In the last couple of years, Facebook has gone from a college photo-sharing site to a burgeoning business-networking platform for self-promotion, advertising and multimedia interaction.
With new apps and add-ons, Facebook users can send each other a virtual drink, create and host events, advertise their businesses through social ads, and more.
Free Marketing Opportunities
The beauty of using Facebook as a marketing tool comes from the endless ways in which you can advertise your business for free. Once you've set up a free account, use your creativity to maximize these features.
Profile Page
All Facebook members get their own profile page when they sign up. Use this as your canvas to upload pictures, logos and other information about your company.
Groups
Use the site's Groups feature to network with your target audience. You can join existing groups or create one just for your business to amp up the buzz about its services.
Facebook marketplace
College kids use the site's Marketplace to scout out used couches and find roommates, but a savvy business owner can advertise services and product sales, as well as search for new employees.
Networks
Ignoring the Networks question when you create your company's profile could lose it a lot of business. List your business's city, industry, neighborhood and any other relevant information to let potential customers and business partners know where they can find you.
Facebook Badge
Facebook describes its Badge feature as "a customizable way to share your Facebook information on other web sites." Creating your own Badge will link Facebook friends to your company's Web site.
Events
Instead of printing out flyers and mailers the next time you want to advertise an event, use the free Facebook Events app to get the word out.
FunWall
Mass emails are so yesteryear. If you want to keep in close contact with your Facebook friends, use the FunWall to create a message or send a greeting to everyone at once.
Top Friends Network
Reward your top friends by sending them a virtual drink or writing on their FunWalls. As a marketing tool, the Top Friends network serves as another way to group your contacts, keep an eye on your target demographic, and quickly and effectively reach out to your company's best customers.
Inbox
Send secure, private messages to your clients on Facebook with the Inbox app. You can still send out mass messages, but only to the contacts you select.
Notes
Mashable! calls Facebook's Notes application a blogging feature because of the way users post links, messages, photos and other information that they want to share with friends. Even if you maintain a blog elsewhere, give your Facebook friends an exclusive peek into your company's news and behind-the-scenes schedule by posting here.
Contact Importer
The contact importer helps you "find your friends on Facebook." If you want to find out if your clients or other work-related contacts use Facebook but think it's a little lame to come right out and ask, upload your contacts from AIM, Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail and more to find out if they're online.
Share Partners
When you publish updates to your company blog or Web site, add the link or a link and a photo to your Facebook profile using the Share Partners app.
Tools and Applications
Facebook add-ons allow you to customize your profile page and build up virtual relationships with clients and customers. Check out these tools and applications that will give your marketing plan a boost.
Facebook Social Ads
Pinpoint your company's Facebook friends and friend wannabes by creating a social ad that reveals itself to visitors of your profile and friends of friends of friends ... you get the idea.
Facebook Pages
A more business-savvy name for Profile, the Facebook Page now includes all kinds of add-ons so that you can post videos, logos, pictures and other marketing info.
Facebook Polls
Businesses can effectively find out what their target audiences are thinking by utilizing this polling service on Facebook.
Facebook Beacon
Connect your company's Web site to your customers' Facebook profiles with the Beacon action alerts. By integrating just three lines of code, your customers can choose to let their friends see what they viewed and bought on your company's web site and more.
Facebook Insights
Through charts and mapping devices, companies can accurately track their "presence and promotion on Facebook."
Facebook Platform
If you want stand out from the thousands of other Facebook advertisers, create your own tools and applications with Platform. This system helps Facebook users design interactive apps so that visitors and friends can easily explore what your company has to offer.
FeedBurner
Advertise your company's blog or podcast with the FeedBurner app for Facebook. A feed will appear on your profile, so visitors to your page are instantly updated with new postings, videos and more.
Gydget
Small companies, bands, nonprofit groups and other organizations should try out Gydget, "a stand-alone viral-promotions tool" that you can add to your Facebook page and also encourage others to integrate with their own pages Update fans and clients with details about upcoming events, networking opportunities, sales and product launches.
Ether
Charge by the phone call when you list your Ether number on Facebook this ingenious app. By adding the button to your Facebook page, you can advertise your expertise and invite friends to call you for advice.
Jobster
Attract new talent from the Facebook pool by integrating a Jobster button with your profile. Your company can build its own job network, submit a listing in the Jobster network and more.
QOOP
QOOP helps you create promotional items like T-shirts and mugs from digital photos. Facebook users can use the QOOP app to share the items by letting friends view and purchase your marketing creations.
Oodle Classifieds
Organize your company's advertisements, job postings and classifieds on Facebook with the Oodle app.
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