Many Facebook users never venture beyond their profile, but there are several other ways to gain visibility on Facebook. Here are some suggestions for getting the most from this powerful networking tool:
1. Be sure to take full advantage of the promotional opportunities on your profile page. Just below your photo is a small box where you can enter a concise description of what you do, including the title of your book.
The About Me box (under Personal Information) is a good place to describe your book and your business. In the Contact Information section you can enter multiple website addresses.
Post your book cover in your photo album or other application and display it in the left column of your profile.
Your Facebook profile must be registered in your real name. If you create a profile for your book or other non-human entity, you risk having your account canceled.
2. Facebook Pages are similar to personal profiles, but they are created for business use. You can create a page for your book, your business, or even one of the characters in your novel. People join a page by becoming a fan. More info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php
You may want to offer an incentive to join (or at least visit) your page, such as a free download, a coupon for one of your products, or a contest. Another way to attract fans is to set your page up as an information hub, offering links and resources.
3. Groups are a great place to meet people who share your interests and find new friends. Search for groups by entering keywords in the Search box at the top of the page and then clicking on the Groups tab. You can gain visibility on a group page by introducing yourself on the wall, participating in discussions, and posting your book cover, photos or videos.
Forming your own group can also be beneficial. Be sure to encourage discussions and offer valuable information such as free downloads and links to resources. You can direct message the entire group.
4. Joining relevant events is a good way to get visibility because you can write on the event wall and post photos. You can also promote your own live or virtual events by hosting an event. Info: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=413.
5. Facebook displays pay-per-click ads on most pages on the site, and ads can be targeted by age, gender, location, education level, relationship status, or keywords in people's profiles. Info: http://www.facebook.com/advertising.
6. In the Facebook Marketplace you can post a listing to sell your book. There's no charge for this service, so it's worth an experiment. Info: http://apps.facebook.com/marketplace.
-- Dana Lynn Smith is a book marketing coach and author of The Savvy Book Marketer Guides. Website: http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/savvy_book_marketer.
