picture" .  This image will display on the left hand side of the page where you now see a big question mark.  The picture will also be displayed as a small thumbnail next to each of your updates/posts.  The picture should reflect your business with your logo and business name.  Some good examples are  Northwoods Lodge, Earth Bed and Breakfast, Mythbusters and PolarFlight90.  In each case a recognizable picture is used with readable text that is part of the branding.

Updates:

Time to post your first update.  Facebook pages are not the same thing as websites or print ads.  Updates should be conversational, social and invite comments.  

Info:

From the left hand navigation, click on the "Info" link.  Now to the brass tacks.

Note: If you add a valid address, users will be able to see and check in to your page using Facebook Places. Spread your message virally.

Basic Information - Fill in as much of the fields as possible.  You can always go back and add/update.  The more you have in place to start the less you'll have to do later.  The basics are pretty straightforward.

Now that you've filled in the basic information, you'll see an expanded menu in the left navigation column. Click on each of these links.

Your Settings:  

Make sure to check "Always comment and post on your page as...".  Don't confuse your fans with your personal Facebook account and your Page.  

If you don't plan to check your Facebook page several times a day, check the notification box so you won't miss any posts.

Manage Permissions:

• Page Visibility: DO NOT CHECK
• Country Restrictions: You can use this to limit where the page is available if appropriate
• Age restrictions: Default setting is 13+.  Unless you are selling adult services, this is probably just fine.
• Wall Tab Shows: Start with default settings, don't adjust this yet.
• Default Landing Tab: Leave it at Wall unless you've created, or hired me to create, a landing page.
• Posting Ability:  You WANT people to post on your wall.  The whole point is interactions.  You have control over all posts on your wall so if something inappropriate goes up - you can take it down.  For most of you, you should have "users can write or post content on wall" checked.  Allowing pictures or videos is up to you.  This can be helpful for many business pages.
• Moderation blocklist: Eventually you may need to block annoying posters.  Save this for later.
• Profanity Blocklist:  I usually select "medium" just to be on the safe side.

Save your changes.

 

Featured:  

Any pages you add as Featured Likes will show up on the left side of your page under the main navigation. This tool doesn't let you add Likes, but it does let you control the way they are displayed later.  Be selective and only post pages of value to your business and visitors.  For example.  I always feature my client's Facebook pages on http://www.Facebook.com/CrucibleDesigns

Marketing:  

Advertising, Tell your Fans, Get a Badge, Add a Like Box to your website.  Yes, you'll be doing all these, but not quite yet.

Manage Admins:  

You can add another Page admin here. This doesn't take it away from you, just adds people to help you with the Page management.  I'm often a co-Admin.  Ask me for my fees.

Apps:  

Photos - You can upload an unlimited number of albums to your Facebook Page.  See Crucible Designs Page for an example of a basic Page Album. We'll worry about the other Apps later.

Mobile:

Using the Mobile tools can make it easier for you to update the Page in your spare moments.  These settings aren't necessary, just handy.

Insights:  

Facebook's reporting tools to keep track of how your page is doing.  Note that "Active Users" is what Facebook considers important.

Help:  

Facebook tries to give you all the help you need to make your Page a success.