Biz pages for Facebook & MySpace

[sgusa]

What is the best way to create a Biz page for Facebook or MySpace? I've heard they are changing their policy on Biz pages, but I don't know any details.

[Cactus_AudreyK]

Hi Mike,

I found this article online: It's Not Too Late to Get Your Business on MySpace - Entrepreneur.com

I thought it was helpful, and to add to it... I would search under both Facebook and MySpace's policies and just double check everything to make sure you're following their rules.

Since your business is online, I'd suggest searching out professions and joining groups that have members that would probably be interested in your products. Never spam the groups or by sending messages, but instead contribute to those groups with your professional personality. Having your logo as your picture could help brand your site, but you could also add a personal touch by having a personal picture.

If you do any work with local charities or local businesses... or participate in any shows or events... post pictures and post it on your calendar on MySpace. Involve customers in the "behind the scenes". Keep a blog... It's ultimately your choice as to how personal or professional you want to take your business social site, but consider your customers or potential customers... and ask yourself if that personal touch means something to you...

Simply put, there's really not a rule as to what's most successful in marketing your business on social networking sites, but there are certainly a lot of ways you can be creative in your marketing process.
Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are one of many valuable tools in your marketing toolbox and online presence.

Good luck and let us know once you get it up and running.

[Jeff Petrosillo]

Hi Mike,

The first step to setting up a Biz page for Facebook is to sign up for a personal account. You can then use this personal account to manage the various business pages you create. As of now this is the best way to create and manage your pages.

The following link outlines all of the other business solutions offered by Facebook: Business Solutions | Facebook

Once your business page is created you can start to take advantage of advertising on the social network, tracking business page and ad performance, polling fans for customer insights and creating apps.

Facebook Beacon is pretty promising (whenever a facebook user purchases from your store the story of the purchase is broadcast to all of the people in their network) but is currently in an extremely limited Beta (less than 30 companies). They will be expanding within the next couple of months so if your interested i'd recommend signing up now to get higher spot on the waiting list.

[john.dawe]

and while you're at it -- become our FAN on Facebook!

Solid Cactus | Facebook Page

[lucysdoghouse]

I have been posting for a while and I have not had a lot of luck with it on either facebook or myspace with regards to traffic or sales. I use it more to be social with people, it is kind of a break from working on the site and slowly trying to crack the code on effectively marketing there.

I have had a lot more luck with Stumble Upon and Blogging as a means to drive traffic while being social. Not a ton of sales but some.

[Jeff Petrosillo]

From what we've seen the key to cracking social media sites is to treat them as an extension of your brand experience instead of a direct avenue for new sales. We try to treat it as a space where we can communicate openly with our most loyal customers and employees while broadcasting our latest pr/blog posts and other company news.

[turnahead]

Originally Posted by Jeff Petrosillo

From what we've seen the key to cracking social media sites is to treat them as an extension of your brand experience instead of a direct avenue for new sales. We try to treat it as a space where we can communicate openly with our most loyal customers and employees while broadcasting our latest pr/blog posts and other company news.

While I don't think this is a huge driver of sales, having your most loyal customers act as 'sneezers', the idea may spread and some of their friends will try your product. If you do have a very viral business, you will do considerably better with the social networking space.

[Cactus_AudreyK]

To add to your thought Justin, social networking sites help your "sneezers" by acting as pepper.

I agree with you, social networking sites are a benefit to creating/marketing your brand/logo and overall online presence.

[cperry]

I agree - we get a ton of hits from stumble....
Myspace is fun - but has not done much for us.
I have not tried facebook yet
The other social networking/blog sites seem to just be people interested in the pet photo contests, etc.....
Maybe our approach is wrong...

[lucysdoghouse]

Does anyone if google picks up the links from facebook and if they do what value they place on them? I figured it would be a good place to do soem gradual link building if there was any value in the links. Not spamming the groups or anything like that.

Also has anyone tried using their Garage Sale Application, selling products directly on Facebook? I am somewhat leery of selling my products elsewhere because of the inventory management issues involved. Plus I simply have not had a chance to invest the time yet. I am spending too much time in forums. LOL.