No matter what line of business you're in, you need a Facebook fan page. They're essential for keeping in touch with your customers and also getting new ones. The best thing about it is that it's extremely easy to set one up and start getting fans. Here's why you need to get started with it today.

LOTS of People Are on Facebook

According to Facebook's website, it has 750 million active users. In the time that it took me to write that sentence, it doubled! Well, it didn't double probably, but a couple million joined I'm sure. Around half of Facebook's users check it every day and each user has on average 130 friends. When you send out a message to each of your fans, it appears on their news feed, where their 130 friends (or 1,300 if they're like some people I know) all see it. Not only that, every demographic on earth is represented. All walks of life and all ages use Facebook to hang out, socialize and find services. And it doesn't show any sign of slowing down.

A Ready-Made Website

When you launch your own website, it kind of feels like you're putting a message into a bottle and setting it adrift in the ocean. Will anybody get it? Not so with Facebook. Creating a Facebook fan page means plugging into a massive network that's already there for you. With Facebook, you don't have to design your website or even download a template. Everything is all set up and ready to go for you. You can create your fan page in about 5 minutes and it's now viewable by anyone on earth. It's also extremely easy to upload videos and other types of media. The Facebook platform is designed so that even if you have no computer skills whatsoever, you can publish multimedia.

Keep in Touch

The whole point of Facebook or any other social media site is communication. Not only do you get to talk to your fans, they get to talk to you as well. It offers two-way communication and you're always connected. Actually, it's the best marketing tool ever because you can get instant feedback about your business. You can listen in on your fans' conversations and find out exactly what they think about you. This is information giant corporations have spent million dollars trying to get through market research.

SEO Benefits

Facebook also comes with built-in SEO benefits. It's one of the most popular websites on earth. This means that all the content you put on your fan page will come up in the search engine results. Keyword optimize your fan page and make sure it has some links going back to your site.

And the most important reason of all? It's free. It costs you absolutely nothing to create a ready-made website that's already connected to the biggest social network on earth. Advertising and connecting with your customer base has never been this cheap or easy before.

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Are you paying attention to your Social Media Marketing?

If not, it's never too late, and there will never be a better time than now. A recent article in the Social Media Examiner says: "Social media marketing is a rapidly changing environment, as we all know. But the good news is that your customers are embracing social media as a normal part of their lives. Even the over-50 population is adapting at staggering rates.". You can download (no opt in necessary) a PDF of the Social Media Report here.

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A Facebook Local Business Success Story

It’s always interesting to read about how other local business owners like yourself have benefitted from social media. It helps to filter the hype from the facts and give you practical insight on how people are using social media in their local business. Here is a success story that I know you will find inspiring, especially to those facing hard times.

How Facebook helped save a restaurant from shutting down

The sluggish economy had worked its toll on the Bay area of St. Petersburg, Ohio and claimed its fair share of restaurant shut-downs. It was no different for the St. Pete Brasserie and after months of poor sales and imminent closure, Andrew Wilkins decided to share his problem on Facebook. His Facebook post read as follows:

"The situation at St. Pete Brasserie is dire. They are poised to close their doors if a miracle does not happen this week. Please support our local, independent restaurants. They have a great menu with an inspired chef and good prices. Prix fixe is $17. 15 jobs are at stake."

To his surprise, the Facebook entry received overwhelming response and was reposted by several people and soon became viral. Customers flocked to his restaurant till he had to reopen a dining room that had been unused for several months, and his sales shot up by 40%. He also got inquiries from potential investors.

All in all his local business was saved and his Facebook thank you post said it all:

"Well, thanks to the overwhelming support shown by our wonderful loyal customers, St. Pete Brasserie has a new lease of life. So please spread the word that the doors are staying open."

As a thank you to all his business’s Facebook friends and to generate even more customers, Wilkins offers 25% off the total bill when they dine at his restaurant.

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Creating a Great Facebook Fan Page

For businesses of every size, creating a Facebook fan page is the easiest way to become active in the global marketplace. As an extension of a web page or as a stand-alone representation of your business, a Facebook fan page is an effective and inexpensive means to potentially reach millions.

With the global popularity of Facebook growing daily, business owners are quickly realizing the benefits of staking their claim on the world's most popular social network by establishing a Facebook page, or Fan page for their businesses. Inexpensive, simple to create and easy to maintain, Facebook fan pages can benefit companies with the smallest of marketing budgets and it does not take a computer whiz to create an effective and exciting fan page.

Great Facebook fan pages do so much more than just tell your story and present your product or service; they entertain, inform and enthrall. When you understand the common elements of the best Facebook fan pages, you can quickly and easily make yours all it can be in no time at all. Following are a few of the most common elements shared by successful fan pages and how you can incorporate them into your page:

- Connection to other platforms. Link all of the social networks you use in one place. From your fan page, provide links to your website, your blog, your MySpace page and any other networking sites you utilize. Likewise, link your Facebook page on each, as well. Visitors appreciate easy links to their favorite forums.

- A good reason to join. If Facebook users have to click the "Like" button in order to see your page or access a special coupon or other incentive, they will be more likely to do so. Make that ìLikeî button a powerful tool by using it as a key to your fan page and watch your list of fans grow.

- Understanding of demographics. Currently, the average Facebook user is a young female with children and money in the bank. Successful Facebook fan pages keep demographics in mind and target their ads and campaigns toward the majority of Facebook users. Demographics change, and great Facebook marketers keep current on demographic changes and trends.

- Variety of interactive media. The most successful Facebook fan pages offer a variety of interactive media options. Among them, the most effective tool is video, and studies have shown including a video on any web page increases viewer participation. People prefer to learn from watching videos and cannot resist a "Play" button! Other interactive media options are available through Facebook Apps, and include game widgets, polls and contests. Keep them clicking and you will have a fan for life!

- Regular status updates that capture attention. Keeping your Facebook status update current is easy to do through Twitter and Facebook Mobile. Fans accessing Live Feed of status reports will see your update and intriguing status updates are more likely to attract fans over to your page for a visit.

- Landing page for new visitors. Greet newcomers to your Facebook page with a customized welcome. Landing pages for first-time visitors are an easy way to introduce yourself and your business and invite the newcomer to become a fan and join the rest of your followers.

Creating a great Facebook fan page is about identifying what Facebook users love about the most successful Facebook fan pages and incorporating common elements into your own page. Facebook Apps make it easy to install customized versions of things like Wall tabs, games, contests and interesting features like articles, blog links and videos that captivate. Study your favorite Facebook fan page to identify what makes it useful and likable and make their ideas your own with the customizable options available for most Facebook Apps. The result will be a unique and personalized fan page that incorporates proven elements of success with your unique features.

Want help creating your Facebook Fan page for your business? Call Bill at 508.203.1660