Home : Blogs : KERRY LUCASSE - Your Intown Atlanta Real Estate Consultant : Atlanta Home Search Blog

FACEBOOK 2009 - Five easy ways to maximize your visibility & interact with others

Is your Facebook ready for 2009? Here are 5 simple suggestions that will help you reach out and interact with more people this year. facebook tips from Kerry Lucasse

1) Create a Facebook business page

Cheryl Johnson wrote a great post titled "Facebook: Business Pages". It is a well-written step-by-step tutorial that should have you up and running in less than 15 minutes! To see what a business page looks like, you can view my Facebook business page.

2) Add your blog to the Facebook Blog Network

Written by yours truly, "Promote your BLOG on Facebook" is another step-by-step guide that will help you add your blog to the Blog Network.

3) Build a Neighborhood or Community page on Facebook

This is a great way to build a group of people who share similar interests. You could create a page for your subdivision so that people can chat about safety issues, yard sales, home values and more. You could create a page for your book club or your bowling league -- the possibilities are endless! For more information, visit my post titled "Creating a Neighborhood or Community Page on Facebook".

Feel free to stop by my Community page on Facebook -- designed for friends and neighborhoods in Oakhurst Decatur.

4) Share Links on your primary Facebook Page

This is something that I do on occassion to promote new articles, a funny story, or a new listing. The link that you share will appear on all of your "friends" news feeds, so it is a great way to draw attention to your website, but you don't want to overdo it (everything in moderation!).

To share a link, go to your primary Facebook page, select your "Wall" tab and then select "Share Link".

A box with "http://____________" will appear and you simply add your link.

Kerry Lucasse on Facebook

5) Advertise on Facebook

If you really want to get serious about your advertising this year, Hal Goodtree's post titled "Advertising on Facebook" gives you a simple tutorial. I haven't tried advertising yet, but I plan to experiment in 2009.

HAVE FUN & LET ME KNOW HOW YOUR NEW PAGES ON FACEBOOK ARE WORKING FOR YOU. Also, if you have any other creative things you do on Facebook, please share!

Happy, happy new year...

Kerry Lucasse

Keller Williams Realty

404.432.1844

KerryLucasse@kw.com

**Serving Atlanta's Intown Neighborhoods, including Kirkwood, Oakhurst, Grant Park, Ormewood Park and Virginia Highlands

Posted by KERRY LUCASSE - Your Intown Atlanta Real Estate Consultant on 01/02/2009 05:51 PM

Comments (145)

Facebook 2009 in the Technology and Tools Channel

facebook, kerry lucasse, oakhurst decatur ga, oakhurst on facebook, social media marketing, atlanta real estate agencies

Post is included in group: LATE NIGHT - EARLY MORNING AT ACTIVERAIN
Post is included in group: The Lounge at Active Rain
Post is included in group: Social Media Marketing
Post is included in group: Real Estate Technology
Post is included in group: Facebook Tips

145 Comments on FACEBOOK 2009 - Five easy ways to maximize your visibility & interact with others

JAN

Kerry,

Great post.

I never knew about this, "Add your blog to the Facebook Blog Network"

Thanks!

Kerry - thank you! I have been on Facebook for only a couple of months now and have been confused about how to use it for business vs. personal. You gave me some great ideas and a way to start using this for my business. I have never added my listings to my facebook pages either...what a great idea. Thanks again. I'm going to get started right away!

Kerry - great blog post! We are going to read all the resources you've listed and improve our Facebook presence. Thank you, and happy new year!

Kerry, very good FB ideas. I did not think of a business page. Thanks for the links and tutorials. Have a great 2009.

Kerry, thank you for your post. I have been on facebook for a while but never was able to put together how to link it to business. I really appreciate your post and ideas. Have a great 2009.

@ Mark -- Thank you! The Facebook Blog Network is fairly new, but it has definitely increased traffic to my blogs.

@ Lori -- I've been having so much fun on Facebook finding people I went to elementary school with, old college roommates, etc. But the business side of things has been great too. Let me know how things go with you!

Great Post. Thanks~Stacie

Terry, I went right from your blog to Cheryl's post and off to the facebook site, can't tell you how much I find in Active Rain and learn from folks like you..Thanks

OK you gave me the push I needed to build my business page on Facebook. I have been thinking about it for a while and it just needs to be done.

Good Stuff. I will give it shot!! Thanks for the helpful information.

We have so many options to use the social mediums that are out there I sometime think it might be too much. Can't I just put an ad in the Yellow Pages and forget it.

Great contribution. Happy new year! Facebook is such a great tool.

Great tips Kerry! Another way to untilize Facebook is with Facebook Connect....create a community right on your blog. Members can log into your blog community with their Facebook login. Here are some tips for getting started with Facebook Connect:

http://www.mytechopinion.com/2008/12/kickstart-your-blog-community-with-facebook-connect.html

Thanks for the tip! Love all the free stuff in view of the market and a second year Realtor! Will put this on my to do list!

Thanks for giving me more to do, Kerry! Seriously, I'm just getting started on Facebook and am eager to learn new tricks so I appreciate your post. Determined to get up to speed on this online networking in 2009!

Thanks for the great information. I'm about ready to hire someone to do all this stuff for me. It's hard to come up with the time to do everything yourself and do it well.

Hi Kerry,

Thanks for the terrific ideas for facebook. I'm always amased by the many ways that this can be used. More importantly, you are helping me with my goal for 2009 - to leverage social networking to make more money!

Best regards,
Mike

Kerry - Thanks for the helpful post. I have been on Facebook for a while but really don't know how to use it to my best advantage. You have given me some good ideas for places to start.

@ Mike - That's definitely an important goal -- glad I could help!

@ Jenny - It can be a challenge and I know I spend most evenings on my blogs, website edits, twitter and other internet "adventures". If you do decide to hire someone to assist, you may still want to manage most or all of your blog posts yourself -- potential buyers / sellers want to read posts that have that personal touch.

@ Peg -- That's great! If you have any questions, please let me know.

@ Josef -- I'm glad this post gave you the "nudge" you needed. Honestly, all of the items posted above should take less than an hour to set up. Best of luck to you in 2009...

Kerry! Perfect. Thanks for giving us that information about Facebook. I too am on Facebook but wondered how to maximize my career. Now it's part of the ongoing New Year's Resolutions... LOL

Margaret

@ Margaret - I'm right there with you! My list of resolutions and 2009 business plan just keep growing and growing.... and growing.

Thanks Kerry, I wasn't aware of these, and now you've given me something to check out this weekend.

@ Gabe -- I love to spread the "joy of facebook"! Let me know if you have any questions.

Kerry I got my 1st listing from Facebook this past month. Every Realtor should have some kind of social media strategy in order to gain more online business.

Kerry,

Thanks, I recently got a Facebook account and was trying to figure out how to something like this.

Thanks for the info, Kerry. I'm still trying to understand how to best utilize Facebook. Your post provides some help.

I'm just getting into Facebook and from the way it looks I'm behind the curve. Thanks for the posts though, now I have a direction to head in.

Thanks Kerry for all the great tips!! I had no idea how much you could do with your facebook pages).

This is some interesting and helpful information. I have a FB account but not a business one. I am bookmarking-thanks!

Thank you! Great ideas. I love facebook, and now I have a much better understanding how to use it for my benefit! HA!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BethAnn in Spokane

Thanks for all the great information on facebook. I am just getting started on facebook

@ Bill G -- That's fantastic! I've had two buyer leads so far and as a result one sale.

@ Suesan, John & Brian -- Now that you have the "how to" guides, it shouldn't take more than about an hour to get up and running! Best of luck to you.

Kerry, Really great and helpful post on Facebook. Thanks!

Kerry, I had no idea about the professional and community pages. I've bookmarked your article and will get to work on creating new facebook accounts.

Sandy

This is bookmarked. I will be using this later when I have time to digest it all

Kerry, thanks again for "Add Blog" suggestion.

Kerry - Getting "up to speed" on Facebook is on my to do list for the new year. Your post comes just at the right time for me... Thanks for the info.

Great ideas for facebook! I love the community pages idea!

AWESOME IDEAS AND THANKS FOR SHARING ALL OF THE INFO! I just got started on Facebook and cannot believe how many people that I have found from my younger school age years (over 100 already and counting)!!!

Kerry,

What a great post! Thank you for sharing this ... I did not know about it either! And, I LOVE what you did!

Trish Giassa with KW in Summit, North Central NJ (bedroom communities for NYC) 201-960-2090 Referrals very welcome! Have a great year everyone!!!

Hi Kerry - Happy new year! This is great information. I just recently got started on LinkedIn, I post and comment religiously here, and I maintain my website and other promotional stuff. I want to get a presence on Facebook too, but I'm wondering if I will have time to work real estate or just to talk about it! I resolve to figure out my time management to allow me to do this, since I can see that it is beneficial. Thanks!

Hi Kerry - Facebook is at the top of my list for expanding my online presence in 2009. Your post will be a catalyst for that. Have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Thanks for the post. I just set up my blog and I have joined your blog, please join mine in return.

http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/userpage.php?uid=586500153

Thanks for the post. I just set up my blog and I have joined your blog, please join mine in return.

http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/userpage.php?uid=586500153

Great post Kerry; thanks for all the great tips, I'M A FAN!

Happy New Year,

Mike

Kerry I did not know about the Community and business pages. I just created my business page. Now I am going to create some community pages. Thanks again for sharing. Happy New Year to you. Have a great weekend. Great post.

Thanks for sharing Kerry as I didn't know this about facebook. I am just getting started with FB, MySpace and Twitter.

Got to get that set up this year. Thanks for the links.

What useful information. I just left FB to come over here.

Kerry - Thanks for the tips on Facebook. It is a marketing tool that we haven't used in the past and are going to implement so your information was very helpful and timely as we plan our internet strategy for 2009. Thanks again.

Just created a community page... I'll be doing a business page in a few minutes.

very cool..I have a facebook but obviously don't mazimize what I could do...thanks.

I've been on Facebook for a few months now, and as a Virtual Assistant have been able to get my name and face in front of several local agents. It can be so much more than a social network if you work it correctly. Great post! Best wishes for a prosperous 2009!

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.so you also can read my blog.my blog is about nike air shox welcome to visit.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm going to try this.

Brian Madigan

This looks like a great tutorial on how to make use of Facebook. I've heard many people talk about what a great tool it is and have a Facebook page, but this will allow me to take it to a whole new level.

Thank you.

Kerry,

Way to start off 2009! I not only read your post with great ernest but I also implemented one of your suggestions already, importing an external blog. I'm going to share all this great stuff about FB with my staff at our first business meeting of 2009 and I'll be sure to give credit where credit is due!

Much success to you in 2009!

Awesome info Kerry! I have been advertising on facebook for the past 6 months and have received lots of hits to my webpage as a result. The advertising has already paid for itself many times over. I will use some of your tips now to enhance this tool!!

Happy New Year!!

Thank you for the information. I have now set up a business site and will be doing the blog site next.

great post, just created my Facebook business page.

Kerry, thanks for the tips on FB! I have had a lot of fun with it on a social level so these business tips are great!

I just realized that I configured my blog incorrectly. This in now my link to my blog, please join away!

http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/knoxville_tn_real_estate_blog

Thanks!

Christine

Wow...great post. I'll definitely be bookmarking this one and referring to often. Have a great 2009!

Kerry: Great information. I need to go back and make a few changes and see what difference I can make on my facebook.

Kerry

Thanks, I never really considered facebook, but know I will be doing it, Fantastic post!

Kerry, great information! I have just started with facebook and these are some terrific applications.

JAN

Thanks for the info... I have done several of these since reading your blog. It's so nice of you to do the work for us and then share... that's why I love AR and hopefully I can pay you back in a future blog!

Hi Kerry! GREAT post and Facebook IS important in our business these days! Congrats on that little gold star too!

Debe in Charlotte

Kerry,

Nice blog, and nice facebook page! I know that I have just started to scratch the surface of this new networking opportunity and you given me some great ideas! Good job!

I just started my Facebook page. My new years pledge was to learn and excel at all the differant internet oppertunities instead of just looking at them as an also have. Thanks for the info!!

@ Everyone -- I'm thrilled that this post was helpful to you -- especially all the Active Rainers who are just getting started with their Social Media Market strategy!

Also, THANK YOU for the nice "gold star"!

@ Christine - I just visited your blog on Facebook and it looks like you set up everything correctly. I am now officially a "fan"!

Kerry - I need to do a better job with Facebook so I will review these points to make any need adjustments. Thank you.

Great information. I went ahead and created a community but I can't seem to find it now that it is done! So much to learn about facebook!

Kerry - Thanks for sharing. I have a personal page on FB and been wanting to do this professionally but just haven't taken the time to do the research. You've put it all together so nicely. Thanks for sharing!

I'm new to Active Rain...how did you add the green background color and the graphic header at the top?

Thanks!

Thanks, now I'll go back to facebook and use it more efficiently.

Kerry - Thanks so much for sharing your expertise. I'm just getting up to speed with Facebook. I'm excited to add my Blog. I'll come back and be one of your grateful 15 :-)

Great Post. Thank you! Happy New Year!

Thanks for all the information. I have not really set anything up on Facebook, it is on my short list of things to do. Between you and Elizabeth's blogs I have a lot to do. Thanks and Happy New Year.

Great info. I have a few different group pages created, just got to figure out how to get them known a bit better

Thanks Kerry! I'm still trying to figure out how to add my Facebook profile to my AR profile so that it shows up on the sidebar of my blog page, can you point me in the right direction? Thanks for such a helpful post!

Kerry--I wanted to do a similar post but you beat me to it...And you did an awesome job as I am going to bookmark and check out the tutorials as you might have more tips as I fumbled through figuring some of this out myself in the past few weeks since I joined Facebook.

Thank you for the extra tips to get more out of Facebook! I am connecting with friends, family and business associates there and I find it very easy to use, but these hints will make it even more useful!

Your community page on Facebook is great -- I am going to set one up today -- Great idea!! JE

@ Thea -- That is one of the mysteries of Facebook, as I don't have an easy link to my community page either. I usually just go to the Search (in the upper right side of the profile page) and type in the title of my community and it instantly pops up. The other option would be to "Share the Link" with others and that will add it to your news feed back for future access.

@ Elizabeth -- My pleasure! Thank you for stopping by!

Kerry, thanks for the tips. I've been on FaceBook but didn't really have an organized approach to it. This is something I will come back to and implement for 2009.

@ Brian -- To customize your blog page, just click on your "My Home" page and on the left side you will see a link to your Blog. Next to your Blog link, there is a link to "Post" or "Customize". Select "Customize". From there, you can chose colors, add header images, and even background images.

I just created my "In & Around Atlanta" header on PowerPoint and then saved it as an image. The image isn't as "crisp" as I would like it to be, but it works for now. You could also go to ImageChef.com to create a header, save it as a picture and then upload using the Blog Customizer.

Best of luck to you!

Social Media Marketing is where I am stepping it up! Enjoyed your blog segment on "excellence" as well! Thanks for putting all of this out there.

Kerry, thanks for the post, I'm kinda lost though, I can't figure out how to add my blog anywhere, I will keep looking, i'm going to set up a business page too

@ Judy Peterson -- Thanks for becoming a "fan"! When you are up and running, let me know and I will gladly join your blog network.

@ Tamara -- I'm still working on that one, but as soon as I figure it out, I will definitely let you know. If you do see any other Active Rainers with the Facebook on the right navagation, you should send them a quick note.

@ Teri -- Don't you hate that when that happens? :-)

Kerry:P Thank you! I'm curious what Facebook has done for you and your business. I'm on Facebook but, to date, it's been more about connecting with friends and family. We can all spend too much time online with few results. That's why I'm curious how it's working for you. Enjoy your weekend!

I added my blog to my facebook profile but your idea about adding a subdivision is a great one. I am going to do that. Thanks and have a great new year.

Thank you Kerry for a very insightful post! I love the step by step help you've suggested! Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for posting these tips. I am very active on Facebook but have used it primariiy to keep in touch with friends. I am excited to find innovative ways to use it for business networking as well!

I have taken a look at several of these ideas and have book marked it. I look forward of getting these on my Facebook page.

Hi Kerry~ Super fantastic info! I had been meaning to delve a little deeper, but now I have all the answers thanks to you!! Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Thanks for the overview of Facebook! While my blog is there and I am fairly established I really don't use it nearly enough so this has inspired me!

Kerry - Thanks for all this great info on Facebook. I finally took the plunge myself and signed up. I'm still getting used to everything there, so this is prefect timing for you blog. Thanks again! I'm actually going to bookmark this so I can refer to it later when I add a business page and tweak my facebook page.

Some else I didn't know, Thanks for giving me more to do. LOL, Sincerly, Thanks

Very helpful. I am fairly new to Facebook and still learning how to best use it.

@ Paul -- I've been up and running on Facebook for about 6 months and have definitely seen an increase in traffic to my primary website, as well as my blogs. I've had one sale thanks to Facebook (from someone I didn't know) and two buyer leads. The great thing is that I am able to use Facebook to touch base with my past clients and "sphere" (with just a quick "hello" or comment on their status) so that they will keep me in mind if they have real estate questions and/or if they know someone who is thinking about buying or selling a home.

Normally, I send 5 - 6 mailings to my client / friends each year and for 2009, I'm going to decrease the mailings to 4x per year and use Facebook as a way to keep in touch.

@ Laura -- Thanks so much!

@ Diane -- I know that the posts on AR are always inspiring me, so I'm glad I could help someone else!

@ Corey & Ericka -- as I mentioned in the comment above, Facebook has been such a great tool to quickly and regularly keep in touch with past clients and potenial clients - I'm a huge fan!

Thank you for all the tips...I am bookmarking this one...it's a keeper!

Kerry - I really didn't know there was any such thing as a separate "business page". I'm going to work on this totally this week. Thanks!

I finally got with it a few months ago and set up my Facebook profile; however, I'm far from maximizing its benefits. I'm bookmarking this post so I can check out what the experts have to say. Thanks for sharing!

Happy 2009!! ~GBU~

Thank you so much for sharing, I just set up 3 groups geographic ( one general for my city, one for my neighborhood, one for one of the main neighborhoods I work,) I also set up 2 others one for each of my kid's schools.

I am excited too that I could add my blog to facebook, had been wanting to know how and had not figured it out!

Thanks so much for sharing with all of us!

I have recently gotten some good mileage out of my facebook account, couple that with the blog feature and community page (both suggested by you), and I'm poised to do even better. I'm looking forward to incereased brand recognition, increased recognition as a "local expert", and more referral opportunities!

Happy New Year!

Good job. Most agents don't understand that Facebook is like having one gigantic cocktail party of your sphere that never ends. Everyone laughed at me....including myself. It was my 17 year old daughter that told me that I was missing the boat as I could get everyone I know chatting with me rather than me trying to set up as many functions. Bright kid.

JAN

Kerry: Thank you! Thank you! I just got my Facebook account and have been raking my brain on how to use it for my business. I did create an account separate from my personal account.Best of wishes for 2009.Ana Ramiscal.

Kerry...Great Post! Congrats on all the comments, and your Gold Star!

I'm still mastering Facebook...seems like there is just not enough hours in the day to get to all these things, and then, imagine this, still sell real estate! Go Figure!

Thanks for the tips...I certainly will be following them. You know, it's interesting how some of these sites don't have better tutorials to help you get through them....I've gone around in Facebook, and it seems answers are not always easy to find!

Thanks for finding some of them!

now, does nayone know how to insert the side bar code to verify the blog on facebook for an Active Rain blog? Seems when I added my other blog, it now wont let me use the same "friends" to verify the other blog, and so I am out of friends... ouch... sad but true...

and I figured out the code thing.. thanks...

Another link to a blog:

http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/southeastern_ma_and_ri_real_estate/

@ Tim -- I'm impressed that your daughter saw the 'big picture'! My niece (19 yrs old) also laughed at me when she noticed that I joined Facebook -- she didn't think anyone over 30 could be so hip. :-)

@ Thom & Ray -- Thank you! It really is hard to keep up with all the new technology -- I'm working on Twitter right now, but can't say that I fully understand it yet!

This post is much appreciated! I'm planning on getting in and around Facebook for 2009!

JAN

I confess to being confused. Things don't look the same on my page. I added my Blog, I thought, to the Networked Blogs, but it's not my blog posts that are showing up on my page. Any suggestions as to what I did wrong?

Thanks for the post

Good idea. I was just leaving FB for the personal stuff and didn't want to get it confused. But now I will definitely look to try it your way.

Thanks for the great post! I did not understand the attraction for professionals...this is much more pratical.

Dave

@ Judy -- Can you send me the link to your blog on Facebook so I can check for you?

@ Lindy -- It is difficult to separate the two on your main Facebook profile page, but once you are up and running with a business and community page, it will make it easier to separate business vs personal. Good luck!

JAN

With 55 million users, there is always room for one more in Facebook..and good post on how to utilize the blog, branding, marketing potential in addition to meeting old friends/making new ones!

Wow - very conscise and easy ways to use Facebook. Love it!

~Renae

@ Renae & Andrew -- THANK YOU!

Thank you for the great info ... I am using Facebook more and more everyday and these tips are very helpful.

OH MY GOSH! You have answered SO MANY QUESTIONS I have had! Thanks you so much for putting this out there for me to stumble upon.

Kerry - Facebook is alright and your comments to this blog have earned you a feature at:

LATE NIGHT - EARLY MORNING AT ACTIVERAIN

Great job!

JAN

I took some time today to take some advice from this author and created a Facebook group for my community (Copperwood - Lethbridge). This is a very good idea in order to create a network of locals from the same community to discuss neighbourhood news and events, get to know our neighbours a bit more and perhaps even foster a few new leads in the process.

Facebook really is an amazing tool to not only network with friends, colleagues and former school-mates. It is becoming a habit for almost any daily user of the internet. The possibilities are endless. People can chat about bbq's, safety issues, yard sales, home values and more. You could create a page for your book club or your bowling league -- the possibilities are endless!

Hopefully you will be able to use this information and create a group that applies to something of interest to you. Kind of like planting a seed and watching it grow.

@ ROBERT -- MANY thanks for the feature on "Late Night - Early Morning"!

JAN

Great post! So helpful! I have been on FB for sometime now but I have not utilized it the way I should as outlined in your blog post. Just bookmarked!

JAN

Kerry,

What a wonderful informative post on something that I know I have to do, but so far didn't. Something that you can't just read and go, but have to come and come back I bookmarked it so that I can work on it.

I am just curious what you think about comments like Mark Miller's (just 2 comments up). In my neck of the woods it is called spamming.

And the last. How can anyone have such blue eyes? Is it what is called unfair advantage? (LOL)

JAN

Gotta bookmark this one...thanks for this!

Bookmarked and already adding my blogs! Always a pleasure to read your stuff here in AR Kerry! Take care and happy blogging!

@ John -- Thanks so much for stopping by! And yes, in my neck of the woods, we definitely consider the comment above to be spamming. I'm going to hit the 'spam' button after this post! :-)

@ Jason - I'm glad I could help! Happy 2009...

Thank you for the post. I will look in to your suggestions!

JAN

Hi Kerry,

Marcia Brown here- with KW

North Atlanta- Windward Parkway- Alpharetta.

I have been looking for an intown agent to help me with my referrals - I do not know the in-town market and hesitate to show. I like to have knowledge when I show to do the best for my clients.

Glad to have found you.

If you have anyone looking in the North Fulton I would love a referrral. I am easy to work with and work hard for my clients with there interest in mind.

Thanks

marciahb@kw.com

770-757-3376

Have not utilized FB for business yet -will need to set up a business page so I can post lisitngs - good info-thanks all.

JAN

Pretty easy once I saw your update at the bottom. Can't wait to start getting some more people to read my blog and comment. Thanks for the info.

JAN

Good concise tips. Thanks for sharing

Kerry: Great tips on how to use Facebook to promote your business. I'm going to look into implementing some of these things on my profile. I created a group dedicated to my slogan "Lady of Realty" and I've also imported my blog to my notes section. But I haven't made a business page yet.

Have a great day,

--Anne Rains