Never Have a Blank Avatar

The blank avatar space is filled with a Twitter bird or an egg shape. Neither adds anything to your profile.

• Add the profile picture you use elsewhere online. This helps people recognise you at conferences, networks, and meetings. It helps break the ice at such gatherings. People can easily approach you with, “Dawn?  I recognise you from Twitter.”
• Alternatively, use a logo. However, people prefer to see a face, as it helps connect the words you tweet with the personality followers will eventually get to know.

Add a URL

If you do not enter a URL in the requested space, those you follow have no way of telling who or what you are.

• Those who forget names easily may not follow back, or block you.
• The URL is a clue to how you may have already met in person, or demonstrate a shared interest. This will encourage followers, and is more likely to result in replies to any messages you send.

Complete the Profile

Avoid crypric fragments, that are likely to make sense only to you and a few in the know. This, combined with a missing URL makes you look flaky, weird, or just plain frightening.

• Instead add a brief list of your main professional roles.
• Alternatively, add a brief list of interests, skills, or specialisms.

Either tactic will help potential followers determine if you will have anything of interest to say, and encourage the right people to your profile.

Tweet!

Recently, I’ve used JustUnfollow to pare back my Following list. I’m also pretty particular about who follows me. Once a week or fortnight, I peruse the list of recent Followers, and remove anyone who doesn’t abide by the advice I supply above. I’m not interested in engaging with those with no name or interests.

• Surprisingly, I found that many Followers had a dull Twitter profile. They were mostly removed.
• A sub-set had an interesting profile, but simply did not tweet. They’re taking up space on my list, so they were removed. First, those who’d not tweeted for 6 months, then those who’d not tweeted for 3.
• A smaller subset again have a really interesting profile, tweet seldom,  but when they do, it’s not about their craft. They’re slowly being removed too.

I like to know who I’m tweeting with. And what they do for a living. And where they’re from. I like to find out more about them, from an online profile, a blog, or a website.

If you don’t supply these basic details, you limiting the amount of people who will follow back, and you limiting the meaningful exchanges you can have online.

What are your thougths?

1. Log into Facebook
   
2. Navigate to your Page
3. Click Edit Page
4. Click Add featured likes
5. Select the Pages you wish to profile, and click Save
6. Click Add featured owners
7. Select the owners you wish to profile, and click Save
8. Click View Page, to view the featured Pages and Owners

Simples!

Before you begin, you may wish to read Profiles and Pages on Facebook: The Difference.  You will also need the event description, an image and a booking link ready to go. 

Add the Facebook Events app to your business page

Facebook Events is a Facebook application (tool) that will add a tab to your Page for adding and sharing events.

1. Navigate to https://www.facebook.com/apps/directory.php.
2. Type Events into the Search box (top left), and press Return.
3. From the results, click Events by Facebook.
4. Click Add to my Page (bottom left).

Add Facebook Events to your business page

You can get images from Flickr.  Ensure you read the rules before using anything available there.

• You can create a booking page from EventBrite (our recommendation) or EventElephant.  EventBrite allows for recurring events, multiple (automated) payment options and provides an excellent system for reminding and contacting attendees and tracking event links.  It truly is a one-stop-shop.  Pay close attention to EventBrite’s link tracking options; this will help you identify where the views and bookings come from.  You may find, for example, that sharing links on Twitter is the best place for views on your page, whereas Facebook is the best place for bookings.

To add an event:

1. Navigate to your Facebook Page.
2. Click Events on the left side of your page.
3. Click Create an Event (top right).
4. Click Add Event Photo, then Choose File and insert an appropriate photograph.
5. Enter the date and time of the event.
6. Enter the title of the event.
7. Enter the venue.
8. In the More Info field, paste a brief event description, including a booking or registration link, and contact information. Posting a Facebook event without a booking link agitates many online users; people expect to be able to find and event, read more information and book (all online).  Don’t be insanely inefficient, by asking them to print out and sign a booking form, enclosing a cheque!
9. Keep the guest list and non-admins options selected (our recommendation), and click Create Event.
10. The full details of the event are displayed.  Click I’m Attending (if appropriate).
11. Click Edit Event if any of the details are incorrect.  (This can be done at a later date.)
12. Click Update Fans of, to send a message to fans to let them know about the event.  (This can also be done at a later date.)  If you are Using Facebook As [Your Business Name], Facebook will prompt you to Continue as [Your Name]. Click this option and proceed. (This can also be done at a later date.)  Fill in a brief Subject and Message and click Attend.  Fans will receive a message to their Facebook Inbox, informing them of the event and providing them with a link to the event on Facebook, where they can also click I’m Attending, Maybe, or No.

Promoting Your Event

It is important to share the event after you have created it.  Remember, not everyone will see your link as soon as you post it.  Statistics show that the best times to share information like this are 6-8am; 11am; 3pm; 8pm onwards.  Feel free to share your link in multiple locations online.

1. Navigate to the event page and copy the URL (website address).  This may look like this: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148869141844430.
2. Paste this URL anywhere you’d like to share the event.  It can be used in a Facebook status update (first click the link option), an email, a website or a document.  Don’t depend on Facebook for event promotion. It is only one of many tools that can help spread the word quickly.

If you have any queries, let me know. We’d also be delighted if you’d comment with your recommendations for event promotion via Facebook. 

Last night, I attended the second meeting of the Social Media Association for Business, at UUB.  Here are my thoughts on the evening.

What is the Social Media Association for Business?

The SMAB is a grassroots organisation that spontaneously germinated in the mind of our very own Martin Gilchrist of Gilchrist & Co Accountants, to bring together those who are interested in, knowledgeable about using social media tools, to assist organisations in Northern Ireland with their understanding and employment of social media as a marketing and networking tool.

Who was there?

Come along to the next one and meet them all!  I’m currently wracking my brain to see if I can remember all the new people I met.  Watch out, I’ll be trying to make contact next!

Social Media Association for Business Facebook Page

What is the current format?

1. Registration/Free Networking over tea/coffee
2. Welcome
3. Speaker
4. Questions to a Panel
5. Open Mic
6. Free Networking

Who spoke?

Tim McKane from Navajo Talk

Who sat on the panel?

Jon Paul Bruce from BizNet IIS

Nichola Bates from Grow Sales Online

And, me.

What did I learn?

I need to get rid of one Facebook Profile I had retained for personal friends and family, as really, something I’ve known for a long time, is that it’s not really kosher to have two.  Thing is, personal friends and family have slowing been adding me as a Friend on my other professional Profile for a while, so it won’t be that difficult to close it down.  Many thanks to Jill Culbertson from Navajo Talk for pointing this out again.

Join me on Facebook

I share stuff I’m doing, things I’m interested in, what I’m reading, people I find useful, and the odd opinion or rant.

“Like” Sensei Learning and Performance on Facebook

We share tips and hints for SMEs who are interested in maximising the web for their business.  You’ll also be kept informed of new blogs and upcoming events, ones we’re running, and other useful business events across Northern Ireland.

Is there any grub?

Tea, coffee and delicious traybakes.

Vibe?

Relaxed, but structured (due to Niall McKeown‘s no doubt renowned meeting management skills) and informed.

Where can I get further information?

Ask the organisers:

Martin Gilchrist

Nichola Bates

Niall McKeown

Image credit: webtreatsetc.

On Tuesday 9th November, we are holding a Facebook for Business workshop.  Click here to read more or book your place.

Click to view the Beyond Throwing Sheep: Facebook for Business Workshop – Flyer.