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Why every Agent needs a Facebook Page, NOW!

By Mike Mueller

Education & Training with Tech and Social Media Consultant

June 28, 2009 06:21 AM

It won’t be anything like the land rush of the first Facebook URL frenzy but starting Sunday Night June 28th at 9:00 PM the gates are open for all.

Facebook was pretty smart in the way they released custom URLs. You see, most anyone can create a “Fan Page” for virtually any product, group or person. These Fan Pages usually have little or no fans. All it would take is for one quick kid with a finger on his mouse to steal away something like http://www.facebook.com/MountainDew

So Facebook slowed the release of Custom Page Names to those pages with 1,000 or more fans and to those created prior to May 31, 2009, That allowed all those real companies to get in and secure their Facebook Page Name.

Image by kittyz202 via Flickr

You and I didn’t have to worry about that, but we certainly do now. If you have a Facebook Business Page you’ll want to be in on the new land rush.

Why?

First of all, every business should have a Business page on Facebook. I’ll take that a step further and suggest every page should also be customized to best fit the business.

Here’s 4 reasons why your business needs a Facebook Business Page.

Pages allow a business to "Publish to the Stream" (this shows up on your fans homepage)
Pages allow a business to engage fans with Rich Media (video, pictures, events)
Pages let a business analyze how fans are interacting with the Insights Dashboard (Facebook has deep analytics)
Pages let a business increase SEO (pages show up in higher Google keyword searches)

So you sell Yugos in Yuba City ? There’s nothing stopping the Yugo dealer in Yreka from setting up http://www.facebook.com/YubaCityYugo and stealing your thunder. (Does a Yugo really have thunder?)

Chiropractic in Crockett? http://www.facebook.com/CrockettChiropractic would rock!

Dentist in Dublin? Only one person is going to get http://www.facebook.com/SMILE

Real Estate your game? First one to score http://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCityRealEstate wins!

Catching on?

That also brings me to the next important item. Flickr Credit by HotDirt21 There’s nothing compelling about a standard Facebook Business Page. Why drive clients and customers to a standard page? Nothing at all.

Your Business Page MUST have compelling content that engages your visitors or they’ll leave just as fast as it took the page to load.

What can a Facebook Business Page do? It might be easier to say what can’t they do? Here’s 7 Facebook Business Pages that work.

Remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Facebook Vanity URLs are Available Now. Get Yours. (biztipsblog.com)
Follow me to Facebook (AreWeConnected.com)
Facebook Pages and Groups (AreWeConnected.com)
Like Facebook? (AreWeConnected.com)

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Mike Mueller

Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Sandy - NOPE! That's a link to your personal page!

http://www.facebook.com/sandyisyouragent

See comment #46 above

Jun 29, 2009 08:49 AM

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089

Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI

Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

thanks for the head's up - I will try and nail down a good URL

Jun 29, 2009 09:35 AM

Daniel J. Hunter

REALTOR® - New Port Richey, FL

I got mine with only 2 fans http://companies.to/realtorlistingwebsites/

would it be facebook.com if i had 100 fans?

Jun 29, 2009 10:14 AM

Brian Madigan

RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON

LL.B., Broker

Mike,

Thanks for the great info. I really have to pursue this. I'll look carefully at all the links you have posted.

Brian

Jun 29, 2009 10:19 AM

Claire Record

Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Thanks for the kick in the butt. I have a FB page for our business...but I just used the normal route. My next question to you was going to be...is there a different way to create a business page? I also created a "group" or fan club for our business. I see above that you have a link to fill out a form for the business facebook. I guess I will see if it's any different than what I developed. Any help would be appreciated.

Jun 29, 2009 10:45 AM

Mike Mueller

Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Daniel - not exactly. That's an outside company (NOT Facebook) there is NO SEO value in that.

Claire - What's your FB Page URL?

Jun 29, 2009 11:04 AM

Deborah Grimaldi

Grimaldi Appraisal Services - Cranston, RI

(401) 837-9633

Great information Dan,

Glad you could share this with us all. I am not that familar with facebook, however, it is something to investigate, I think>

Deb

Jun 29, 2009 11:18 AM

R.E. Renée Hoover, Salesperson

Century 21 Geba Realty, Milford, PA; Licensed in PA & NYS - Milford, PA

Poconos, Pike, Wayne, Monroe Counties, PA; PA/NYS

Sensational!! Thank you! Thank you!

Jun 29, 2009 01:05 PM

Tatyana Sturm

Exit Realty DTC - Aurora, CO

Denver Realtor, GRI, Denver/ Aurora CO Relocation

Thanks for advice and $75 is not bad to set up a page, will you adjust it in the future

Jun 29, 2009 02:03 PM

Jason Sardi

Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC

Your Agent for Life

Mueller - I just noticed in the comment section here that you had a 133 messages in your inbox? Wowsers, man. To say this post is worthy of a bookmark is a shortcut to thinking. This really is fantastic, Mike. While I originally signed up for facebook long ago, I never utilized it until several months back. I've been looking for new and more efficient ways to enhance its viability not only in connecting with folks, but to be able to attract more business. I'm going to return and actually study this post and its content in the morning. Thanks my friend. I trust all is well.

Jun 29, 2009 02:12 PM

Lane Bailey

Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA

Realtor & Car Guy

Still trying to get to the 100 threshold... not there yet, but getting closer... Soon, perhaps? And then I am having thoughts about another page...

Jun 29, 2009 04:41 PM

Mike Mueller

Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Tatyana - I would rather set up the page, make some of it automatic (feeds from your blog posts, flickr, twitter) and then turn it over to you. the only thing that's left is for you to start to reach out and engage others.

Sardi - Sharp eyes buy nah, those 133 are unimportant invites to groups, pokes, and thrown sheep. I get an email of everything that is important (comments on my stream, friend requests) so I can respond quickly to only that which matters. How's everything on your end?

Jun 29, 2009 04:46 PM

Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker

Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE

Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

I am so far behind the curve I think I am catching up with myself. Thanks for the info.

Jun 29, 2009 11:50 PM

Tamara Dorris

Master Your Market Real Estate Coaching - Carmichael, CA

Mikey!

Great post-- tons of response shows how many of us are hungry for your knowledge and your service. Me for one!

Thanks!
T

Jun 30, 2009 03:09 AM

Mike Mueller

Tech and Social Media Consultant - Walnut Creek, CA

Confused about Facebook Pages?

We'll be talking about them on the radio show this morning. Call in or ask questions in the chat area!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jckc/2009/06/30/Social-Media-Tips-Tricks-and-Tools-for-SEO-and-More

Jun 30, 2009 03:20 AM

Vilija Garbonkus

TJG Commercial - Lemont, IL

I couldn't agree more! I am working on a facebook page for Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate. The page is in its infanthood. Find it by searching in facebook "Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate". Become a fan and share your thoughts on content to add.

Jun 30, 2009 05:50 AM

Alexsandra Stewart

Remax equity group - Portland, OR

Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

uhhhh oh - I need help! started to fill out the facebook page form -- got stuck knowing what to fill in for their name of business -- my name, the brokerage I work for? or a new name?Then I thought okay i'll have Mike do it for me -- and got to your form, and wasn't sure about tabs one and two, and names for them - so didn't even get to the paypal paying part!Think I'll email you direct if that is okay.

Jun 30, 2009 06:19 PM

Mark Velasco

West Shores Realty - Whittier, CA

Top Producing Broker Associate

Mike. I am still learning the ways to use Facebook for RE.

Jul 11, 2009 08:13 AM

Charles Stallions

Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL

850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

All this is so overwelming and it is always last minute stuff. Sign here , pay here now. I need serious help.

Oct 26, 2009 11:26 AM

Mike Mueller