Facebook Pages are great ways to get your brand on Facebook. It’s a better solution for exetnding your brand into Facebook when compared to having a profile or using Facebook Groups. In short, the advantage of using a Page vs a Group are:
- Facebook Pages are public outside of Facebook (Google can find it)
- Facebook Groups are private inside Facebook (only Facebook people see Groups)
- To join a Facebook Page, you become a Fan. Updates from the Page are pushed into fan’s News Feed.
- To join a Facebook Group, you just join. Updates from the Group do not push outside of the group.
- To update a Facebook Page, you have an added mode of posting via email through Posterous.
- To update a Facebook Group, you just go to the group.
Pages still are not fully mature yet but it’s the best way to get your brand into Facebook. For instance, notifications for new activity on the Page are not great. At this point, you have to keep checking the page (instead of getting an email of a new comment, etc). But I suspect Facebook will continue to grow in this area so don’t let it keep you from getting your brand on Facebook (quick tutorial from MakeUseOf)
In talking with a couple of brands recently about a Facebook Page, I’ve realized there are a few things you should consider.
You can have blog updates imported directly into the Page through “Notes”.
Consider your logo so that it works well as an icon.
On the “Info” tab, add links to other important pages such as photos, videos and twitter, or just add one more link to FriendFeed!
Promote Your Facebook Page from Your Site
On your the Facebook Page, under your icon on the left column, there is a link to “Edit Page”. Click on that then scroll to the bottom of the right column and you’ll see where you can get a badge for your Page. Use that code to add to the sidebar of your main webpage.
On your the Facebook Page, under your icon on the left column, there is a link to “Add a Fan Box to your site”. Consider following the directions to add your Facebook Page as a widget to your main website. I have this in my columns on orangejack.com.
Promote Other Facebook Pages from Your Page
Facebook Pages also allow you to have a section on your Page called “Favorite Pages”.
It’s a box on the bottom of the left column. It’s like Facebook Page version of a blogroll. To make it work, visit Pages you are a fan of and click on “Add to my Page’s Favorites” under their icon.
To try it out, become a fan of Orangejack, then click that link and my page should be added as a link on yours.
