Facebook is trying to convince advertisers to pay more attention to the conenction that users and businesses have with their brands when they are on the site where the advertisement is shown. It now showing more then just counting click-throughs from ads and links. But will advertisers pay more attention to link customers with “brands” shown in the sites.

An addition to the Page Insights dashboard, which Facebook provides for brands as a way of seeing all the analytics related to what used to be called their business “fan” pages. Besides being able to see the “likes” and “sharing” associated with a fanbook page and the demographic and gender breakdown of those interacted with the page, Facebook now shows something it calls “People Talking About This”.

“People Talking About This” is a measurement of the number of people who have created what the site calls a “story about your page” in the past seven days.

At least that is listed in the Facebook’s guide to Page Insights:
http://ads.ak.facebook.com/ads/creative/insights/page-insights-guide.pdf

“People Talking About This”, indicates how many people are actually talking about your business to their friends. This metric includes everyone who:
- Liked your Page
- Liked, commented on, or shared your Page post
- Answered a Question you’ve asked
- Responded to your event
- Mentioned your Page
- Tagged your Page in a photo
- Checked in or recommended your Place

There are now 4 metrics listed on your advertisement page:

1. Total Likes
The number of unique people who like your Page

2 Friends of Fans
The number of unique people who are friends with your fans, ncluding your current fans

3. People Talking About This
The number of unique people who have created a story about your Page in the last seven days.

4. Total Reach
The number of unique people who have seen any content associated with your Page (including any Ads or Sponsored Stories pointing to your Page) in the last seven days

Facebook is a social media giant and it wnats to keep the focus on engaging your business audience to theirs and your advantage.

The best way to get your business customers to engage with your content and “to share it with their friends” is to understand deeply what the customers you’re reaching care about. Facebook New Page Insights gives you now more for data you to gather these consumer insights.

Yes, what About the new “People Talking About This”? Facebook advised that this new “People Talking about this” counts “stories” and it has a structured content that so that users can choose what to share through Facebook and what is eligible to appear in a user’s news feed:
- liking your Page
- posting to your Page’s Wall
- liking, commenting or sharing one of your Page posts (or other content on your page – like photos, videos, albums)
- answering a Question you posted, RSVP-ing to one of your events
- mentioning your Page, phototagging your Page
- liking or sharing a check-in deal, or checking in at your Place.

This could be very important for business owners. Yes, Facebook is on the move again, new things coming out almost every week. Maybe Google+ and Google+1 have something to do with it…….

On average, a Facebook user spend 15 minutes every day using Facebook, creating three new pieces of content every day on the site. But that’s not enough for the Zuckerberg clan. They want even more of your time. The changes which Facebook impletnted were announced at Facebook developer conference in Steve Jobs Apple style! Yes, it is all about trying to get us to spend even more time on Facebook. Some hinted that changes were made to stay ahead of the thread of Google+.

So… firstly, they introduced the Google+ “killer”; it didn’t take them long. The apparent beauty of Google’s offering is “circles” where you can share information only with specific groups of people, rather than with all of your friends at once. Now, Facebook has “Smart Lists” which does exactly the same. Result? You can now do in Facebook what Google +1 used to their initial competitive advantage. Bye bye Google+ some are saying….let’s wait for Google+ move….

The news feed has changed.
Essentially the “top news” and the “most recent” lists are being combined, allowing you to control which items appear more easily (but I still have to get used to it…). The idea is that you will always see stuff that’s important to you, rather than having to scroll around for it or switch between views.

Tell Your Story with Timeline.
Since the beginning of Facebook, your profile has been the place where you tell your story. People use it to share everything from the small stuff, like their thoughts on an article, to the most important events of their lives, like the photos of their wedding or the birth of their child.

Friends News Ticker.
On the top right of your Facebook page, you’ll also soon see a “ticker” – scrolling, instant updates as to what your friends are doing right now, real time.

The evolution of your profile.
Back in the early days of Facebook, your profile was pretty basic – just your name, a photo, where you went to school…stuff you’d cover in the first five minutes you met someone.

Over time, your profile evolved to better reflect how you actually communicate with your friends. Now you can can share photos of what you did last weekend, and updates about how you feel today.

But since the focus is on the most recent things you posted, more important stuff slips off the page. The photos of your graduation get replaced by updates about what you had for breakfast.

Say you’re catching up with an old friend – would you rather find out that they had eggs this morning, or hear about their new dream job?

The way your profile works today, 99% of the stories you share vanish. The only way to find the posts that matter is to click “Older Posts” at the bottom of the page. Again. And again.

New “subscribe” button
Then, there is the new “subscribe” button, which works together with the new style news feed allowing you decide which kinds of news items from each individual you want to receive.

…and music is coming…..
as above is not enough, Facebook is soon to include music – you’ll be able to listen to what your friends are listening to “right now” and you’ll be able to link to services such as Spotify through Facebook.

…and – yes there’s more…
- you’ll soon be able to connect your Facebook and Twitter accounts (some of used other means to do it already)
– including the navigation bar staying in place and not scrolling off the screen when you move down a page.

So we will have a challange to ensure benefit of all these changes for our customers. Is YOUR business ready for those changes?

With greater control on what appears on the home page of a user and with attention being grabbed by a ticker and music, businesses on Facebook are going to have to fight even harder for those eyeballs.

It certainly started with the extended applications for business pages – but it nows clearly shows the direction that Facebook is taking us in; greater interaction with individuals for business owners. If your business is not prepared for that, then you will not survive in the new Facebook – coming your way NOW!

Fred Lotgering
LotCon Biz Solutions

Yes, as of October 1st, EVERY single person that browses Facebook at that point will NOT be able to see your CUSTOM fanpages if you have not secured them in one form or another.

That counts for everyone: Facebook Fanpage Owners, Website Owners, Individuals, Businesses, Designer, Developers – Absolutely everyone!

If you have your Business Fan Pages through LotCon Biz Solutions or LotCon Consultoria you are okay. We have all Fanpages of our Customers already on SSL secured sites. We also have updated all our client applications to point to the correct https:// locations.

If you are not sure what need to be done get some help. If you arranged your fan pages through your WordPress blog you should be aware of additional possible problems.

What is SSL?

SSL and Secure Certificates provide security for website by encrypting communications between the server and the person visiting the website. Many payment processors requires SSL enabled sites for payment processing.

In order to use SSL, you need to have an SSL Certificate (also known as a Secure Certificate) installed on the server where your fan pages are located. Visitors to your website need a modern web browser, such as recent versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or Google Chrome.

There are two main reasons why servers need an SSL Certificate. The first and most common reason is because you want to accept credit card payments on your website. The second reason is that you may have confidential information that you want to keep secure while it is being accessed via the web. SSL Certificates also help protect your passwords from being intercepted, when typed into a secure login page. Facebook have been under scrutiny for lack of security, hence they will now insist as of October 1st, 2011 to display Facebook Fanpages from SSL secured web locations. So, if you are just a browsing in Facebook and a fan page will not display, then you know why: the Facebook Fanpage owner doesn’t have not a secure site!

If not get the video’s offered below. Still in doubt? Get a Turnkey Business Blog with a Facebook account. We do it all for you!! At a price you can afford! Check: LotCon Business Blogs and Business Branding

We have created 29 instructional videos that will walk you through how to use Facebook for
Your Business. After watching you can start using Facebook to increase your business and
presense in the facebook social network community.

We start at the very beginning, showing you how to create an account on Facebook and the we
move onto advanced topics such as understanding privacy settings, growing your business
through fan pages and even how to run Facebook ads for your business.

Here is the first video:

Here is the table of content:
Video #1: Overview and how to get the most out of this course
Video #2: Why every business owner should be using facebook
Video #3: What is web 2.0 and what it means for local businesses
Video #4: What is Facebook: An overview
Video #5: How to signup for facebook
Video #6: Importing your contacts and connections
Video #7: Setting up your account: The basics
Video #8: Setting up your account: Photos & Albums
Video #9: Understanding the Facebook Wall
Video #10: The Power of the Facebook Feed
Video #11: Understanding Privacy Settings
Video #12: Recommended Privacy Settings for Business Owners
Video #13: Finding and Adding Friends
Video #14: Profiles, Fan Pages, & Groups
Video #15: Finding and Joining Fan Pages
Video #16: Great Fan Pages for Businesses
Video #17: Finding and Joining Groups
Video #18: Groups VS Fan Pages
Video #19: Creating a Fanpage
Video #20: Growing Your Fanpage
Video #21: Facebook Networking Tips
Video #22: Creating Content for Your Pages
Video #23: Publishing Testimonials
Video #24: The Power of Tagging a Happy Client
Video #25: Promoting Facebook Everywhere
Video #26: Should you use Facebook Ads?
Video #27: Facebook Ads 101
Video #28: Creating a Facebook Plan of Action
Video #29: Conclusion

Not convinced yet? Here watch another one:

Yes, after watching all video’s you will know how your business can benefit from facebook.

Order HERE !

And you can start right then without any additional cost! If you like to outsource we will
be pleased to give a quotation to set up your business with a proper facebook account
including special designed fan pages and a lot of other tools to build your facebook
audiance and increase your business profits. Need a turnkey business blog?

Check our pricing at:  LotCon Business Blogs

Success!
Fred Lotgering
LotCon Biz Solutions
(Now also in Brazil: www.lotcon.com.br )

P.S. Those who purchased our eBook: “Facebook for YOUR Business” will receive the first 10
video’s free. The video’s will be included in the next revision of our eBook, whci will also
include some more information on the latest use of the facebook free business (fan) pages.

Facebook user profiles underwent a bit of a transformation. Most Facebook users responded positively to easier usage and simpler navigating on the site. Then Facebook gave fan pages a serious makeover and the new iFrames system was implemented in early February 2011. Though these changes are the key to improved maximizing of the marketing potential of Facebook fan pages, they do mean significant differences for current fan page owners. From page creation to page administration and down to the very way fan pages look, the new changes to Facebook fan pages involved many changes you need to know and understand. Once you do, you will realize the great business possibilities and new growth potential these changes can make for your business.

This is What you need to know about the new Facebook changes to (business) fan pages:

1. Static FBML is a thing of the past.
Facebook announced the plan to phase out their own brand of code and implement the usage of traditional FTML. This means big changes in the ways Facebook fan pages are created and new horizons of creativity when it comes to page designs. For now, pages that have not made the switch from FBML will still be supported, but new pages must contain FTML code.

2. Simplified fan administration.
The fan page count is no longer a cluttered-looking mass of fan photos. Instead, a tidy count box accomplishes the same task and leaves more room for what you want. Deleting or banning fans is simple to do by clicking the “people like this” link located directly below the fan count and accessing a thorough list of fans only when you need it.

3. Better information about you.
The “About Me” box has been removed in favor of a more comprehensive solution that allows you to share as much information about yourself as you would like. No longer are you limited to the small space the box allows; go ahead and share your story on an iFrames page section dedicated solely to you!

4. New masthead encourages socialization.
The new banner-style Photostrip along the top of every page instantly adds a fresh new update to your fan page every time a picture is added to the page. Fan photos and brand name advertising immediately show up along the top, keeping things new and up-to-date on your page with little effort.

5. Say farewell to page tabs.
Tabs along the top of the page may be gone, but Facebook has revamped these navigational tools and moved them to the left column of every page. This change allows page owners to utilize page design techniques to make these new page sections as customized and unique as their clients desire. Customize these further by placing them in order of importance as you see fit. The options are endless!

6. Quick viewing of popular posts.
With new administration tools now available, page admins can quickly sort comments on their pages and rank those that have generated the most response. This is a great time-saving tool for page admins and keeps their fingers on the pulse of their pages with ease.

7. Easy identity swap for page administrators.
Previously, page admins were limited in their capacity to browse, comment on and “Like” other pages. Now, with a simple click, admins can toggle between identities as a page or a person, enjoying freedom to browse and comment on all types of pages without complicated logging out and logging in under different identities.

8. Featured “Likes” share networking connections.
Along the left navigation column, the most recent “likes” from your page will appear, potentially connecting your page visitors with others who might share similar interests or sell products that compliment your own. Select these carefully and switch often to offer relevant and timely changes to your page that are simple and easy.

The new changes to Facebook mean big differences in the way Facebook looks and feels, but most importantly, in how Facebook pages are run behind the scenes. Though many of the changes are mostly cosmetic, the most significant and impressive changes will not be seen by Facebook users at all. Facebook page administrators and developers are most affected by the changes to Facebook, but they also stand to reap the most reward from the new networking and marketing potential that has resulted from Facebook’s revamp of its most popular features.

Great Facebook fan pages get noticed! Find out how the Facebook marketing experts at LotCon Biz Solutions can help create a customized Facebook fan page for your business that gets results. For more information about the new changes to Facebook fan pages and what they mean for you, contact us.

Before the birth of social networking, we all knew that we had very little chances of meeting new people and making more friends. The concept of connecting people and making our world a global village is one of the contributing factors that led to the creation of a great and cool website such as Facebook. As a social networking services provider, Facebook Inc. operates a website that provides people from all walks of life with a platform where they can socialize and gain that social experience that they so desire. Facebook came into the world of social networking in the year 2004, and it has since then taken the number one spot and established it’s self as the Microsoft of the social networking world. Although Facebook started out as a theFacebook; a social networking website that was created to cater to the social and communication needs of the student community in Harvard, demands from students in other Ivy League school caused Mark Zuckerberg the creator of Facebook to extend the service to students in other schools.

Currently, Facebook has an active user base of well over 600 million. This large community of active users is a testament to the fact that there are over 500 million people globally who are willing and eager to connect with each other for the purpose of socializing and getting to know each other more. Although there are several social networking platforms that are doing something quite similar to what Facebook is doing, it is pertinent to mention that most of these sites were created with ulterior motives. Unlike most of these sites, Facebook was created with the aim of connecting people and helping to ensure that they remain and stay connected. Unlike Facebook, most social networking sites are not true to their stock in trade. Most of them are simply multi-level marketing platforms that operate under the disguise of a social networking platform. For instance, there are social networking sites that pay its users a token for introducing their friends or buying a particular product or service.

In the community of social networking platforms, Facebook stands out because it has a platform that enables developers to develop and deploy apps that all its users can use while they are socializing on the site. In terms of user inclusivity, Mark Zuckerberg and his team has not done much to seek and consider the opinion of their user before taking certain actions. Recently, some changes were made to the layout and interface of the site but sadly the management did not send out any circular or newsletter to inform its users of this intended change.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6243957

Doing business online is easier than ever thanks to social media. Because of new tools provided by social media, you can network with a broader audience at a much faster pace and significantly lower prices.

Take Facebook for example, this tool allows you to build a social network with people who have a direct interest in your business. You can develop a simple profile that describes what you do using an interface that is common to all users, thus making it extremely easy to navigate. Because Facebook has become such a powerful communication tool, it probably provides you with the best possibility for reaching the widest audience of any social network used today. Whether people use Facebook for business, to play games, use other web applications, or solely to communicate, their advertising options and network building capabilities make it easy for anyone to increase their business contacts.

However, Facebook, and other social media sites, can also help you develop business offline. Here are a few ways to make this happen:

1. Use FB to keep in touch with people you meet offline: Whether you attend networking events or meet people on the street, Facebook can help you develop your offline relationships without requiring that you meet in person again, which means you don’t have to worry about scheduling. Following up on a contact has never been easier.
2. Use FB to create online relationships that you can meet offline: Obviously if the previous statement is true, then it should also work in reverse, which it does. You can use FB to expand your network online through the friend suggestions or noticing that someone is posting things of similar interest. You can then begin to establish rapport with new friends and setup a time to meet in person later, which takes all the guess work out of approaching new clients or partners.
3. Facebook is also extremely helpful in terms of finding local events that you can attend. It is a comprehensive resource for not only finding events that are relevant to your business, but also seeing (and perhaps more importantly) who plans to attend. These are people that you can meet in person at these events in order to continue to grow your offline business.
4. Following fan and group pages are an extension of this event tracking strategy in that you will be able to see what interests people without having to interview them. Of course, you can also establish your own group, which then will allow you to deliver specific and targeted information that your members can use offline.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6232751

It is easy to start a Facebook group for your business. A Facebook group can be started by anyone with a Facebook account. You can create multiple groups. Create one for each topic of interest. A group serves as a gathering place for members to discuss a topic of interest and to share thoughts and opinions.

This is not as difficult as creating a Facebook page for your business. A Facebook page allow more interaction, the adding of applications, nicer page designs and more. A Facebook group can’t have applications and doesn’t allow much of a personal design.

Before you start your group, first join some existing Facebook groups. It is best to select groups with topics relevant to your business. Later, when you start your own group, it will be more easy to invite members over to your new group.

If you decide to join first some existing groups, remember that Facebook is a social media platform and you should not spam members with commercial messages. That will only alienate them and make it more difficult to have them join your group later.

When interacting in a group, focus on building yourself up as an expert, one that people want to follow. You can achieve this by posting relevant content that members will find interesting. Not just content that has been already published on your blog or website. The more you build yourself up, the more members will follow you into your group when you invite them.

If you have a full understanding how Facebook groups work and when you feel you might have some followers prepared, then start your own group. You manage your group just like you would your Facebook account by posting fresh, original content. This will ensure that more people will keep joining. The more people you have in your group, the more people will come and join. That is the power of viral growth within social networks.

The more you engage members, the more members will start trusting you and the more activity will exist within your group. If there is high activity then it become less obvious when you mix in some more commercial content. Do it subtle, like mentioning that you have a special promotion, or members can have an extra discount or ask about the opinion about one of your products. Remember, building an active group takes some effort, but there are no other advertising costs involved!

In order to make your group a success, you need to find a subject that directly relates to the product or service you are selling. Also you need to find people willing to participate in your group. Keep in mind that in order for the group to be effective, it must contain valuable content and content that is meaningful to its members.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6207695

The Internet gives a lot of ways for businesses to prosper. The web offers many means for a business owner to drive traffic to his website; one is through social networking sites and blogs. It may entail diligence but you will be rerwarded for your efforts you will be able to achieve without almost any additional costs to your business.

Given the number of billions of registered users of social networks, it is an obvious place to start driving traffic to your website. Facebook is now the top social networking website with its half a billion estimated registered customers and expected constant fast growth, Facebook is becoming Google’s Adwords strongest competitor in terms of advertisement. Folks may continue to use Google Search in terms of advertisements but Facebook will definitely not go unnoticed and has some focused options for YOUR Business.

Facebook offers a variety of options to allow online marketers to boost up traffic to a website for higher profits

Setting up your profile is a key to your success. A Facebook account set up for public view should gove the public attractive, informative and sufficient information about what you would want your visitors to present so more visitors might recommend your page.

Boost up traffic just by adding friends into your account. Thus, creating larger connections that allows you access to 5,000 or even more friends, through real time “news feeds” once they are logged in. You can input links and updates on new products every time into your personal account which are automatically fed to your friends “news feeds”.

A Facebook Ads account is still less expensive compared to Google’s AdWords which are both systems for paid advertisements. Know where to hit the right niches to gain traffic for less and it will benefit small businesses by earning a reputation online through focused advertising.

Facebook Ads’ capacity to let its users upload images of products to add to the texts plays an important part in its success. This is allowing business pwners the liberty to create nicer looking ads simply and create so more and more potential customers. Also, it provides you the ability to keep your clients up-to-date and learn more from others in your industry at the same time.

A Facebook Fan Page is another option to Facebook Ads. Facebook’s recent introduction to the new iFrame Fan Page skyrocks its use and populatity. After creating your Facebook fan page which should pormote your business, you can then send marketing messages and offers to your audiance to convince them to “Like” your page. This will allow you to input information, offers and the latest updates on products and business status directly to “news feeds”. Free!

Start Networking on Facebook’s 500 million+ active users or lose a huge chance of success with almost free marketing.