Facebook Fan Page / Like Page : How to create one yourself

Having a fan page is like having a FREE website that brings you GOOGLE JUICE for your business and makes it easy for you to be FOUND on Facebook.

Written May 19, 2010, read 14796 times since then.

I have helped more then 20 businesses set up their own fan page on Facebook and decided it was time to write out the steps here and SHARE more widely. I have my own fan page if you would like to check it out, but know that I do sell adult products before you join http://www.Facebook.com/BlissConnection

If you are not aware, Facebook has a separate place where they want you to do business. You are not supposed to be promoting your business on your PERSONAL page on Facebook. It's actually outside of the T's & C's of Facebook and can get you banned. So, they have created something called a FAN PAGE - though they recently changed the name to a "Like" page. You have no doubt noticed the little Facebook box and the LIKE thumbs up picture all over the interenet since the change.

So, now you are read to join the fray and get your business "legal" on Facebook. Here are the steps laid out for you:

Having a fan page is like having a FREE website that brings you GOOGLE JUICE for your business and makes it easy for you to be FOUND on Facebook.

And, Adding the NOTES section to your fan page
is also like having a FREE blog and makes it easier to be found on GOOGLE and FACEBOOK.

It's all about being FOUND online and all about GOOGLE juice and ORGANIC rankings. A Facebook
Fan Page will do that for you:

1. Login to Facebook as you.
2. Go to the address bar at the top of the page and type this exactly:
http://www.Facebook.com/Pages
3. Click on the CREATE PAGES option
4. Then choose the CREATE A PAGE button that says LOCAL BUSINESS
5. Then enter your business name (remember exactly how you entered your business name, no typos)
6. Click on CREATE OFFICIAL Page
7. Now you officially have a "fan" page. And be sure to LIKE your own page here now if you can. If you cannot, go to you own profile page.
8. Go back to your own page on Facebook (click on PROFILE button) and you should see your new "fan" page in your Facebook stream. Click on that or LIKE it, but if you cannot, go on to step 9 and SEARCH for your fan page.
9. Go to facebook search bar and type in your fan page exactly as you typed it in earlier)
10. Should bring up your new fan page with NO fans in your search box
11. Click on fan page and go to it.
12. Start by adding a PHOTO of you or your logo to the PHOTOS section. Create an album and add your logo or your own pic.
13. Once photo is uploaded, click on photo you want to go on your PROFILE page and then the button that says MAKE PROFILE PIC
14. Go to INFO box and edit INFO with your url, tele, email address, etc
15. Click on button near the WALL/INFO/PHOTOS section and click on the PLUS sign
16. This will allow you to add the NOTES box to your Fan Page
17. You can use the NOTES section like a FREE blog

18. Use the NOTES section to list your services, blog, talk about what is going on in your business or your industry. Use it just like a blog.

19. Now that you have a "like" or "fan" page, it's time to invite your friends and customers to your page. Having a fan page is much better then a static website because it allows you to have a conversation with your clients and engage with them.

20. Invite them to LIKE You and now they will see your info you post on the Wall of your fan page. And, if you write really interesting and compelling content on your WALL or NOTES, they will hopefully SHARE your info with their friends and fans.

Most Facebook experts suggest you post 3 times a day to your fan page. I post once in morning, once in the afternoon and once at night. (Sometimes more, but always the minimum.)

Tons of awesome SHARE baked right into Facebook. Write interesting content and other people will SHARE it.

Always TAG people when you share their stuff. NO plagiarizing.

Once you have 25 Fans, apply for a Vanity URL using : www.Facebook.com/UserName and create a
vanity url. For example, mine is www.Facebook.com/BlissConnection

POST 3 Times a Day (different times of day) and be sure you are a PERSON FIRST and a BUSINESS
Second. Be human. Be real. Post useful stuff. YOu want to be considered an expert and a person
who provides USEFUL information. You want to make it a place people want to stop and check
you out and see what you posted today.

Once you get going, you will get a weekly email from Facebook that tells you gives you your
business ANALYTICS for your fan page called WEEKLY UPDATE / ANALYTICS.

From your FAN PAGE, ADD or FOLLOW the other FAN PAGES you love. (This is a strategy and you should
follow other people in your industry, people you love and that love you.)

ASK your friends to become fans and to write a REVIEW for you on your Facebook Fan Page. GOOGLE JUICE

And, know this. This is for your BASIC fan page. There are ways to add FBML (Facebook Mark Up Language) to your fan page and add in HTML from other tools like your Constant Contact newsletter and other widgets. This article is designed to be your BASIC HOW TO set up your own Facebook Fan Page.

Blissfully, Chrystal Bougon

Learn more about the author, Chrystal Bougon.

Posted by Kevin Carney, Sunnyvale, California | May 19, 2010

Thank you for spelling it out so simply.
Posted by Carla Griffin, San Jose, California | May 19, 2010

Excellent information, Chrystal. I have sent it to two friends who had asked me about setting up a Fan Page....you just saved me hours of work! Thank you.
Posted by Jeff Bean, Seattle, Washington | May 20, 2010

Chrystal, nicely put the steps to set up a page. Like Carla, I'll direct the people asking me to this -- thanks!

Question for you: what's the reasoning behind posting three times a day? That seems a little much to me. I use Facebook a bunch personally and get maybe 300 posts daily, but I think I'd question whether I wanted to get that many posts a day from just one of the pages of which I was a fan. (Or what am I now - a "liker?!")
Posted by Irene Moustakas, Cupertino, California | May 20, 2010

Thank you for always sharing your knowledge, Chrystal! This is such an easy step-by-step process and so helpful to people who would like to set up their fan ("like") page. There are so many benefits to having a FB business profile page - it's a great way to connect with people that have chosen to listen to what one has to say. If we were on Facebook, I would "like" this post. :p
Posted by Susan Mix, Santa Clara, California | May 20, 2010

Thanks Crystal! Great article - I will be pointing a couple of people at it and it provided a few insights for me to use! More! More!
Posted by Amy Harcourt, San Francisco, California | May 20, 2010

Finally, a really good step-by-step guide, with the rationale for why we need to do this. Thank you, Chrystal!!! You really are a marketing genius.
Posted by Ken Mahar, Seattle, Washington | May 20, 2010

Thanks Chrystal! I just put up a fan page for a new endeavor http://www.facebook.com/DailyFishPorn and could have used this checklist. Posting three times a day was new information that I'll try to do. I'll probably start at once per day so that I can be consistent, and then ramp it up from there as 3 seems too ambitious. You think that's a good strategy?
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | May 20, 2010

Well, most of the Facebook "strategists" I have met with sugges 3 times a day. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night.

Obviously, you do not want to SELL every time. Provide useful and helpful content. Share you friends' fan pages or other "shares" on your fan page. Invite your friends to post on your fanpage.

If you post 3 times a day consistenly for 6 months or more, I know you will see results. Remember, too, everything on your biz/fan page is indexed by the search engines.
Posted by Eli Poblitz, Pacifica, California | May 20, 2010

Great post! I created a "page" along time ago, but did nothing to get "fans" and definitely did not type much to it.

This is inspiring, although I am starting to really dislike Facebook and all of their privacy concerns.

I heard someone say it well the other day ... Facebook is trying to be the AOL of yesterday. The must-pass funnel ...

Anyhow - great detailed article, thanks!
Posted by Jeff Bow, MCLC, Coupeville, Washington | May 20, 2010

Great job on the article Chrystal. I was just wondering how to do this. Thanks!
Posted by Leah Thompson, Oceano, California | May 21, 2010

This is a well written, detailed article with so much valuable information.

This statement is so true "It's all about being FOUND online and all about GOOGLE juice and ORGANIC rankings."

FaceItPages.com offers a Facebook page application that allows you to create FBML pages with links to your site, which really helps with that Google juice.
Posted by Katy Kao, San Jose, California | May 22, 2010

Excellent article! I've already passed it along to people and they love it too! Thanks so much for putting in the time to help other people with their Fan Pages!
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | May 22, 2010

You are so welcome, Katy! tHANKS for sharing.
Posted by Sam Macdonald, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | May 27, 2010

Can't seem to find to the http://www.Facebook.com/Pages page to do step 3????
Posted by Eric Larkin, Melbourne, Florida | May 27, 2010

What a great article. I have been seeing the fan pages pop up on facebook, but didn't understand why or how to set one up. Thank you for taking the time to write out the steps for us.
Posted by Arnold Zwickel, Duluth, Georgia | May 27, 2010

Great article, I have been trying to find out how to do it for a month. Thank you
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | May 27, 2010

Hey Sam. I am not sure. Are you logged into Fcebook when you go there?

While insid of facebook, actually type in the URL

http://www.Facebook.com/Pages and it should open up for you.
Posted by Lisa Reese, Nashville, Tennessee | May 27, 2010

Thank you, Chrystal. I too have been wondering how to set up a fan page. Great information!
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | May 27, 2010

You are very welcome, Lisa.
Posted by Ginger Foust, Oakhurst, California | May 27, 2010

I learned a lot Chrystal and will make improvements to my business page. Thank you.
Posted by Stephen Drewett, Chippenham United Kingdom | May 27, 2010

Thanks for that. I've been trying to work out how to make a facebook page for a couple of days now.

Steve http://www.businessenergyswitch.com/
Posted by Bill Horton, Lake Oswego, Oregon | May 27, 2010

Thanks Chrystal for the detailed step by step. A Facebook page is an inexpensive way for Small Businesses to market themselves. I will forward this article to many of my clients/students.
Posted by Julia Field, Seattle, Washington | May 27, 2010

Great post, Chrystal. I was delighted to learn there's a simple way to get a vanity name - much appreciation to you for that! The link is actually http://www.facebook.com/username (not upper case UserName as you posted)

You made my day! Julia http://www.facebook.com/Undriving (instead of a big ol' string of gobbledygook!)
Posted by Betty Frost, Seattle, Washington | May 27, 2010

It always amazes me when I will be trying to figure out how to do something and then along comes the answer. Thank you for writing the article and making it so easy to follow.
Posted by Laya Hague, Aliso Viejo, California | May 27, 2010

You are an amazing mentor, Chrystal. Thank you, so much for spending time and effort in helping other succeed.
Posted by Matt Jensen, Melbourne, Victoria Australia | May 27, 2010
Hi there

FYI, you don't specifically get 'Google Juice' from your Facebook page unfortunately - Facebook have added the HTML attribute rel="nofollow" to all external links, which tells Google et al (well the search engines that take note of the nofollow attribute) NOT to give any link juice to the destination URL (and the same goes for a lot of social media sites too unfortunately). Check here to see what I mean http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/01/preventing-comment-spam.html

Having said that though, SEO and Social Media Marketing are all about generating quality traffic, and such a page will certainly help improve the "love" around the web for you and your business.

Ayway, here are some additional tips to develop your Facebook pages further: - add an 'invite friends' tab to your Facebook page using FBML: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=108220709200765
- add Google tracking to your FB page (advanced): http://www.webdigi.co.uk/blog/2010/google-analytics-for-facebook-fan-pages/
I've got both running on my FB page if you're interested to see (I hid the analytics pixel image next to my Twitter link): http://www.facebook.com/UltraWebsites

Cheers Matt
Posted by Betty Frost, Seattle, Washington | May 27, 2010

I have just tried to get into http://www.Facebook.com/Pages by putting it 'exactly' into the address bar. I copied and pasted the link. I am signed in as suggeted.

I am getting 'the page you requested was not found'. What am I doing incorrectly?
Posted by Betty Frost, Seattle, Washington | May 27, 2010

I just went into facebook and asked how to set up a fan page. The link they have is http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php and it opened.
Posted by Gil Pauley, Bellevue, Washington | May 27, 2010

Chrystal,

Great article. Do you need a personal Face Book page before you can set up the business page?? I have been wanting to set up a Face Book acct for our business but don't care to have a personal one. I especially like the item where you mention having your clients, customers, patients, ect go to your Face Book acct and post testimonials.

The "NoFollow" as mentioned by Matt is a huge concern when posting to various Social Media sites. Many of them have the NoFollow artibute. I am in the process of trying to figure out which ones do and don't have it, so I don't waste time on the sites that have nofollow. It is one thing to spam (I keep getting Japanese Dating sites trying to "post" to my blogs) and it is another to post good material and then have it get the NoFollow whammy!!
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | May 27, 2010

Yes, you do have to have a Facebook account first.

I am going to do some more research on the NO FOLLOW attribute. THx.
Posted by Matt Jensen, Melbourne, Victoria Australia | May 27, 2010
Hi there.

IMO, I wouldn't consider NoFollow a "huge concern" - it just means you (probably) won't get any page rank through the link. Additionally:
- not every search engine obeys it.
- you will still get visitors through the link, which is probably more important, and particularly if you have Google Analytics on your site Google will still know whether people think your site is worth visiting
- it is all about quality content in my view anyway and what we should all be striving to achieve, and it will have it's own (perhaps slow) benefits of driving traffic, popularity, and ultimately still be beneficial in SEO terms anyway.
- Social Media and SEO are both really aimed at increasing traffic to your site, which I think is the ultimate goal.
Regarding NoFollow, there's a Firefox plugin which will highlight all NoFollow links for you if you want to know more.

There are a few sites that do not use NoFollow, such as Biznik, some links in Linked In (if you use the MyWebsite link in your profile), some others too, get the plugin and you can see for yourself (I typically just view the source code myself and check the 'a' tag).

HTH Matt
Posted by Laya Hague, Aliso Viejo, California | May 27, 2010

Again thanks Chrystal. I will be following your posts
Posted by Lanny Udell, San Rafael, California | May 27, 2010

Chrystal, let me add my thanks to the long list here. I, too, had gone so far as to register my fan page but have done nothing with it. Now that I understand how easy it is, I'm going to get started.
Posted by Laura Jacobson, Corvallis, Oregon | May 27, 2010

This helped me tremendously Chrystal. I was just thinking to myself, "now I need to get on facebook" and then I found your article. Perfect timing. I went through the steps and got set up. Thanks to your article, I'm getting connected and hope to be up and running in my business soon.
Posted by Betty Frost, Seattle, Washington | May 27, 2010

I got set up, now I have to put in all the details. Thanks for your help. Onward and upward!
Posted by cody tyler, Enterprise, Alabama | May 29, 2010

This has so much potential and looks simple to set up. It could also be used in viral marketing campaigns to great effect.

http://www.anti-aging-product-reviews.net/cellulite-reduction-treatment-cellulean-cellulite-gel/
Posted by Aaron Harris, San Marcos, California | May 31, 2010

Chrystal,

Great tutorial. I've had my page up for months and didn't know about the availability of Vanity URL's. Thanks for the great tip.

For those concerned with posting on "DoFollow" link sites- If you use Firefox you can install the SearchStatus add-on which Matt mentioned. It will highlight nofollow links on web pages, plus it gives ranking and search related info.
Posted by Amy Kessel, ACC, Vashon, Washington | Jun 01, 2010

Hi Chrystal, Wonderful, informative article. Thanks for putting it out there!

I have been struggling with something that I see others are struggling with as well, and I wonder if you would weigh in on it. When you create a Fan Page after having created a Personal Page, you become the administrator of the Fan Page.

When you post and comment on your OWN Fan Page, the comments come from you as the Fan Page. All good.

However, if you want to join a discussion or post comments on someone else's Page, all these comments come from your Personal Page rather than your Fan Page. I am uncomfortable with this, as I am not posting comments or joining discussions as the Personal Me, but rather as my business Me.

Also, in terms of marketing, this is clearly a missed opportunity as others who read what I say and want to learn more about what I do will only end up on my Personal Page, which I keep very separate from my business page.

Any thoughts on how to get around this?

Thanks again! Amy
Posted by Matt Jensen, Melbourne, Victoria Australia | Jun 01, 2010

I don't have an answer for you, but there is definitely room for improvement on Facebook in areas like this - you don't even get notifications of Pages when people 'like' or comment on it - you have to look through the page yourself!
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | Jun 03, 2010

Matt, I "like" all of my posts to my fan page that way when someone comments, I get an email that there is a conversation going on about my post so I can go back and engage!

FB had a long ways to go for their BUSINESS users still.
Posted by Kate Phillips, Seattle, Washington | Jun 07, 2010

Helpful tips, thanks Chrystal. I started pages going a different route (clicked on "advertising" link at bottom, which also allows you to set up free like/fan pages), though I always thought that was a strange, counter-inuitive route.

I like the weekly "traffic report" that you get from FB. It surprised me... such as letting me know that I was getting dozens of weekly visits to a page I hadn't even finished "setting up"! (So I set it up.)

You've encouraged me to be more active. Gotta go post on my fanpage!

www.facebook.com/TotalWealth
www.facebook.com/KatePhillipsMusic
Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | Jun 07, 2010

Awesome. Yah, a lot of people used that route to set theirs up. It's all the same, Kate.
Posted by Lee Lonitz, San Jose, California | Jul 19, 2010

Hi Chrystal, late to comment but wanted to say great post. Definitely covers the basics to get one up and running step by step.

I used to think that "liking" every one of my own posts on my FB fan page was being vain. But since as you said you need notification on what's happening so you can engage conversationally, it makes sense. (If FB didn't want you to like your own stuff, it'd probably not let us).

And I definitely agree with Matt's comments above on the NOFOLLOW as related to FB fan pages. He hits the nail on the head that PR (pagerank) isn't everything in the 200+ factors around Google juice and that what counts more in the end is quality traffic.

Thanks for posting this How To!

Cheers, Lee
Posted by mark robino, Hastings, Florida | Jul 23, 2010

It takes a little time to build a following for your page.I find I get invited to a lot of pages, I tend to ignore the invites and just join the pages I am interested in. really very interesting post regarding facebook pages.

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Posted by Lorrie Perencevic, Lynnwood, Washington | Jul 26, 2010

Great tips! Thanks for your step by step how-to...very helpful!

Many blessings!

Lorrie www.chasingtheshade.blogspot.com
Posted by John Lam, San Diego, California | Jul 29, 2010

Found an interesting site that uses the like button so you can create a like page about anything!

http://www.thelikepage.com
Posted by Dawn Thomas, Los Altos, California | Jul 31, 2010

Once again, Chrystal--you blow it out of the park! Thank you for posting this information because I get asked about this ALL of the time! I will be sending a link to your article out to those who need this information going forward... Regarding Matt's comment, "Social Media and SEO are both really aimed at increasing traffic to your site, which I think is the ultimate goal." This couldn't be more correct. Facebook is not in the business of sending people; however, OFF of Facebook. They want the 500M users to stay ON Facebook as much as possible.
In a recent presentation I did regarding "Developing and Managing Your Online Reputation and Risk, " I talked about how important it was to have a presence in at least 3-4 online forums and do them well. People want to see you in your natural habitat, and specifically regarding FB--they want to be the "fly on the wall" and check you and your conversations out before ever "Liking" your Business Page and letting you know who they are--much less what they're about. Even though there is the "NoFollow" for GG, Pages are VERY searchable. If they like what you offer and how you interact, they will go to your website. At that point, the conversion to a client or customer can happen.
Everyone's points on how FB has a LONG way to go on Business Pages is so true! For now--it's free. I am expecting to see that change when they make more features available in the Pages--like what Matt said regarding there is no notice of someone who "Likes" your page. Wouldn't it be nice to easily be able to send a "welcome" note, or a "hey--thanks for believing in what I do enough to like my page!" comment to someone?
Again, thanks for the article and the great discussion around it! :0)
Posted by Nadine Shaw, Emeryville, California | Aug 22, 2010

Chrystal,

Thank you so much for this great article. I'm so ignorant with FB and Twitter and all the other social networking. This was extremely helpful. I don't know if you remember me or not. I met you when I was with AmeriPlan the discount healthcare biz. Then I moved to Slumber Parties. Now I have a CPR and Safety training biz. So, the info on FB was very useful. I have a long way to go, but you're my mentor. I am so inspired by you. Thank you so much.