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Avoid Common Oversights

Christie Tullis -- Gifts and Dec, 3/31/2011 4:23:54 AM

CHRISTI TULLIS FOCUS ON FACEBOOK.
Everyone is talking about social media. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp, Flickr, Digg, StumbleUpon, blogs or another source... just make sure you do it right!
Many retailers and manufacturers are questioning how to create a successful social plan. Do one thing right now: Focus on Facebook! Why? Because it allows you to distribute its content to other social sites like Twitter; its ease of navigational function is better, too. Facebook is the #1 social site in the world and more than half of the subscribers log in each day. Facebook is your golden ticket to creating relationships with existing consumers and finding new ones, and it's free!

Five Fab Tips for Facebook Succe$$
     1 Create a page for your business. Often, businesses create personal profiles instead of pages. If your page allows you to send friend suggestions, it isn't set up correctly. Start over by going to Facebook.com. Under the green sign up button, you'll see a Create a Page link. Brick-and-mortar stores should select Business or Place; manufacturers and online retailers without stores should select Brand or Product. Don't delete the personal profile - you'll want to suggest your "friends" become fans of the new page. If people can "like" your page, then you're on the right track. Be sure all appropriate fields are complete and your logo is the profile picture; this is your window to the social world.
      2 Wall Posts. Content that's posted on your wall should be what your demographic is interested in. If no one "likes," comments or shares your posts, then regroup and try again. Remember to insert a link, photo or video in the status portion of the post so that it can be shared.
      3 Review Insights. Most page owners turn their Insights report pages into Oversights. But if that happens, your page won't be at its best. From Insights you'll learn the demographics of fans, what Web pages your audience is routed from and other critical data. Find out which posts truly worked by knowing how many impressions each post had and what type of interaction each one received. Find your Insights by looking just below your page's profile picture.
     4 Custom Landing Page. Have you noticed a business/fan page that looks like a website? That's a landing page. FB allows customization by using iFrames (formerly known as FBML). When these landing pages are designed appropriately and there's something to win, an email address can easily be obtained. FYI: If you're ahead in the race to social success and already use FBML or XFBML, Facebook recommends that you begin to migrate to iFrames.
     5 Timing is everything. Watch the days and times your audience is most responsive through your Insights. More shares of Facebook posts occur around 8 a.m. than any other time, but that doesn't mean your actual clientele is awake then. So use your Insights to find out when they are. You'll also want to target various posts to specific age groups and geological audiences.
     Don't stress, you're not expected to stay awake all night thinking about Facebook. That's where software can be your friend, but we'll go into that on the blog...
      Have questions? Join me on the Social Matters blog at GiftsandDec.com to learn more about Facebook and the social Web. "Like" my page www.Facebook.com/PuTTinOuT to be entered for a chance to win free consulting services.

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