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Facebook: 50 Ways to Use Your Fan Page to Earn Business…Part Two!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with CyberSunshine, Inc.

Part two of my series, “50 Ways to Use Your Fan Page” has arrived. Below you'll find 10 more creative ideas on what kind of information to post and provide on your Fan Page. If there is something you would like to know more about or if you have an idea or suggestion you feel works, please feel free to let me know or post it below! After all, social media is all about sharing and collaboration. It is only successful when others participate.

To catch up on this blog series and read the first 10 suggestions, please click here

11. Post personal photos. Photos are probably one of the most popular uses for Facebook. Photos grab attention and encourage people to take a look at your page. You can and should post personal photos but keep it professional. Make sure you keep in mind that this is a professional fan page and use discretion.

12. Post photos of properties. If you have a particular property that you are featuring on your website and would like to get some extra viewing time on, post an album in the photos section that is of the property. Be sure to put the properties address as the name of the album. For added benefit, go into the settings area of your album and set it to ‘everyone’ can view. That way, even if someone can’t see your profile, they will be able to see that particular photo album. (You can designate settings for each album.)

13. Post photos of events you attend. Make sure you take great photos of any events that you attend. If there are people you know who appear in the photos, get their permission and “tag” them. Tagging can be done as you are uploading your photos or after you have posted them to your album. When you tag a photo of someone, Facebook sends them an email letting them know and encouraging them to visit your page. This is what creates the “community” feel of your page. The more personalization you put on the page, the more likely it will be it gets visited.

14. Start a Discussion. Discussions provide a way to initiate conversation on your profile and encourage people to network with each other. Allow others a chance to communicate with you and your friends. It draws users in creates commentary. Click on the ‘discussions’ tab at the top of your fan page. Click the ‘start new topic’ link and enter the information. Once you’ve entered it, be sure to post on your wall that you’re starting a discussion. Keep it interesting; talk about current market events, or use it as a question and answer session. If you can provide valuable advice, you’ll get fans coming back for more.

15. Advertise your Open Houses. At the top of your fan page is a tab called “Events”. Here you can post upcoming events like your upcoming open houses. You can even attach links to a map for driving directions.

16. Add your own functionality through FBML (Facebook Markup Language). Facebook Mark Up Language allows you to add advanced functionality to your fan Page using this application. If you know HTML, you can design and create your own pages or have someone do it for you. This application will add a box to your Page in which you can render HTML or FBML (Facebook Markup Language) for enhanced Page customization. Click here to add the application: http://harvard.new.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=4949752878

17. Announce your blog posts. You can advertise new posts to your blog simply by posting it as an update on your wall. You can attach a link directly to your blog that will direct fans right to the article.

18. Use Twitter to drive traffic. Use your Twitter updates to let your followers know of unique and interesting content or new content you’ve posted to your fan page. Cross marketing is an extremely effective way to get social media to work for you.

19. Become a fan yourself. Not only should you make sure that you become a fan of your own fan page through your personal profile, you should also make sure that you become a fan of other causes, companies, brands and people with whom you know and do business. Reaping the benefits of social media means you have to participate in it as well. Make sure you are cultivating the online community by searching around for pages that match your specific interests. A consummate professional pays attention to the causes and companies that matter most to their clients and becomes fans of them as well. One good turn deserves another.

20. Visit at least two fans per week. Social media is like any other kind of socialization. You have to make yourself available to others for it to work. In today’s hectic business climate, you may find it difficult to pick up the phone and call people just to say hello. Facebook profiles make it much easier. Be sure to pick at least two fan’s profiles per week to visit. Post a friendly ‘hello’ on their wall. They will get emailed that you posted and feel good you reached out to them. This concludes part two of my series. I hope you’re playing around with your fan page and starting to get a hand of its functionality. Check back soon for 10 more ideas as we work towards providing you with 50 ideas on how to use your Facebook Fan Page!

This concludes part two of my series. I hope you’re playing around with your fan page and starting to get a hang of its functionality. Check back soon for 10 more ideas as we work towards providing you with 50 ideas on how to use your Facebook Fan Page!

Until then, Happy Socializing!

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CyberSunshine, Inc. is real estate web design firm that has been developing website and intranet applications for the real estate industry since 1998. Regarded as one of the industry's premier technology development companies, and recently named as one of Florida’s Top 100 Small Businesses, CyberSunshine, Inc. enables clients to maximize their marketing and sales potential through the internet by providing flexible, dynamic systems with robust web-based solutions tailored to their specific needs. For additional information call 239-437-2628 or visit http://www.cybersunshine.com.

Comments(8)

Tristan Emond
Mindful Living Realty - Rapid City, SD
Rapid City Homes Sales Specialist

Thanks for the great ideas.  I've been thinking about a facebook fan page and just got one created.  Now to put stuff on it!

Jun 08, 2009 10:09 AM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Cassandra ~ I'll use this post as a guide when I squeeze out sometime to explore Facebook. Thanks for all this info.

Liz

Jun 08, 2009 05:08 PM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Cassandra -- great ideas, was wondering though --do you separate out your personal page from your business fan page? I guess I am thinking of photos --

Jul 13, 2009 05:56 PM
Cassandra Engeldinger
CyberSunshine, Inc. - Fort Myers, FL

Hi all,

Sorry in my delayed response...I was getting some needed respite in the gorgeous Northwoods of Wisconsin. Alexsandra (love the name by the way) YES you should keep your personal profile page separate from your business fan page. I have two and it works really well- even better than I imagined. I really believe in presenting a professional front but having fun at the same time. With your personal page you can be more yourself; on your business fan page, you want your message to be more targeted. Thanks for the question!

Stay tuned for my next 10 ideas...I'm posting them this week!

 

Aug 17, 2009 01:43 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Cassandra.  I have now enjoyed the first 20 tips.

I started my page on May 23rd and am just today catching this series (August 18th).

Thanks for sharing (and I am your newest subscriber!).

Ken

Aug 18, 2009 02:02 PM
Jane Cross
Homes By Cross serving Charlotte NC Real Estate Needs - Charlotte, NC

Cassandra, It looks like I am a day late and a dollar short on this, but I am trying to put a fan page together on both my face book and my husband's and driving myself nuts! Thanks for posting this!!!!!

Nov 10, 2009 01:55 PM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

Pretty awesome post to have discovered months later.  Therein lies the other power of blogging/social media - it sticks around.

Aug 15, 2010 07:33 AM
Homer Ray
Eastern NC Homes - New Bern, NC
Eastern NC Homes

Thanks for the ideas

Dec 01, 2010 05:37 PM