Last month we kicked off our series on the business application of social media tools by giving a brief overview of the development of these tools over the last decade. This month we’ll be focusing on the dominant social media tool at the moment – Facebook – and the ways in which your business can utilize it.

There are two main ways that your business can utilize Facebook as part of your overall marketing efforts: creating and maintaining a Facebook page for your business, or advertising on Facebook.

FACEBOOK PAGES:

Facebook is predominantly made of of two types of content: profiles and pages. Profiles are the accounts that individuals set up for themselves. Usually when people say they’re “on Facebook,” they mean that they have a Facebook profile for themselves. Pages, on the other hand, are designed for businesses and organizations to use, rather than individuals. Whereas Facebook profiles are designed to help people get in touch and communicate with their friends and family, Facebook pages are designed around organizations connecting and communicating with their target audience.

When you set up a Facebook page for your business, it will initially appear very similar to a profile – it will have the same layout and the content such as a Wall to write on, a Photo gallery and an Info tab. But there are several differences between the two. In Facebook profiles, you build a list of friends to socialize with, whereas in Facebook Pages, you build a list of fans to communicate with. In Facebook profiles, for privacy reasons you have to manually approve any friend requests that others send you, whereas on Facebook pages, anybody can become a fan of your page without any approval needed. Facebook pages can also send mass messages to everyone who is a fan, whereas Facebook profiles are limited to sending messages to 20 people or less at one time. But one of the most important differences is that, on Facebook pages, you can build custom page content, layout and even whole applications, whereas on Facebook profiles you cannot. This customization opens up a whole world of marketing activities. You can run contests on your Facebook page, where people can enter their contact information for a chance to win prizes. You can have special “fan-only” coupons and discounts – your page visitors have to become fans of your company before they can access them. You can build custom tabs and layouts, designed to match your company’s branding, showing off your products and services. You can run surveys to get feedback from your audience about your organization, or have a contest for user-generated content, with all your fans voting on their favorite. Companies are coming up with new ways to interact with their audiences through Facebook every day, and the sky’s the limit on what can be done.

ADVERTISING ON FACEBOOK:

In addition to creating custom Facebook pages, the other way companies and organizations can utilize Facebook is through advertising. One of the key innovations of Facebook’s advertising platform is that it allows you to micro-target your advertising to the exact demographics that you’re looking for, based on the information that its users have listed in their profiles. For instance, a company that sells superhero action figure toys could target only boys aged 9-14 interested in cartoons or science fiction. Or a baby accessory company could target only people aged 20-35 who have children. One of the most interesting targeting methods is to target only the friends of your Facebook Page fans; when your ad is displayed to those people, it will tell show their friends’ endorsement: “(Friend’s name) likes this.” This level of micro-targeting and ad customization is simply not possible through other forms of internet advertising such as Google search ads or regular website banner ads, in addition to being impossible through traditional advertising mediums such as print ads or television ads.

These are just some of the ways in which you can use Facebook to connect with your business’ target audience, but hopefully these ideas have given you some good starting tips. Remember, every company and organization is different, so the best thing to do is to set up an account, try out some different ideas, and see what works best for you and your audience.

Chris Strom runs a company that specializes in Denver website design and Denver online marketing. If you or your company has questions or needs help getting started with social media tools, please feel free to contact them.

Austin, TX. (PRWEB) March 10, 2012

Today the Digital Marketer newsletter released the How To Create A Business Account On Facebook article. The newsletter reports that one out of every thirteen people on the planet are Facebook users, and it is time for businesses to take advantage of this by learning how to create a business account on Facebook. When a business wants to get their message out, the newsletter today adds, it is a good idea to take the message to the people. The Digital Marketer newsletter explains that Facebook is currently the largest social media site on the Internet, and offers a lot of features that a business can utilize to connect with prospective and current customers.

The Digital Marketer newsletter today explains that once a business has learned how to get their business on Facebook and are ready to create their page, they have some options to choose from when creating a Facebook page that come pre-installed with particular features and apps, which are custom made for the category of the business. The newsletter today explains that there are options that Facebook offers, include pages for local businesses, a company, organization, institution, brand, product, entertainment, cause, community, artist, band or a public figure.

Once a user connects with a business Facebook page, the Digital Marketer newsletter explains, the page will appear under the info tab for the user in their timeline, listing the business pages that they have connected with. The Digital Marketer newsletter reports that this will help leverage their business page, because their connections can see that their friend has connected to the business page.

The Digital Marketer newsletter today reports that there are a lot of little tricks a business will need to know when setting up their business page, so download the Partnering with Facebook eBook that was created by the Digital Marketer team and Internet marketing expert Ryan Deiss. The Partnering with Facebook eBook was created to help people that want to learn how to create a business account on Facebook and share their information with the world.

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Web Design and marketing are integral parts of one’s presence over the web, but finding a good and cheap vendor to adhere to strict quality and customer satisfaction compliance is a tough ask. Due to rapid increase and reach of internet, everyone in the world wants to showcase themselves. But due to lack of sufficient technical knowledge, time constraints and budget, everyone is not able to promote himself/herself in this virtual world.

Small sized IT industry in India provides solution for all your internet related needs. Whether it’s Web Design and Marketing or Software Development, Indian software companies had their presence felt in all internet rich media solutions. Being it flash development, Search Engine Optimization or portal development, these companies has vast expertise and experience in all the domains and niches.

Considering Web Designing, Indian IT companies have number of international and domestic clients in their portfolio. Small size IT companies also provides solutions like portal development solutions, XHTML templates, WordPress and Joomla customization. Such companies also provide solution for flash development and multimedia presentation. They also help you to do integration for the same on web within your budget. Apart from developing and designing your site, they also host and manage your site for better service, at a very cost effective price.

Coming over to Web Marketing, these companies’ deals with various popular search engines like Google and Yahoo for pay per click solutions and also for Search Engine Optimization for websites. They also deals in giving services like content creation, back linking, social book marking sites and indexing sites and pages to search engines. Customize solution for top ranking and maintaining keyword ranks and position are also available. Some of them also provide consultancy on site design for Search Engine Optimization purposes so that it can become search engine friendly.

Apart from Web Design and Marketing, these companies has specialize units in ASP, PHP, .Net, Visual Basic and other web related technologies. This division takes care of software development and ensures that software follows rigorous processes in its development process. They also provide hardware related solution within India only.

Indian IT industry adheres to build strong relationship with all of their customers/clients and welcomes any joint venture or partnership based ventures. They also provide end to end solution for their customers.

As IT solution like Web Design and Marketing is an integral part of increasing web exposure companies like Ridge Infotech are an integral part of the same ecology and their workforce and staff is dedicated to serve customer/client in the best possible ways and adding value to their business by giving innovative ideas.

Akshay Jain
Web Marketing Division
Primary Site:http://www.ridgeinfotech.com
Company Mail: ashish.jain@rsmail.co.in

Minneapolis (PRWEB) May 09, 2013

TN Marketing, a media and affinity content company and the leader in engaging people with their passions, is launching some of the first YouTube paid channels, bringing viewers how-to content in areas around photography, golf, woodworking and more. TN Marketings history is in subscription-based content for affinity groups. TNM has a deep understanding of what affinity oriented consumers want and value: expertise in video content creation, and successful expansion into paid streaming content.

Over the past 14 years TNM has successfully distributed content for partner brands and their enthusiasts, including the launch of paid online video subscriptions for multiple brands, five of which now have YouTube paid channels.

PhotoGuide+, WoodWorkers Guild of America, Fix My Hog, Personal Defense Network, and golf instruction are the first five YouTube paid channels TNM will launch. In the coming months, TNM is planning to add video instruction channels for youth basketball, youth dance, remote control hobbyists, sewing and quilting. Viewers will be able to subscribe to these channels for as little as $4.99 per month or subscribe for an annual fee.

The success of entertainment sites, like Netflix and Hulu, have proven that users value high quality video content, and are willing to pay for access to content that they are passionate about, explains Cal Franklin, president and CEO of TN Marketing. We built our business by creating quality instructional videos around peoples passions. Launching paid channels on YouTube allows YouTube viewers access to professional instructional content and allows TNM to deliver its video content on a platform that is trusted throughout the world.

One of TNMs core strengths is developing brands and content, or partnering with existing brands and content providers that are aligned with affinity groups, to create paid-subscription online communities. The additional reach that YouTubes newly launched paid channels provide is a unique opportunity for TNM and its brand partners to reach a broader worldwide audience.

TNMs YouTube channels provide an unparalleled distribution channel to reach users seeking how-to videos on their favorite pastime in one place, says Neil Rice, vice president of eMedia at TN Marketing. YouTube has more than a billion unique users every month watching, sharing and engaging in videos around their passion. YouTubes platform holds the potential for TN Marketing and our partners to reach users with content they are passionate about, regardless of where they are in the world.

TN Marketing has a long history of creating and monetizing instructional video around peoples passions, and generating revenue for its partners. Partnering with YouTube is a natural evolution for the company that delivers how-to videos in formats that meet consumers needs.

About TN Marketing
TN Marketing was founded in 1998 with one vision to help companies enhance their brand through innovative how-to content that their members love. TN Marketings focus is developing media and affinity content for consumers to engage people with their passions, and it offers companies effective ways to build their brand awareness and increase their member retention. For more information on TN Marketing visit http://www.tnmarketing.com.

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The Internet, as a medium, has opened the doors to a wide range of communication possibilities with customers. The interactive characteristic of the medium also makes it possible for a customer to publish his response to a vast audience. Social networking sites, particularly Facebook, which is getting increasingly popular around the world, have given customers an equal opportunity to communicate as loudly as you about your brand, in a public forum open to the whole world.

On the brighter side, there is a great opportunity to acquire direct and unadulterated feedback from customers, without the need of expensive and time-consuming surveys and research processes. Directly redressing customer queries on the medium itself can help increase brand loyalty. However, as a brand owner, you need to realize the speed and potential of the medium to do good as well as harm.

Facebook Opportunity for Your Brand

There are enough reasons for a brand to be on one of the most happening mediums. A significant amount of conversation that happens on Facebook, or for that matter on other social platforms like Twitter, carries references to brands, with customer’s attitude toward these clearly seen through them.

The fact is that whether you are there on Facebook, it is very likely that someone or the other from your customer base may be making a mention about you. Your brand presence during such a situation is important to either thank the customer for any accolades or gracefully respond and address any grievances posted by the customers and win back their confidence in your brand.

On a proactive note, sustained brand presence on Facebook also helps you create your own band of customers, including those interested in you. This gives you one point access to disburse any firsthand brand information in a single click, without spending a dime more.

Today, brands – both big and small – have a presence on Facebook. Some of them use it with more innovation than the rest.

Brand Pitfalls on Facebook

Traditional marketers are used to broadcast, which is an extremely formal means of communication, where customers voices are barely heard back. Coming from this background, many a time, marketers find it difficult to adjust and converse in the language demanded by social networking sites, which are much informal in nature.

There have been instances where brand owners trying to enforce rules and guidelines of discussion on Facebook fan pages have faced the immediate wrath of users, which had an adverse impact on the brand.

The lesson from this is very clear, the brand must try to avoid any pitfalls on Facebook; marketers must know the responsiveness and energy levels of the users and be one among them, rather than one above.

Word of Caution – World of opportunity in Facebook

For every scary story of a brand goof up on Facebook, there are many cases of success, where even small household brands have grown in popularity through effective use of the medium.

Two golden rules to be followed while using Facebook, which can yield good results in the long run, are as follows:

Do not be a big brother – be a cheerful friend to your customers. The big brother attitude, which worked fine in traditional media, can kill your brand on Facebook. Any showdown of brand arrogance or one-upmanship is given a bitter response by its customers in the same medium. For a brand to succeed, it has to be a friend, who is fun to speak with.

Do not advertise, converse – Blatant advertising, or use of social networks for incessant spamming with interruptive advertising, is a sure recipe for disaster. You will find your brand page getting isolated on Facebook.

There are many ethics to be followed on Facebook and social media, which can be easily grasped through active participation in the medium itself. A company must ensure that its trained representatives have marked presence on Facebook and social networking avenues as true online custodians for the brand. For many companies, it also makes sense to engage an agency that is experienced in handling brand reputations on Facebook and online avenues.

Get more information here for the best Facebook training available: http://www.FacebookAdvertisingTactics.com