Brenda Burch Dumont's Blog

If you read my blog on Monday about

Facebook Fan Pages – Most retailers miss two crucial areas

you know that I believe retailers should have a JOB TAB on their Facebook Fan Page with either a link to their ATS system, or a simple RSS feed from their website or, if you aren’t postings jobs on your website or have an ATS, a manual listing of all jobs/careers available.  For my reasons and logic, see the previous blog.

The second crucial element isn’t as obvious, but gaining popularity quickly.  A Facebook Fan page can be utilized for many, many purposes but for al   all those purposes you want to develop ‘Fans’, (or people willing to click the ‘Like” button above so that your updates appear on their Facebook feeds.  )  In all cases, the more fans the merrier.  The more fans, the more interaction, the more priceless referring or recommending that is so valuable in Social Media AND the stronger brand, the less customer service issues, the more jobs filled, etc. etc.  A Facebook Fan Page is not a substitute for a website, but rather a popular stopping off point to express views, deepen customer loyalty, and a convenient click box to the website if additional information is required.

So, if you’d like to continually increase your Fan base, you need a WELCOME TAB on your Facebook Fan Page.  A Welcome Tab is a cool tab that encourages visitors to click the ‘Like’ button.  It should be social, succinct, snappy, describe the wonderful values of becoming a fan, and point out clearly where and how to click the button.

Mari Smith is the Queen of Facebook – at least that’s what I call her and if you follow my stuff you know I refer to her often.  She’s based in San Diego and is right up on every development on Facebook. Her book is considered MUST reading by anyone responsible for any aspect of Facebook for their company. (and certainly for consultants!)

Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day is now available! It is published by Sybex (Wiley). Details at http://bit.ly/facebook-mktg

Mari developed the Welcome Tab (its technically called a Landing Page) for all the purposes above, but for another important reason.  If you visit any Facebook Fan Page with a Welcome Tab and you are NOT a Fan already, it takes you to the Welcome Tab where you are…..well….welcomed, informed, and encouraged to click the ‘Like’ button.  If you are already a Fan of any Facebook Fan Page with a Welcome Tab then it takes you to the Wall Tab per normal.  Cool, eh, and invaluable at gathering statistics on how many people visit your site versus how many become fans, how many fans come back, etc. etc.

So, retailers should have both a Welcome Tab and a  Job Tab. Neither are particularly easy to program in, in fact that are not easy at all and will require an individual with Web 2 technical knowledge and a strong understanding of Facebook’s programming requirements.  You can try and find one or you can call me and my very talented Web 2 guy who will be pleased to work with you or your Marketing department.  If you don’t have a Facebook Fan Page at all, we’ll for sure you’d better call me or someone who can help.  Just sayin’………………  To be fair, there are sites that will help individuals and small businesses to work through creating a Facebook Fan Page or a Welcome Tab. Just Google Welcome Page on Facebook.

Here are a few examples of Welcome Tabs – please note you have to be logged in to Facebook to follow these urls:

Mari Smith -     http://tinyurl.com/343w4oe

Stella & Dot -     http://tinyurl.com/3582njo

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Retail, Retail Companies, social media by Brenda