June 8, 2010

Adding an Opt in Newsletter Box on Facebook




Your facebook fan page is just one tool in your marketing funnel. Your funnel is designed to draw people back to the place where you do your business, whether it be your website, blog or newsletter list.

Since closing my retail store earlier this year, I have treated my facebook fan page as my shop - this is where I interact with my clients, show them products, give advice and have a chat. Usually at my store I would ask my clients if they would like to go onto my newsletter list. By being on this list they would get first notification of specials, new products and events, before anyone else. They were my priority clients. Facebook fan page owners try to increase their fan base by holding competitions and giveaways - but this is not acceptable by the facebook rules. Facebook clearly states that you cannot administer a competiton or promotion that users automatically enter by becoming a fan of your page. So how do you overcome this? Easy, hold your giveaways and promotions on your website, blog or newsletter list.

Why not promote a giveaway by asking people to join your mailing list. By using Static FBML you can create an opt in newsletter box where your fans enter their details and it automatically goes to your newsletter database - you can then announce the winner through your newsletter. You will find that the people that enter are more highly qualified as clients than just people stalking fan pages looking for free giveaway opportunities.

Ok - how do we do this?

1. Create a Newsletter Box

Go to the search bar on facebook and type in Static FBML - this is an application - Under the logo on its page - click - add to page. If you have more than one fan page you can select which one you would like to use it on. You can use it on all if you want.

Go back to your page and click - edit page.

Go down the edit page list until you find FBML-FBML and click edit it that box
It will show a heading with FBML in it and a empty box below.

Change the heading to Newsletter or Mailing list - what ever suits you. - save and go back to your page

Go to the top of your page where the tabs are - you will see where the + sign is there should be a list of tabs you can put in your top bar - drag the Newsletter or Mailing list tab up near your info tab.


2. We now need to get the FBML code to put in that blank box.

You need a newsletter or mailing database program - for my facebook newsletter lists I am using MailChimp as it is easy and free for up to 500 subscribers and 3000 mail outs per month.

Set up a mailchimp account - then click the lists tab - then you will see a group of underlined orange selections - click on forms - from the forms and response email drop down list - select "signup form"

You are able to design your own forms but for this application click the "create embed code for small form"

You will now see that your newsletter form will look like - it is a place for your fans to enter their email address.

Below this will be the html code - copy the code.

Now head back over to your fan page on facebook

Edit page

Scroll down to the Newsletter or Mailing list FBML section and "edit"

Paste the code you just copied into the blank box under the heading that you created earlier.

Save

Now you have an newsletter opt in box!!!!

I truly hope these instructions and explanations worked for you.

Then go back to mailchimp and learn its functions and how to use it - there are heaps of tutorials on there.

I started my opt in box last night with mail chimp and already have 13 on my list - not bad for under 24 hours!


Please if you enjoyed this post share it with your friends and leave me a comment - I need to know if what I am providing you has helped. Use the tabs below to share the love! Cheers Tania

And what do you think of the new logo!




May 30, 2010

Facebook as a Business Tool



Last week I spoke at the Ipswich Women in Business meeting about social media networking - most of the attendants had a facebook presence for their business and also a personal page. What I want to address in this post is the importance of having a personal page for your business as well as your fan page.

Facebook is a tool that many people use to keep in touch with friends and family and to share photos of your children and what you are generally up to in your day to day life. This is done on your personal page, but if you run a business and have a fan page for it, it is highly likely that you do not want to share your personal life with your clients or fans.

Your personal page is a very important tool for increasing your fans or (likers) as they are now called on your business fan page. Therefore, you need to use your personal page for your business. If you have not started a fan page on facebook for your business yet, then you are starting with a clean slate. The best thing to do is to create another personal account on facebook just for your business and have a personal page that shows your photo or business logo . From this account start your fan page - as these two pages will be working together for you.

If you already have a personal page and fan page up and running, and have been using your personal page to keep up to date with friends and family - I suggest that you start a new personal page and invite your family and close friends over to that one to share the more personal side of your life. The other option is to stop using your personal page in that way and only now use it for your business and for networking.

Ok, so now that you have that under control lets move on to how to grow your fan base. It is called active prospecting! - and no it is not hard.

From hanging out on facebook you would know that people tend to join groups or pages that interest them, these are the places to find your new clients. For instance one of my businesses is related to jewelery making - so if you search in the groups area of facebook and type in beading or jewelery - there will be groups associated with this pastime. My suggestion is to join the group and see how active the members are and establish if your product or service will relate to them.

Each group or page will show you the list of members - if you see someone of interest add them as a friend but the important part is to add a personal note. Let the person know that you are in the same group or have the same interest as them. Be upfront and let them know you have a fan page - and that you are looking to connect with people who are interested in the same product, service or pastime.

Example of what I would type.

Hi Jan - I am Tania and I am the owner of Jet Beads & Craft - I saw that you were a member of the "Beaders Group" and I am looking to connect with other people interested in beading. I also have a fan page on facebook - Cheers Tania

I would maybe ask 10 people a day to become friends with me - all these people are interested in a product or pastime that is associated with my business.

Next step - a percentage of these people will become my friends which is great. Once they become my friends it is posted on their wall. The important next step is to suggest to them your fan page. You can only suggest your fanpage to your friends - this is why it is important to use your personal page for business and networking. Each day after accepting new friends, while you are still fresh in their memories suggest your fan page to them, the majority will join. Once they join it will be posted on their wall -- If their friends are interested in the same service or product they might just click on the link and become a fan as well. (you didn't even have to prospect for them). Do you see how this can quickly grow your fan/client base.

You are being smart and targeting your market - where your market hangs out - just remember that it has to be personal and you have to have a giving mindset. You are going to provide your new friends with valuable information that is going to benefit them.

In the next post I will talk about the content you provide your new fans.

I hope you enjoyed this post - if so please share it with your friends via Facebook or Twitter - the links are provided below on the Sharing the Love link.

You can also follow along on the facebook Group - Social Media Networking Tips for Businesses

Sharing is Caring - Cheers Tania

(
I have been wadding through the terms & conditions on Facebook this morning in relation to have two personal accounts - it seems that having multiple personal accounts in a violation of it's use - I see many people with them on facebook. I think people get around this issue by using another email address and using a name that their friends know them by. - I personally only have one - but I only share info and photos that I would be happy to show a customer or client.
I think if you are going to use facebook as a business tool you have to make the decision to stop sharing your family and personal life on your personal page. Or use your partners or create a family profile on facebook - if anyone else has any insight to this please share)
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