The Truth About Facebook

There are lots of social networking websites that you can participate in today like MySpace and Bebo, and they all have their pluses and minuses. The best way to choose a community to participate in is to evaluate the people who have already joined. To me, Facebook is certainly one of the best internet meeting places for networking, both socially and professionally. I also use Linked In and Myspace. Of all the social networks, Facebook is the best place when it comes to all around marketing and networking.

I have been using Facebook for the past two years, and it is a first-class tool for marketing to add to your marketing arsenal. Here are 10 tips to use on Facebook to introduce new people to your business for FREE!

1. Make an Attractive Profile: This is absolutely the FIRST thing that you must do to get noticed on Facebook . Think of your Facebook profile as part of your branding. A powerful profile will include a professional picture of you. Don't use the one of you dressed as Santa Claus, unless that's what your selling. Make sure your new Facebook profile is complete. Your profile should include your contact information, your website address (this is really important), education, work experience and your personal interests. A complete profile is the only way to go.

2. Add Friends: This is what sets Facebook apart - the ability meet new people, build relationships and sustain them. The more relationships you develop, the more satisfying your marketing efforts will be. You can use Facebook's own tools to search for friends that already belong to Facebook. Once you add your friends, you can search for kindred spirits. Make their acquaintance, become their friend, build a relationship. One great thing on Facebook is that you can see friends of your friends. This will help you build a extensive network in no time.

3. Join Facebook Groups: You can join groups within Facebook that are similar to what you do. There are groups for consultants, councilors, and instructors. Almost every conceivable type of professional service provider has some kind of group on Facebook. I belong to several Facebook groups and have made hundreds of new contacts this way.

4. Create your Own Group: Can’t find a group that really fits your style? Create your own! You can add members, publish articles, begin some great discussions, and probably start quite a few important new relationships. And even if you find great group to belong to, start your own. This gives you the platform to be the trendsetter!

5. Syndicate your Blog Using RSS: You can syndicate your own blog on your Facebook profile page. This in essence means that every time you make a post, it will automatically show up on your profile page. More Exposure leads to More Readers leads to More Leads creates More Business. And the bonus is the back links to your site. I syndicate headlines from my 3 blogs on Facebook.

6. Comment on Other Peoples Profiles: Are you a follower or devotee of someone’s work? Reach out to them on Facebook! Many of my friends check their Facebook messages more constantly than their email. They are also more likely to respond to Facebook messages. Don’t feel quite right sending out a message to someone you don’t know? Don't worry! Leave them a “just saying hi!” or “I love your work!” message on their wall. All profiles come with “virtual walls” where business associates can leave a comment. The more comments you leave on your friend's profiles the more exposure you get!

7. List your Events: Speaking somewhere or Hosting a Teleseminar? Add an events page and invite everyone you know. You can even see who RSVPed and get feedback from your attendees. Marketing doesn’t get any simpler (or more inexpensive!) than this.

8. Send Virtual Gifts: Want to show your appreciation for someone? Send them a virtual gift. You can choose from a teddy bear to an egg that hatches a surprise gift over 4 days (plus tons of others). With all the Facebook applications for gift giving available, what are you waiting for. This is a clever way to build and nurture new relationships!

9. Use Some Cool Apps: Facebook has literally dozens of applications that were built just for the site. Quizzes, games, challenges and more. When you use an application, you get to invite your friends to use these cool mini applications (Apps). So just like number 8 above, this allows you another way to stay connected to your friends on Facebook. Again, this helps you maintain and nurture new relationships.

10. Create a Community: Perhaps Facebook’s greatest benefit is that it allows you to build a community. It provides you a group of people who are perpetually connected to you, and these friends are open to hearing what you have to say. Write on people’s walls, have conversation, and introduce them to each other. Start building your brand and leveraging Facebook for business building!

Facebook is a fantastic place to introduce yourself to lots of new people who may also become customers and/or clients. Just keep one thing in mind: don't get too carried away and spend all your time there. Facebook is a tool, part of your online marketing plan. Use the tips above, use them wisely and have a little fun at the same time.
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Lennie Appelquist is the Owner of FreeMarket Media Group. FreeMarket Media Group is dedicated to helping individuals and small businesses generate leads, convert those leads in customers/clients and build a web presence that works for them. We can show you how to make your online business profitable - IMMEDIATELY.

Microsoft beats Google to the Punch

I guess Microsoft doesn’t want to be left behind in the Web 2.0 revolution after all. The software giant even beat Google to the punch, putting up a $240 million equity stake in Facebook's next round of financing at a $15 billion valuation, and the companies will expand their existing advertising partnership (a measley 1.6 %).

Shelling out $240 million for a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook may be Microsoft's way of keeping Google away from the social networking site, but the deal may not be worth the money unless Microsft can get Live Search into the service.

As part of this newly expanded “strategic alliance,” Microsoft will be the exclusive third-party advertising platform partner for Facebook, and will begin to sell advertising for Facebook internationally in addition to the United States.

As ZDNet’s Larry Dignan said: “Guess Facebook isn’t a fad after all. And Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer put up $240 million to prove it.”

Larry went on to say that Facebook has more to lose than Microsoft in the deal. “The Microsoft deal gives Facebook a nice cash infusion for expansion. But does it make sense to hitch your ad wagon to a third-place ad platform? By locking up the U.S. and international markets, Microsoft gets a win. Facebook gets its options limited.”

Just to put things in perspective, the investment equates to about one and a half days of earnings for Microsoft — “a rounding error” on their books.

Microsoft once dominated the technology landscape to the point where it was even accused of being a monopoly. While Windows is still the predominant OS on desktops and clients, it doesn’t seem to be the force it once was. The Windows Vista launch earlier this year was a ho-hum affair, compared to the rock-and-roll razzle-dazzle that accompanied Windows 95, 98 and 2000.

That’s because end-users and companies have so many other options now. There is an open source OS that can run on any machine, not to mention resurgent Apple Macs. And, the Web platform enables people to work, interact, and play from any type of client device — if anything, the OS just seems to get in the way.

But Microsoft continues a tradition of old-line tech companies bolstering new concepts. Remember, Microsoft itself got its big break when IBM threw some of its own pocket change its way back in 1981.