Everything you always wanted to know about Facebook

Published on 10/08/2009

The Facebook phenomenon is impossible to miss. Not only is the social networking site continuing to grow, user demographics have moved well beyond its initial base of college students. As of September 2009, almost half of U.S. Facebook users are older than 35 and nearly one-fifth are over age 45.

Also proliferating are the ways businesses can use Facebook to promote their products and services and engage their customers. Given multiple options, where can you learn what makes the most sense for your online business? The new edition of The Facebook Marketing Bible by Justin Smith is an excellent place to begin. The sheer volume of information in its 279 pages – complete with strategic tips and how-to tutorials – could add up to the best investment you've made in your business this year.

How to promote your Page

According to Smith, Facebook is now home to over 250 million users who are actively engaged with the brands they support. In The Facebook Marketing Bible he explains what you can do to grow your "fan base" within Facebook once you've created a Facebook Page. Here's a short excerpt:

• Share/post your Page on your Facebook profile. This will convert more friends and profile visitors to visit the Page.
• Create Events within your Page. When fans RSVP, their friends will see the news in their News Feeds.
• Post messages in related Groups. Use Facebook's search function to post messages in related groups about the existence of your Page. If you don't feel comfortable "spamming" these groups with unsolicited Wall posts, try messaging the group admins and officers to ask their permission to promote your Page within their group. They may even be willing to promote your Page for you.
• Email the Page URL to your mailing lists and invite contacts to become Facebook "Fans" of your page.
• Buy Social Ads to promote your Page. Facebook is hoping to promote Pages more by integrating Page traffic stats into its Social Ads advertising service.

Concludes Smith: "Also, remember that whenever someone becomes a fan of your Page, that news appears in their Mini Feed and their friends' News Feeds."

The Facebook Marketing Bible is available for $49 as an e-book via PDF download from Inside Facebook.