In the last 24 hours Facebook has been rolling out it’s ‘Questions’ functionality – you will see it on the left hand side of your Home Page or at the top of your Profile or Business Page.

the Answers and Questions feature of Linkedin have been a great way to build online visibility and be a source of lead generation for a number of years. This move by Facebook is another example of them looking to have people spend more time in their company and become a source for information and research about questions we have.

One of the most powerful features is that you can post a reply to a Question as the name of your ‘Facebook Page’ – unlike when you comment on a Facebook Profile or Facebook Page.

Here is a quick video review of the Facebook Questions feature which I published today over on my Biz Growth Media Facebook Page.

You can also ‘follow questions’ and edit the answers to the questions that you respond to.

However one potential disadvantage is that when people click on the links to the questions you ask using the ‘Questions’ feature it will take people away from your Facebook Page.

If you are monitoring your online reputation on Facebook it will be important for you to start to listen to the questions being asked and answered.

When you post an answer or a question it will be seen by the whole of the Facebook community irrespective of your Facebook Profile privacy settings – so be careful what and how you ask and answer questions.

More details about Facebook Questions are here on the Facebook blog.

Remember the novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams where the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything was 42 – perhaps Mark Zuckerberg is looking for that book to be re-written – and the answer now being Facebook.

What are your thoughts about Facebook Questions?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Access my FREE Facebook webinars about using Facebook Pages and Facebook Advertising

Access my guide to Facebook Pages best practice guide for colleges and universities

Perhaps Facebook not where your potential clients are networking online? If they are using LinkedIn you might want to access my FREE LinkedIn for business – make sure that you leave a valid email address so that you can access a discount off my forthcoming 4 week programme starting the 9 August 2010 called “LinkedIn for Business Leads and Profits”. The discount is valid until the 31 July 2010.

Here are three new resources from Facebook that I think you will find of interest:

1. A new Page about Facebook Safety to provide you with updates and information to keep you and your family safe while using Facebook or surfing on the Internet. This compliments the Facebook Security Page.

2. A Facebook Page for PR professionals where the Facebook team share what they have learned about creating social content, promoting events, optimising Pages, and integrating with tools off of Facebook – it looks as though this will be a great resource for PR an marketing people alike. Check out the hour long video recording of a live event held last week at Facebook HQ in the US with information about using Facebook advertising and live streaming

3. A Facebook Page for the Media where they are providing guidance and tips for media outlets  in terms of best practices and tools to drive referral traffic and increase engagement on your site. They are recommending all journalists should have a Facebook Page, and provide tips about running events, adding Facebook social plugins and how to use Facebook search to monitor conversations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Access my FREE Facebook webinars about using Facebook Pages and Facebook Advertising

Access my guide to Facebook Pages best practice guide for colleges and universities

Perhaps Facebook not where your potential clients are networking online? If they are using LinkedIn you might want to access my FREE LinkedIn for business – make sure that you leave a valid email address so that you can access a discount off my forthcoming 4 week programme starting the 9 August 2010 called “LinkedIn for Business Leads and Profits”. The discount is valid until the 31 July 2010.

I recently noticed a post from Jeremiah Owyang asking the readers of his blog for their input on Facebook marketing best practice.

Here is the feedback I shared:

1. Understand the online habits of your community – identify when your community are online so that you can time your Facebook update so that it has a chance to appear when they log on in their feed on their home page without too much scrolling. This simple online visibility tip could increase the possibility of them engaging with your update

2. Manage the frequency of posting – Take care not to publish content too frequently to your Facebook Page – if all people can see on their Facebook home page feed is your updates not their friends they may ‘unlike’ your Facebook Page or hide your feed

3. Don’t forget to promote your Page – When starting a Facebook Page we have found that also investing in engagement ads (on the home page of Facebook) has assisted in increasing the visibility and number of people joining your community quickly

4. Post relevant refreshing content – Keep your competitions relevant to the community on your Facebook Page. This may seem obvious but it is often overlooked. Your competition does not have to be for something that has an expensive price tag – but it is something valued by your community. Note – if you are hosting a competition or give way, make sure you comply with the guidelines for promotions and competitions (there are many brands who don’t and risk their Facebook Page being deleted)

5. Make it easy to do business with your app – When adding applications make sure you test it for useability – too many clicks as part of the process and people won’t add your application and if it’s not easy to use and does not add value (or fun) to them your Facebook app will remain a secret.

But what ideas would you add?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Access my FREE Facebook webinar about using Facebook Pages

Access my FREE Facebook webinar about Facebook Advertising

Access my guide to Facebook Pages best practice guide for colleges and universities

Perhaps Facebook not where your potential clients are networking online? If they are using LinkedIn you might want to access my FREE LinkedIn for business – make sure that you leave a valid email address so that you can access a discount off my forthcoming 4 week programme starting the 9 August 2010 called “LinkedIn for Business Leads and Profits”. The discount is valid until the 31 July 2010.

Kildare Village (opened in 2006) is home to over 55 designer outlet boutiques (Bally, Anya Hindmarch, Polo, Karen Millen, Reiss, Coast, Molton Brown, Clarks, All Saints, Designers Guild, Cath Kidson, Le Creuset, Kenneth Turner, Starbucks, L’Officina by Dunne & Crescenzi) offering previous seasons collections at prices reduced by up to 60% all year round.

You can listen to the podcast here – it’s the first of a new podcast series I am producing bringing you conversations about inbound marketing and social media communications.

00:00:00.0     An introduction to Kildare Village
00:04:03.8     The types of customers that come to Kildare Village
00:06:23.7     What is the shopping experience like?
00:09:01.5     Trends in retail in the current economy
00:10:34.1     The Kildare Village marketing programme
00:16:39.1     How Kildare Village is using social media
00:19:07.9     Tips for building a community on Facebook
00:22:15.1     Benefiting from customer feedback
00:24:34.2     Integrating marketing online and offline
00:30:29.0     Tracking and measuring the effectiveness of your marketing
00:35:07.2     Recent and current promotions
00:47:50.6     Key learnings and insights from the first four years
00:53:36.5     Show ends

Find Kildare Village on Twitter

Find Kildare Village on Facebook

As a result I have been exploring best practice examples of education establishments using Facebook Pages and thought you might like to see what I uncovered.

If you think I have missed examples of colleges and universities that should be included in this guide, do let me know as I would be delighted to feature more examples. examples included are from Fordham University, Harvard University,  Oxford University, Stanford University,  Texas A&M University, Tufts University, University of Miami, University of Salford and the New York City Department of Education.

I also include in the guide 10 questions to consider before starting your Facebook Page for your college or university. What other questions would you ask yourself or your team if you were setting up a Facebook Page for your university or college?


In my workshops and mentoring about Facebook for business, many organisations are not aware that Facebook do actually have guidelines for promotions and competitions that you want to host on Facebook.

In the last week I have come across more than 5 Facebook Pages in Ireland (both large well known brands and start-ups) who are failing to comply to Facebook guidelines. And the consequence of this could be that Facebook comment that they will:

remove any materials related to a promotion at any time, regardless of whether the promotion was approved, where we determine the continued marketing or administration of such promotion may be unlawful under applicable laws, rules, regulations or guidelines or may cause unreasonable liability for us.

I do in fact know of one Facebook Page (not in Ireland) where the Facebook Page which had amassed a significant community was deleted by Facebook for failing to comply to the Facebook Promotion Guidelines.

Specifically take note of the fact that Facebook will not allow you to:

Condition entry in the promotion upon a user providing content on Facebook, such as making a post on a profile or Page, status comment or photo upload

Administer a promotion that users automatically enter by becoming a fan of your Page

Notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles or Pages.

Here are some essential tips for staying the right side of the Facebook Promotion Guidelines:

1. Read the Facebook Promotion Guidelines – this may seem obvious, but the guidelines do and can change so you need to be aware of the current guidelines and understand how they could impact the plans for your Facebook promotion or give-away:

6.3 We reserve the right to review promotion rules and promotional copy at anytime but is under no obligation to do so. Our approval of rules or materials related to the promotion does not relieve you of any obligations in these Promotions Guidelines

2. Comply with local and industry specific promotion guidelines – you need to ensure that your promotion is in accordance with any restrictions in your own local geography or within your industry sector, for example:

2.4 The promotion’s objective is to promote any of the following product categories: gambling, tobacco, firearms, prescription drugs, or gasoline;

2.5 The prize or any part of the prize includes alcohol, tobacco, dairy, firearms, or prescription drugs.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO MANAGE OR PROMOTE YOUR COMEPTITION ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE

1. Create and implement a bespoke Facebook application – You can of course still promote and run competitions on Facebook – you do however need to either work with a digital marketing or social media agency who will develop a specific application for you or work with a Facebook approved paid application. Especially in the case of bespoke applications, you need to account for time in your project plan for Facebook to approve your application:

3.6 You must submit materials for any promotion you plan on administering through the Facebook Platform to your account representative for our review and approval at least 7 days prior to the start date of such promotion. Promotions not approved in writing within such time period will be deemed unapproved.

2. Use a paid Facebook application service – There are a number of Facebook application services available that you can use to manage your competition, quizzes, gifts, promotion or sweepstakes, including Fanappz, Involver and Wildfire – or have your social media agency use one of these services to support your Facebook marketing programme. These offer great affordable solutions for small businesses, however be aware that the application will be braded with the name of the provider which I know may not be relevant for all organisations.

3. Manage your competition or give away on your website or blog – You do not need Facebook’s approval if you are publicising a promotion that is administered completely off of Facebook. However, Facebook reserves the right to remove any materials relating to the promotion or disable your Page or account if they determine that you violate their Promotions Guidelines, the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities or any other of their policies.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

And of course once you have your competition or promotion in place don’t forget that you then need a marketing plan to support you building awareness of your competition. I will be covering using Facebook adverts as a way to promote your business, product, service, page or even your Facebook application in a forthcoming FREE webinar.

You can register online to attend the event here.

It is taking place on Friday 11 June 2010 at 6pm and will last 45 minutes. I will also be featuring some real life examples in the Facebook advertising webinar. This is one of a series of FREE webinars this month that I am hosting as part of my reverse birthday celebrations. You see if was my birthday yesterday and I decided last week to host some live webinars an provide someone on the webinar guidance and mentoring for their business.

What is your experience of managing your promotions, competitions and give away’s on your Facebook Page?

Photo credit Nimbupani on Flickr

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how professional services practices, consultants and coaches are using these popular social networks to attract leads, build their visibility and reputation online, and engage with prospects and clients.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

DATE:  10 June  2010
TIME:  2pm – 5.30pm
VENUE:  Clarion Hotel Dublin IFSC
INVESTMENT:  €100 for members and €150 for non-memberS (NOTE – this programme is subsidised).

This programme is particularly relevant for those consultants who are thinking of exploring social networking as part of their marketing and communications programme.

It is going to be a very ‘hands-on’ workshop so you are invited to bring your laptops so that you can immediately put into use what we cover in the workshop.

AGENDA

During the workshop we will cover:

-    Establishing  your goals and measuring the effectiveness of your online networking

-    How to develop your magnetic content marketing strategy that will position your consulting practice as thought leaders in your field to assist you in client attraction

-    Using Facebook for hyper targeted client attraction

-    Best practice use of Twitter to attract more leads and boost website traffic

-    How to leverage your LinkedIn profile to set up client meetings and build your online visibility and reputation.

HOW TO BOOK

There are still a few places left. You can download a booking form from here.

OTHER OPEN PROGRAMMES

As you may know, I deliver open programmes for a few organisations with most of my work being focused on digitial marketing and social media consulting. mentoring and training inside of organisations.

I have a few open programmes I am facilitating in the next few weeks – as an example if you are not a consultant or coach and are interested in Twitter and Facebook for Business training you can join me on 22 June 2010 when I am delivering a full day programme for the IIA and Irish Times Training in conjunction with Engineers Ireland.

And watch out for a few forthcoming FREE webinars taking place this month.

Perhaps you are wondering how you can leverage it further?

Perhaps you are thinking of getting started using Facebook to connect to more customers and attract more leads and profits for your business?

You have already set up a Facebook Page but are are you confident that it is delivering you the results you are looking for?

As you are probably aware I consult and teach many organisations about how to integrate Facebook into their marketing and communications and my team also support the development and implementation of Facebook pages. Over the last couple of years I’ve noticed 7 common mistakes that many businesses make when using Facebook for their business.

So I have decided to host a FREE webinar as part of the Irish Internet Association’s ‘Digitise the Nation’ week and will be sharing my observations on these 7 common mistakes so ythat you can avoid them when developing your own Facebook programme to support your marketing and communications plan.

Here are the details of how to join the FREE Facebook training webinar:

DATE: Friday 21 May 2010

TIME: 6PM/1PM ET for 45 minutes

REGISTER TO ATTEND AT: ONLINE

THE EVENT TWITTER HASH TAG: #dtnevent

This webinar is specifically for people who are thinking about using Facebook as part of their marketing and communications programme or who have recently set up their Facebook page.

What happens if you can not attend the live event? I will make sure that youl receive notice of how to access a recording of the event – just make sure you provide your current email address below, so you receive full details of this free event.

When you register online you will get access to the details of how to join the webinar – you can then add the date to your calendar.

And if you have friends who are just starting their businesses do please share this event with them.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

JOIN KRISHNA ON FACEBOOK FOR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TIPS

JOIN KRISHNA ON FACEBOOK FOR FACEBOOK MARKETING TIPS

I hope to ‘see you’ on Friday! and if you are at the IIA Congress tomorrow do come over and say Hi – I will be walking around with a digital recorder and microphone recording sound bites from speakers and attendees for the Conference Podcast and in the afternoon will be in the Social Media Working Group workshops where you can come and ask me your Facebook marketing questions in person.

When I noticed Meteor have developed a new Facebook Page and have been running some effective Facebook engagement adverts I invited Caitriona to answer some questions about the Facebook marketing plan that Meteor are implementing – so here is the interview.

Krishna: What inspired Meteor to implement their new Facebook Page?

Caitriona: Before the launch of our new Facebook page Meteor had previous successes on Facebook. We had 5 separate pages which supported promotional activities like our sponsorship of The Apprentice and the Meteor Ireland Music Awards. However, these pages had largely become inactive as the promotional activity came to an end.

With our new page we wanted to create a central ‘hub’ for Meteor on Facebook – a page that is inherently Meteor and a place where customers can engage with us and get to know us better.

Our new Meteor page will be ‘the’ page for Meteor on Facebook from now on and will house all things Meteor.

Krishna: How are you managing your social media marketing across Facebook and Twitter (and any other channels in social media?) and what kind of time commitment is this taking?

Caitriona: Since October there has been a new Head of Online role introduced and so there has been much more focus on the online channel generally and social media in particular.  As this focus on word of mouth and social media has grown my role has changed to working full time on social media. We also have another resource working on this part time. Between us we manage Facebook and Twitter internally.

Managing Facebook and Twitter does take time. We check the page several times throughout the day to ensure a real time interaction with customers where possible.  We also spend time gathering the content, posting the updates and planning future activity for these sites.

Krishna: How do you determine the content for your Facebook page?

We think it is important to strike a balance between fun, relevant content and promotional messages. Facebook fans would tire easily of being bombarded with sales messages so we try to post interesting and engaging content too. We want to give customers an insight into the people behind the brand and get away from the ‘corporate’ side of things.

Krishna: You have only launched your Facebook page in April so can you give us some ideas about how you have attracted almost 4,000 members of your community?

Caitriona: We’re really happy with the number of fans so far.

Our ‘Kiss, tag, tell and win’ quiz has a great viral element. Each time someone takes the quiz an update appears on their profile. Also, as the quiz involves ‘dishing the dirt’ on your friends, an update appears on the wall of certain friends too.

We have also used Facebook ads to promote the page, including one with a poll embedded, to encourage interaction.

We posted an update on Twitter telling followers about our new page as well as letting members of our online forum know that we had a new Facebook page.

To make sure our existing Facebook fans didn’t lose out we also posted on the wall of our older pages encouraging them to move over to our new page.

Krishna: How are you as a business now looking at Facebook as part of your integrated marketing and social customer relationship management?

Caitriona: We have had successes with Facebook so far and it is a good fit with our target audience so we are planning to continue to use it as part of our mix.

Krishna: How will you know if having a Facebook page has been a success for your business – what kind of metrics are you tracking?

Caitriona: We are monitoring the page insights provided by Facebook; we are tracking the growing fan base and interactions and we hope to integrate further with our own website and track through analytics.

Krishna: What top three tips have you for other marketing managers if you are looking to integrate Facebook into your marketing and communications programme?

Caitriona: Make sure there is a fit between Facebook and your potential customers. If they are not on Facebook, do you need to be? Secondly don’t use your Facebook page as a platform to bombard with sales messages. And finally have some fun with it!

I am sure you will agree it’s great to have the opportunity to learn from other businesses about their marketing on Facebook. So thanks Caitriona for sharing your insights and experience.

Remember to post your questions over at the Biz Growth Media Facebook page – I’ll be looking to answer as many of your questions as possible in the forthcoming Facebook for Business Webinar taking place the week of 17 May as part of the IIA Digitise the Nation week of events.

Here is a great example of a Facebook Page for the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) – their ‘Lend a Paw’ Facebook campaign.

Every time a fan clicks the application then 1 US$ is donated to the ASPCA – so far they have had over US$22,000 in donations and have grown their Facebook community by over 10,000 people during April 2010.

The ‘Lend a Paw’ campaign is sponsored by Walmart who has committed to donating up to $100,000 over the length of the promotion.

The application has also integrated the Facebook Comments social plugin so that people can share their comments about the campaign to their Facebook personal profile therefore helping their Facebook friends hear about the fundraising campaign.

There is also the ability for each member of the Facebook ‘Lend a Paw’ to make multiple donations – you can click once per day – that encourages people to return to the Facebook page.

They have also integrated a link that allows people to make additional donations through the ASPCA site so that the Facebook page in integrated into their overall fundraising programme.

So why not become a member of the ASPCA ‘Lend a Paw’ Facebook programme?

What other great examples have you seen of Facebook being used by non profits?

Post your questions about Facebook for business or nonprofit communications at my Biz Growth Media Facebook page – I’m hosting a webinar as part of the IIA Digitise the Nation week about Facebook so would love to cover as many questions as you have.

And if you are interested in Facebook statistics in Ireland you can find the April 2010 statistics over at my Biz Growth Media Facebook Page.