Archive for the ‘Facebook’ Category

Facebook applications (commonly shortened to “apps”) are another way for users with similar interests to connect, share information or challenge one another. Just as the name application implies, these are actually tiny programs that install right on your Facebook profile page and not on your computer - so there’s no danger of downloading a virus because it doesn’t install on your hard drive.

The apps range from fun-quizzes and movies to useful-documents, like stock portfolios that are displayed on the profile.

Facebook has common apps and one often misunderstood application is the Superpoke. Facebook originally had a “poke” button that allowed one user to poke another. A poke means the same as in real life when someone pokes your arm - only this is a virtual poke - a way to say, “Hey you!” As time went on, Superpoke became the “poking” application of choice – just because it meant you were REALLY trying to get their attention.

More common applications are the snowballs, pillow fights and similar games. These applications allow you to have virtual snowball or pillow fights. But they can also clutter up your profile. Most users don’t mind if you don’t accept their invitation for an app, because many applications require that you send a “snowball” to twenty friends at a time.

How can you take advantage of Facebook apps and how are they useful for marketers?

1.) You can build brand recognition

2.) Update users on new features/changes to your company, website or products

3.) Target your clients by age, gender or location

4.) Create a fan page for your product where clients can interact and share feedback

Which applications on Facebook are the most useful to marketers?

Groups. Groups allow marketers a way to communicate with their customers. By communicating with their customers through groups, marketers can enable discussions, post quizzes, photos of events or products and more.

Events. Are you attending a conference? Or perhaps you’re holding a book signing? Use events to let your customers know where you’ll be and when. This gives you a chance to meet your audience face to face and allows you the possibility of turning casual followers into paying customers.

Marketplace. This handy little app lets you post products for sale, advertise your business, and search for employees.

Notes. Savvy marketers can use RSS feed to post their notes.

The trick is knowing and using the applications that will benefit you the most. Don’t download every single app out there – you’ll get overwhelmed with all the drinks people send you and you’ll feel obligated to send them one back, whittling away at your work time.

Tiff

I have a dilemma I’m sure many of you have, too. I got on Facebook for marketing purposes and tons of old friends found me! So now I have a combination friends list of people from as far back as 4th grade paired with marketing followers.

This makes my participation there a bit harder. On one hand, I want to promote my business, giving good tips about web 2.0, writing, and marketing in general. But then when I post an update on Facebook that says, “Here’s a great autoresponder tool for building your list,” my “old time friends” pipe up and say, “Huh?”

Maybe I should have created two accounts. But it’s too late now. I may have to put a disclaimer for all of my marketing messages.

It doesn’t work both ways, either - well, not really. In marketing, it’s good to let your followers get to know you. I can share news about my family activities with my marketing fans. But what about if an old friend posts on my profile about some wild girls’ night out I had my freshman year in college? (Mind you, I’m being hypothetical here - I would NEVER have been wild - hee hee). In that case, you might not want your marketing fans to see your personal business.

How do you separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak?

Post your tips here!
Tiff