Tees In A Pod: facebook tips

Monday, October 18, 2010

Facebook Social Plug Ins

Facebook Social Plug-Ins have quickly spread across the world wide web allowing webmasters to integrate facebook onto their website. There are a variety of options available and I'll briefly mention some of the choices you have when you want to include facebook on your site..

The Standard Like
It is the basic facebook plug in, the standard like which one can see on abundance of websites..It is ideal for pages with content or products as when people press the "like" button your page is now in that users news feed..This, is a good thing.

The Like Box
The like box gives you the chance of getting fanpage fans even when users aren't on your fanpage. The like box contains pictures of fans, a "become a fan" button, a stream of recent posts and is very customisable depending on what you want displayed. The like box is ideal for blog side bars so as users are scrolling through your content with one click they can become "likers" of your facebook page.

Recommend
Works like a like button but it's a little bit different..Pros, if clicked upon might get more of a success rate in a news stream (as it's different)..Con, less people will recommend compared to like (as it's different)..An ideal implementation of the recommend button might be on your homepage to try drive some traffic.

Comments
The facebook comments box lets your customers give feedback or thoughts on products, blog posts or pages. Provoke conversation about your products as this may be super strong social proof - which is good..

You can find out more about social plug ins and implement them on to your own site by going to http://developers.facebook.com/plugins . So, where have you used facebook social plug ins and what benefits have you found from them?

This post was written by Rob from LadyUmbrella ladies t-shirts.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

10 Tips On How To Make Facebook Work For Your Business

There are over 400 Million active users on Facebook, in which 50% log on each day, as given in the 2010 Facebook Statistics. From the 400 Million, 160 Million users are actively involved in pages, groups, and events during their daily activities. Knowing these facts, helps in recognizing the importance of using Facebook for your business. Some companies may already have a "fan/business page" on Facebook, but are not using it to its full potential. While others may be contemplating using it, but just don't know where to start.

Here are 10 ways to use Facebook for your business:

1. Take advantage of filling out your page's profile (also known as "Info" tab). Let users have the ability to get to know your business better through your Facebook page. Within the write up about your business and within the products section, be sure to include keywords relative to your company, which will make your page easier to find when users are searching Facebook using those specific keywords. Also, be sure to add not only your website link in the section provided on the profile page, but other links (like Twitter, Blog, etc) where fans/likers can find you.

2. Make a Facebook "Vanity" URL so that users can find your business' page easier. Usually, Facebook pages are made up of long url's that are very difficult to remember. Once your page reaches 10 or more fans/likers, you can create a Vanity URL which shortens your pages link and makes it easier to remember and share.

3. Share company activities on your business' Facebook Wall. Using your status updates as a way to connect with those on your page helps in building relationships between your fans/likers and your business. Ex: ABC Business is helping in creating a logo for 123 Business, etc. Also, post what your business is doing. Ex: ABC Business is doing a Webinar on 03/05/2005 and invite people to join in. Update your status on a regular basis, 2-3 posts a day at the most is best.

4. Use Facebook with other social networking sites, like Twitter. Ex: A Follower Tweets a question regarding your business. Write up an answer within a blog post then post it on your Facebook page, and tweet out that the answer can be found here with a link to your Facebook Page. This helps in connecting those on Twitter (or other social networking sites) to Facebook and to explore other places your business can be found online and follow you there too.

5. Search for and join other business pages and groups that are related to your business. If you run a T-shirt store, join other T-shirt/merchandise business pages to connect with those who may have fans/likers that could also be interested in what you're selling.

6. If just starting out on Facebook for your business, be careful in what you name your Business Page. Once you've chosen the name for your page, it cannot be changed. Make sure the name you want to use, is the name you are willing to keep. Otherwise, you would have to delete that page and start from the beginning which can make things a lot more difficult for your fans/likers and in establishing your business on Facebook.

7. Post discounts, promotions, and sales to your Business Facebook wall. This will allow your fans/likers to be aware of the deals happening within your business and it keeps them in the loop. This will also help in creating possible sales through marketing your products on Facebook. Your business may also want to post sales that have happened to let fans/likers also be included in your successes.

8. Post relevant photos that are business related to your Facebook Page. Showing customers photos of "Employee of the Month", "Casual Fridays" or other types of company photos, helps in building relationships and allowing customers to get to know the people behind the business better.

9. Integrate and use applications that are useful to your business on your Facebook Page. Add a Twitter feed or blog feed, etc. to let users see what's happening on other sites your business uses. (Be careful not to add too much content for it can become overwhelming to your fans/likers if there is too much to look at on your Facebook Page.)

10. If you have a personal Facebook Page, it may be important for you to keep your personal information private by using the Facebook Privacy Settings. If there is something you don't want your fans/likers or other companies to see or get a hold of, correct/change the settings to reflect this.

Using Facebook as a place where customers can connect with you, learn more about your business and about the products it offers; strengthens your relationships with customers as well as build new ones. Use these 10 tips as a way to make Facebook work for your business!

Let us, Tees In A Pod know how you use Facebook for your business! Will or have you used any of these tips listed here? Leave us a comment on our blog or visit our Facebook Page and let us know.

Written By: Amanda Ryan, Creature Creations, Personalized Photo Gifts

Thursday, June 10, 2010

June - Tips Of The Day!

Tees In A Pod strives to provide you with many resources in helping you reach your goals with all of your online ventures. Another way we provide such support, besides our weekly podcast, is by sharing with you a "Tip Of The Day" on our Facebook Fan Page. Below, we have created a list of all the Fan Page tips we sent out as status updates for the month of JUNE! Stay tuned... for every month a new list will be posted...

Please leave a comment and share with us any tips you have! We'll use them as a "Tip Of The Day" to share with others on our Facebook Fan Page, as well as list it here, plus we will give you credit for your awesome tip! Enjoy!!

JUNE - Tips Of The Day!!

Take a look at your Facebook Insights, compare your pages (if you have more than one) and get insights for your Domain.... see more below... pretty cool stuff!! http://www.facebook.com/insights

If you're stuck on what to write for a blog, Interview other people within your community (Ex: T-shirt community) For this can also help build credibility by association!

Add your url to your Twitter Profile! Most people want to see who they are going to follow so that they can not only be added to the correct Twitter list, but more importantly get to know the person behind the tweet better!

Did you know that you can only @ mention 6 people at one time in your Facebook status updates? Now you do! :D

It is not necessarily what you know, but who you know... so go on and network with people! Network it up!! :D

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Podcast 3: Social Media Superstars

This is the first podcast where we tried to follow a structure and would really love to get your feedback on it. On this weeks podcast we dish the dirt on:

1) How to Cash in on the Holidays - just like selling hoovers...
- Timing
- Volume
- Original Designs

2) A Rock Stars Social Media Strategy (Whiskey Optional) with Seven Days
- Dynamic Duo
- Blogs
- Social Bookmarking

3) Musical Interlude with Outside by Seven Days

4) Difference Between POD (Print on Demand) and Screenprinting

5) Q & A

If you're subscribing via email and can not see the above player, click to load the post in your browser.

MENTIONS:

06:43 - Rotem Gear. "The ideas and languages come directly from my own multicultural background" - R. Jean Roth. Rotem Gear was mentioned as an example of a shopkeeper who is designing for holiday niches such as Rosh Hashana & Chanuka (Jewish Holidays) along with offering a collection of Asian Zodiac tee designs and more.
Follow Rotem Gear on twitter.

08:53 - Seven Days - first mention of the Irish band - referencing the post "A Rock Stars Social Media Strategy (Whiskey Optional)".
Follow Seven Days on twitter * Join Seven Days on Facebook * Read their blog on MySpace.

13:15 - Seven Days with their song Outside.

Q&A Segment...

21:04 - Ulla Hennig. Visit her blog * Visit her online photography shop.

22:53 - Tricia-Rennea Wilson. Visit her blog * Join her fanpage "Tricia-Rennea, Illustrator" on Facebook

24:17 - Cherie Balowski. Visit Cherie's Digital Art website * Follow Cherie's Art on twitter * Join Cherie on Facebook.

25:25 - Erin Ryan. Online shopkeeper - visit 4u2bunique; and on Ustream for the Social Blade Show. * Follow Erin on Twitter.