Basic Facebook Apps Every Business Should Use

There are literally thousands of applications used on Facebook. Discussing them all would produce a blog as long as the Bible, so here are a few quick tips on the most helpful ones to help grow your business or solidify your brand:

My Google Calendar:
My Google Calendar can be added (free of charge) to your page in order to let your customers know about events, a special sale or the launch of a new product or service.

Reviews:
Let your Facebook fans post their own reviews of your products and services. The reviews will post directly onto your page, and then will be added to the fan's newsfeed so that their personal contacts will be introduced to your page.

Videos and Photos:
If you're not already, try Facebook's easy to use quick upload of photos and videos to your page. Your fans may also post their own videos and photos to your page, in an unlimited capacity.

Discussion/Chat Boards:
Discussion boards are a great way to get the buzz going about your biz. You put up the discussion board, and your fans do the rest. Fans comments are then shared through their newsfeed so the buzz keeps going beyond your own discussion thread.

And of course, be sure to update your page regularly - this will help fans keep track of what exciting things are happening with your business!

Facebook facts: I Wanna Be Loved By You

Growing your company or brand's fan base on Facebook can be a daunting challenge if you are pressed for time like most of us. I juggle two children under two (not literally) and serve as Marketing President of an Advertising and Communications agency. Sometimes I do my best creative work while I'm making a bottle or pushing my two-year old down the slide at the neighborhood park.

Facebook's like function is a great way to get your business page under the nose of the customer base you want to attract. But getting folks to like your brand is a challenge - they are often bombarded with requests to like this or that. You are also competing with other similar products and services within your business type, and that means you should try to stand out above them in the eyes of potential fans.

Two of the most helpful tips you'll ever receive on how to grow your fan base are:

Know your demographic and offer incentives.

If you know your customer demographic, you will be better able to offer them the types of incentives that appeal to them. People are motivated by what benefits them directly. If you give them something (free sample merchandise or a discount), or involve them in something (a contest, competition that they can enter) they will be much more likely to like your brand. By creating a fan base that is involved, you are creating loyal customers who will help share your products and services with friends and family.

Give love, and be loved in return.

Happy New Year!
Claudia

P.s. For inspiring true tales like the man who walked through fire during 9/11, please see my newest blog addition: www.wewalkthroughfire.blogspot.com.