With the new Facebook Profile coming out – it’s more important than ever for folks to have all of their security settings correct, and that we maximize every opportunity on the site, including Facebook Places.
If you are using an iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry , (or iPad), to check your Facebook account you have the ability to “CHECK IN” to a location. When you check in to that location, you are automatically connected to what’s called a “Place Page” for that local business on Facebook (FB).
"Place Pages look similar to a Business (Fan) Page, with emphasis on an interactive map from Bing at the very top. Just like a Business Page, there is a wall and you can also see your check-ins plus the total check-ins from others!"
There’s also an opportunity for the new “profile style” interactive Business/Fan Pages to be merged with your “Place Page!” This could be ideal if you have a Business page and only one location, for those of us with MULTIPLE locations, we will need to manage both the Facebook Place Page, and the Business Page. Think about the way your business shows up when you search “Real Estate Agents” Cary, NC… there’s a little map and all of the businesses that have registered with Google Local show up next to it. Well, Facebook is trying to be “like” Google.
So How Do You Collect Your Place Page?
The first time a venue gets “checked-in” to by any Facebook user, Facebook instantly creates a Place Page for their business. To create a new place, follow these steps:
1. Access the Places application on your supported device (ipad, Android, iphone, Blackberry).
2. Click “Check In.”
3. Click the “Add” button to the left of the Places Names search box.
4. Enter a name for the new Place as well as an optional description of it. Then, click the “Add” button at the bottom right of the page.
5. You will then have the option to both write a description of what you are doing at the new Place, and/or tag your friends there
6. Click the “Check In” button to share your visit.
"The default location for any new Place you create will be where you are currently located. Also, keep in mind that any Place that you create is public. This means that other people may see your created Place while browsing Facebook or the Places application."
The owner of that business then has to search and find the Place Page on Facebook and claim the business. (Scroll to the foot of the Place Page and click on the link, Is this your business?). Once claimed, you have some editing control in terms of the profile picture and ability to publish content to anyone who has Liked your Place Page.
The goal seems to be for people in the youngest generation to check Facebook before Google for information… either way, you need to be maximized on all parts of the platform.
If you have questions about building your real estate blog as you build your real estate business, give me a call! Josh Harley, Fathom Realty, 214-228-0301. I’d love to help you, and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter? Let’s Connect!
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