How to Create Your Facebook Business Page: The Simple and Easy Way

Facebook is exploding! There are over 450 million Facebook users right now!

One great and simple way to begin to dive into the world of Facebook is to create a Facebook Page for your Business. As you might have noticed a few things have changed in Facebook recently, the privacy policy, buttons, tabs and so much more!

And with these changes comes massive confusion, buttons move, “Fan me” is now “Like me” and Fan Pages are now called “Pages”, is it clear yet?

No matter what business you are in – I highly recommend you create a Business Page in Facebook. Why? Simple – you might not need it now – but you will in the future. And with the “gold rush” that is on to create custom URL’s for your Facebook Business Page – all of the good domains will be lost.

So, create you Facebook Business Page, Claim your custom URL (you have to have 25 “likes” to do this) and then you can sit back and figure out what to do next.

Let’s get started:

1) Login into Facebook: www.facebook.com

Since this is a Business Page – make sure to have the most senior person in your company (the Owner/ CEO)– login and attach the Facebook Business Page to their personal account.

Tip: Do NOT!!! Let anyone else create your Facebook Business Page – if you do – they “own” your page – and nope – you can’t get it back! (At least until Facebook creates an online customer service portal – which I don’t see happening in the next few years). Note: You can file a “claim” with Facebook if your Business Page is set-up with a person that leaves or no longer works with your company. But the response time on these is pretty much super slow.

Tip: You can and should create an “Administrator” for your Facebook Page. That way the “Social Media Person” you have on staff can manage the page (post, edit, comment, etc..) but not “own” it. This is super simple and you can have several Admin’s on your Business Page – so make sure to sign up multiple people on the page – just in case.

Note: While you are in Facebook, I would love it if you would “Like” of our Facebook Business Page: www.Facebook.com/MMBiz. It’s a great way to keep up on all that Market My Biz Online is up to, plus it’s a great way to get your Golden 25 Like’s and your Custom Domain.

2) Now that you are logged into Facebook – with the account that you want to forever and ever “OWN” this Facebook Business Page:

Go to: http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages

Click on the Green Button: “Create A Page”

3) Select what you want the page for:

A: Local Business

If you are a local business and have one or several locations this is your check box. (Example: Restaurant Chain of 3 stores) Why? Because Facebook is creating a Local Business Directory – and this is how they are collecting the data. If in doubt this is your best selection.

Note: Once you choose Local Business – there is a drop down that appears. If you fit “perfectly” into the categories listed – change to one of them (Example: Real Estate) if your best category for your business is not listed, just leave it as Local Business.

B: Brand, product, or organization

If you are a true “brand” or single product (Ex: Tide) or a Non-Profit – this is your choice.

Note: If you are a Non-profit: You might want to consider creating a Community page as well. (Ex: Breast Cancer Survivors, or Down Syndrome Families in Austin).

C: Artist, band, or public figure

This is for Bands, Artists and public figures. (Example: Britney Spears, Tiger Woods and Pearl Jam).

4) Page Name:

This will be the “title” of your page – it is very important. Why? Because is has a strong Search Engine Optimization value and it is what folks will see when they get to your page – and get messages from you.

Stop and think about how you want to be found and known. If you have a super strong local or regional brand (or want to create one) then the title of your page should be your brand. (Example: Starbucks)

If you are an independent business or don’t “own” the legal rights to your company name – think of great keywords you can use in your title. (Example: Austin Fitness Trainer, Austin Insurance Solutions)

5) Check the Box

I’m the official representative of this person, business, band or product and have permission to create this Page. Review the Facebook Terms

I do suggest glancing over the Facebook Terms – they have some things in there you might want to make sure you follow.

Some of the Facebook Terms:

• You will not offer any contest, giveaway, or sweepstakes (“promotion”) on Facebook without our prior written consent. If we consent, you take full responsibility for the promotion, and will follow our Promotions Guidelines and all applicable laws.
• You will not use Facebook to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.
• You will not use Facebook if you are a convicted sex offender.
• You will keep your contact information accurate and up-to-date.
• You will not share your password, (or in the case of developers, your secret key), let anyone else access your account, or do anything else that might jeopardize the security of your account.

6) Create the Page

Click the Blue Button: Create Official Page

Congrats! You have your Facebook Business Page!

7) Next Steps: Customize, Get “Likes” Create a Custom Domain

Now that you have your page, you need to customize it, add pictures and information, video and more. Getting the page is just the beginning!

Good news: We are having a Facebook Bootcamp for Business on May 20 and 21^st – to help you learn how to make the customizations to your Facebook Business Page. Facebook has it’s own coding language (FBML), rules, structure and so much more. We will simplify this for you – take you step by step through the process and get you up and looking great in no time!

RSVP for this exciting webinar today: May 20^th and May 21^st, 2010

Create your Custom Domain for your Facebook Business Page.

I created an entire Blog post on just this topic.. so much great information!

PS: I would love it if you would “Like” of our Facebook Business Page: www.Facebook.com/MMBiz. It’s a great way to keep up on all that Market My Biz Online is up to, plus it’s a great way to get your Golden 25 Like’s and your Custom Domain.