Social Media
Facebook Fanpages Fanning Out
Are Facebook Fanpages Fanning Out?
As of late, the Facebook gossip has really accelerated, and rumor has it, Facebook will be closing their doors after March; and everyone will be herded like sheep to the next “Big Thing”. Well… here’s the thing with rumors, they’re made up of a little truth and a bunch of lies.
Facebook is shutting down the old fanpage layout and making the switch to iframes, which should make things more robust. However, the recent change to Fanpages has the sweet smell of money brewing once more.
This is a email I received a few days ago:
After March 11th ALL FBML TABS will be staying put. Facebook WILL NOT take them away. I have confirmed this with my Facebook Ad Rep. But, all new pages will have to create the iframe tab. [Training for iframes coming soon!]
The message seems pretty harmless at a glance, and for marketers and business owners with the FBML tab in tack… Hooray!
However, for the folks building fanpages for business owners who mainly outsource the work, you may want to rethink your pricing depending of the complexity of setting-up iframes, and the cost of training your employee. Even if you intend to learn all about iframes, you may have to cough-up a few bucks or manufacture some extra time to learn the ins and outs.
And not having a Facebook Fanpage isn’t an option.
Nowadays, it seems as though everyone, including the grands, have a Facebook profile, and if you’re in the Internet Marketing community (bless your heart), not having a fan-page or business-page seems to be down right uncivilized.
Facebook Fanpages: The Facebook Gold-Rush
You see… the second half of 2010 should be deemed the Facebook Gold-Rush, because plenty of money was made in the online marketing niche — like always — selling the customization of Facebook Fanpages, and the “Rise ‘n Fall of Google” with Facebook advertising.
Marketers flocked to Facebook like ticks on a hound, only to find themselves jumping the same hurdles that appear in other marketing venues. Someone should have told them the money was being made selling picks and shovels, and in due time, those overpriced courses would appear on sites like Youtube and Viddler.
Mark Zuckerberg even created his on fancy name for HTML (hyper text mark-up language) and called it FBML. This took all the honest marketers for a wild ride, and proved to be an added bonus for the people selling snake oil. In my opinion, this was just another sneaky way for throwing average marketers off the scent of money.
You may be thinking this is Baloney, and the information sold was much needed. Which is true, I agree 100% that people should pay for knowledge, but to what degree. Social media isn’t rocket science. Social media means to be social; the real magic resides in being active in your community. This should not cost a fortune, if anything at all. If you think I’m pulling your leg, then ask your teenager who has thousands of friends.
So — not to get things twisted — the awesomeness of social media lies with the fact you can interact with friends, build relationships, and grow your network without depleting your ad budget.
Are there cost associated with the Fanpages? Yes…
You may need someone to build you a dynamic Fanpage, if you’re not familiar with html and iframes; or you may need someone to manage your account, if time is of the essence. Whatever area requires additional help get it, but remember the true power of Facebook resides in your involvement with your audience. If you are unable to interact on a consistent basis, then you may need to hire a social media manager. But, you don’t need an overpriced course that educates you on being social.
If you need a good game plan, but are unsure how this social media thing works, feel free to set-up a consultation.
Topic: Facebook Fanpages
The Power of a Twitter Profile
Twitter Soaring: Supercharge Your Twitter Profile
Twitter has established itself as a super-power in the social community, and it’s here to stay. However, there are two things you need to get right when initiating your twitter account to increase the likelihood of your account appearing in the search results, and establishing your presence amongst followers. Although, this may seem minute in nature; inserting a keyword rich user-name and properly completing your twitter profile will have a positive impact on your twitter account.
For starters, you need to incorporate your main keyword or business name into the twitter url. You do this by inserting your keyword into the user-name when signing up. The user-name is the primary method for being found. When twitter followers are looking for people in their market to follow, the general results return twitters by their user-names. This is one critical element people miss, and later regret.
Next, you need to complete your profile after your account is confirmed. To find your profile go to account settings, then click on the profile tab. You’ll fine the twitter profile to be small but powerful. If you want to maximize your twitter marketing efforts, then here’s your opportunity to stand out in the crowd.
First, upload a photo to your account. Many people like to upload images or logos, which work fine, if you have an established brand that people know and trust. However, from my experience, you’ll gain more followers by adding an image of yourself or someone in your company. People like to know they’re interacting and following real people — not an automated system who’s sole purpose is to make a profit.
Secondly, provide a location to which you reside. This allows people in your local market to find you,
plus connections are made nationally and internationally based on location. You’ll find that companies build relationships on twitter to identify potential business partners for future expansion. Also, job opportunities and mastermind groups often present themselves based on location. Remember, this could be your chance to meet like-minded people in your area.
Thirdly, if you have a working website, then leave a link. However, don’t shorten your link with a service like bit.ly or tinyurl.com, because your domain is a representation of you. It allows others to identify and resonate with you or your business before making a connection. Furthermore, this your opportunity to get a quality link pointing to your site from a reputable authority site like Twitter.
Finally, create a bio that incorporates what you’re about, and what type of people you want to connect with. A good bio shares your personal experience, builds your credibility within your market, and makes a lasting first impression. Having a great Twitter bio is important as it can make or break a person’s decision whether to follow you or not. Additionally, a bio gives you the opportunity to squeeze in a couple focused keywords that you want to be associated with. This alone could prove to be golden.
To wrap it up, twitter is here to stay, and you need to incorporate it into your marketing plans. By doing a little extra work, you will find yourself standing on the competition’s shoulders, looking down only to help them up. Seriously, if you take the time to implement the small stuff, then maximizing social media will happen effortlessly as you spread your wings and begin to soar.
