Facebook recently announced the launch Facebook for Business, a website and suite of guide booklets (pdfs) to help businesses manage and maximize their Facebook (business) pages. We’ve sorted through some of these new documents and have for you some thoughts (and links) for consideration below.

Facebook Pages for Businesses

How can I maximize my business or organization’s Facebook page?  The most impressive booklet from this new suite of offerings from Facebook is the Building Your Business with Facebook Pages document. This 20 page booklet provides some real examples of how small to medium sized businesses are best applying the business objectives to sharing and cultivating community via their Facebook page.

Building Your Business with Facebook Pages offers solid examples, including this editorial calendar.

Complete with an editorial calendar snapshot for three different businesses; this document is likely the best starting point for someone looking for advantage and insight into how to manage your Facebook page.

 Best Practices Guide to Marketing on Facebook

Is there a the best practice guide for Facebook Pages? Yes. The Best Practice Guide provided by Facebook (subtitled: Marketing on Facebook) is another go-to booklet; though it has some shortcomings. One is that which is inherent to all best practice guides, which is, “reading this will make me an immediate expert, right?” Well, no (though it can help you get further down the road).

One of a variety of new guides now available through Facebook for Business

The statement. “social media won’t save your business,” is quite fair. Similarly, the idea that a one-stop, all questions answered guidebook will make you an immediate and overnight success with millions of adoring fans is a farce. Luckily, that’s not what this booklet is really trying to do.

The guide is an ambitious shot at gathering important elements regarding the launch, maintenance and continued success of a Facebook page for business or organization. The guide is certainly worth a read, and some heavy consideration at that.

One thing that may disappoint readers is that this document is more of an executive overview than a tactical field guide. And, that should be okay. There are different times when a business or organization needs to use different sides of the brain. Approaching the Facebook page from a higher-level strategy standpoint is really what this document will best help you do. It will challenge you by asking, “what are your purposes for having a Facebook page?”

How to build brand loyalty with Facebook is one of many topics covered in this new guide.

Another issue with this document is that there is a massive amount of information being covered. In order to drill-down into each of the sections of this document to really gather and grasp the application of what is being presented will take the practitioner some time. However, devoting time to this is not at all a bad idea. We recommend reading it if you’re starting, or just studying to better maximize your engagement and page success. Our only caution is that you shouldn’t look to this particular document as a tactical works guidebook. It strikes me more as a high-level document to help you build out the framework for your overall business page strategy.

Albeit, these are two excellent sources from the list of new pdfs from Facebook. If you’re on Twitter we also do recommend Twitter for Business. This is another great resource for businesses to continue to clarify and sharpen the effectiveness around their social media and online marketing strategies, goals and objectives. Some other resources you might consider are…

• Jason Fall’s Blog - Social Media Explorer
• Mike Stelzner’s Blog - Social Media Examiner

Let’s continue this conversation … please feel free to share below or find us on Facebook, and/or Twitter.

… What are some resources you use to strengthen your online marketing? In marketing through Facebook what problems do you struggle with? In marketing via social media what opportunities do you seek to maximize?

Recently I have been reflecting about what it takes to turn a business idea into a global success? Numerous people or entrepreneurs have fantastic ideas.  Many of whom have taken those ideas, and turned them into legitimate working products, services, or tools.  What most fail to do however, is to advance their product to the next level.  Take a look on the Internet, and you will see what I am talking about.  How many products, services, and tools do you notice that are wonderful ideas, but can’t seem to compete on an international level, let alone globally?  Why is this?

There are numerous practices to get past that crucial second step, which have proven successful, and allowed for a simple idea to transform into something great & special.  Below is some advice I have for you on how you can take your brand or product to the Third Step: Success!

1.  Have You Done Your Homework? Those who create a new product or service often neglect the importance of researching and understanding the competition.  Unfortunately, even if you come up with a solid idea or product, it is highly probable ten others have conjured the very same thing, and are possibly using it.  Do you know about them?  How will you be better?  How will you be different?  Will the market accept your product?  Have you tested it?

2.  Do You Have A Solid Plan? Without a plan and goals that detail how you will acquire success, the chance your product will achieve adequate recognition decreases greatly in comparison to a highly developed plan and detailed goals.  When I say plan, I mean, what is the strategy behind getting from point A to point B?  Do you have a solid marketing plan? How are you targeting your target market/audience? How will you get solid PR? Who can help you achieve success?

3.  Is There Focus? Too often when a business creates a fresh idea or product, they expect it to grow as quickly as possible.  They fall short however, by neglecting to give attention to the small details.  When a business does this, they are setting up for failure.  Placing focus into everything you do will help not only make your brand stronger, it will provide for increased credibility. The little things make a big differences, so do not overlook them. There are absolutely zero shortcuts to success!

4.  Networking & Education? If you want to know how the best in the business do it, you have to network and ask questions. Are you taking the time to educate and train yourself on the things that will get your product to market?  Do you understand how to communicate through the press, social networks, blogs, face-to-face, presentations, etc?  When you fail to continually network and educate yourself, you are failing your product & business.

5.  Big Is Good! Are you the type of person that only sees today for what it is, or do you have a big vision?  The most successful businesses consist of visionaries which have either started the company, or are working for them.  Without ever believing you will achieve success, or have a vision on how you will do it, rest assure it will not happen.  Surround yourself with positive people that believe in your vision, and will help you execute, and success will surely follow.

This standard advice is to aid you in advancing your product, service, tool, or business to the next level.  Of course, there additional practices that I have not covered, so please feel free to share other insights on ways you have seen people take their ideas and turn them into something special.  Thanks!

Rob Donatelli
MyHilite.com/robdonatelli