Thread: using Facebook as your website

I experimented with this a few months ago and just returned to it again last night..

here's mine which is separate from my 'person' who is Jesennia on facebook

A'Kai Silks | Facebook

it's in primitive stages, I want to add more stuff but I'm wondering if dancers have been using this feature to help advertise their classes and performances? I would love to see this because navigating websites can take a long time whereas a status update is easy to follow

You can also send updates to those who like your page.

If you have one, please link to me and we can 'like' each other and build a network..

For some of us, it's tempting to get swept up in the ease of facebook, but I don't think I could ever use facebook solely as a website.

1) You don't ever own it. If you happen to accidently TOS, you'll lose everything in the blink of an eye.

2) Many businesses block people from using facebook. I know that I can't access FB while I'm teaching, so I don't check it as often. I can get to websites and bhuz (so far), but FB is not permitted.

I think FB is a great addition to use with a website, but not by itself. I have to make efforts to remember to update my site because I tend to use facebook more...but I believe it's worth it.

There are a couple blog programs which allow you to immediately post a facebook notification when you post to the blog on your website. Just don't ask me how to set it up! I don't even really understand what things like RSS means- I click the facebook icon & hit publish...

I am thinking of setting up a separate facebook page for me as a business- right now, I can't instantly publish to my business page, only to my personal profile, but I'm still on the fence about this.

I do have a separate page for my dance stuff:

MEISSOUN | Facebook

I promote my workshops there, keep in touch with students, announce new articles on my website etc...

BUT: there are loads of people out there who think that Facebook is EVIL (often those who don't even really know what it is!) and would never go there. So you need a normal website too.

MEISSOUN

I have a facebook page for my studio, but it's in addition to the studio's website. I would never depend on it alone, because I know too many people who aren't on Facebook & don't want to be!

I've already got you "liked" and added to my monkey's page.
RAQ'n Monkeys | Facebook

Facebook is great, but it's not reliable.

A good example?

From Terms of Service > Registration and Account Security:
"You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain."

I believe this means that Facebook has the right to shut down your account if they find you profiting from activity on your personal profile. It doesn't mean that they will, but I certainly wouldn't want to place the bulk of my business related materials and contacts on a service that could boot me at any time based on the above provision.

Mind you, this is coming from someone who is in violation of Facebook's terms by having 3 separate accounts, and uses Facebook to advertise troupe events... lol

Originally Posted by lunascura

Facebook is great, but it's not reliable.

A good example?

From Terms of Service > Registration and Account Security:
"You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain."

I believe this means that Facebook has the right to shut down your account if they find you profiting from activity on your personal profile. It doesn't mean that they will, but I certainly wouldn't want to place the bulk of my business related materials and contacts on a service that could boot me at any time based on the above provision.

Mind you, this is coming from someone who is in violation of Facebook's terms by having 3 separate accounts, and uses Facebook to advertise troupe events... lol

A facebook 'page' for your business is different from a personal profile, though. You can have multiple business pages attached to your personal profile.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

A facebook 'page' for your business is different from a personal profile, though. You can have multiple business pages attached to your personal profile.

yeah, but facebook keeps messing with the business pages- and I like it less every time they do. They are now really hard to find, even if you are searching for it! Pretty much the only way to find a business page, last time I checked, was to have a direct link, either from someone you know or from an ad- and of course facebook charges everytime someone clicks on an ad. I used to be able to see businesses I had 'liked' on my sidebar, but that's gone now. I understand, they want to make money from the ads & services, but it is near impossible for a *small* business to be found (even when we pay for ads, because ad pricing depends on how popular your words are with people who can afford to pay more for them!)

Originally Posted by Lara L

yeah, but facebook keeps messing with the business pages- and I like it less every time they do. They are now really hard to find, even if you are searching for it! Pretty much the only way to find a business page, last time I checked, was to have a direct link, either from someone you know or from an ad- and of course facebook charges everytime someone clicks on an ad. I used to be able to see businesses I had 'liked' on my sidebar, but that's gone now. I understand, they want to make money from the ads & services, but it is near impossible for a *small* business to be found (even when we pay for ads, because ad pricing depends on how popular your words are with people who can afford to pay more for them!)

Ah, I can see that. I don't really try to promote to new people using my Facebook page, I use it to communicate with existing customers/students, and I have a badge on my website for them to find it.

I do run ads on Facebook, but I direct that traffic to my actual website rather than my facebook page.

It's frustrating for me, though, when people find my profile rather than my page. Doesn't seem to be any way to direct them to the business page without first accepting their friend request.

I'm thinking of having a profile for myself personally, where I can be myself, and one for me as a Dancer, where I can maintain contacts with students & other dancers. But it seems like too much work, it's hard enough keeping up with one profile, a page for my studio, countless events, and a group for my dance company!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I do run ads on Facebook, but I direct that traffic to my actual website rather than my facebook page.

I run ads on facebook, but I direct them to my facebook page. I've done a fair amount of customization for my facebook page so that I can funnel visitors into becoming fans (and sticking around). I'd rather that I am able to keep them around and have continuous contact via facebook posts. When I've directed them to the website, they may or may not come back again. I don't have any way of knowing who they are or how I can contact them again. You could implement similar strategies on a website by directing your traffic to a specific page set up to collect information for a mailing list and an incentive for filling it out.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Doesn't seem to be any way to direct them to the business page without first accepting their friend request.

You should be able to send the person inquiring a message without accepting them as a friend. You could direct people to your page that way.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I'm thinking of having a profile for myself personally, where I can be myself, and one for me as a Dancer, where I can maintain contacts with students & other dancers. But it seems like too much work, it's hard enough keeping up with one profile, a page for my studio, countless events, and a group for my dance company!

This is what I do. I actually have three accounts; the third is for family and people from school acquaintances. It can be work for some people to manage multiple accounts, but I grew up on the web and confess to being an addict. ;)

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

2) Many businesses block people from using facebook. I know that I can't access FB while I'm teaching, so I don't check it as often. I can get to websites and bhuz (so far), but FB is not permitted.

This.

My job blocks FB and MySpace usage.

I'm so sad when people only have FB pages, because as much as I *try* to remember to look at it when I get home, I always forget...

fb pages are easy to lose in the shuffle..I do agree with Lauren it's worthwhile to have a facebook badge on your website..

Originally Posted by jesennia

fb pages are easy to lose in the shuffle..I do agree with Lauren it's worthwhile to have a facebook badge on your website..

Hi, Jes'! FB scares me .... a lot .... call me paranoid, but guess it's the dinosaur in me. I haven't joined even 'tho someone has put up a "fan page" (?) for me to let her friends know where they can find the feather earrings I make, and she told me I didn't have to join FB myself that way. I've gotten numerous "friend" requests for FB, but so far .... well, paranoia just sets in. I thought you have to use your real name, and I'm concerned about all the identity theft problems. BUT I see you found me on Etsy, haha!!! ("dancerscave14)" I will reciprocate, soon as I figure out how, lol .....

I have a question....

If someone does NOT have a facebook account, can they still see a public "fan page"?

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I have a question....

If someone does NOT have a facebook account, can they still see a public "fan page"?

Yes, non-facebook users can see fan pages. I checked by logging out and trying to look up pages, and it works.

Originally Posted by naiyahayal

Hi, Jes'! FB scares me .... a lot .... call me paranoid, but guess it's the dinosaur in me. I haven't joined even 'tho someone has put up a "fan page" (?) for me to let her friends know where they can find the feather earrings I make, and she told me I didn't have to join FB myself that way. I've gotten numerous "friend" requests for FB, but so far .... well, paranoia just sets in. I thought you have to use your real name, and I'm concerned about all the identity theft problems. BUT I see you found me on Etsy, haha!!! ("dancerscave14)" I will reciprocate, soon as I figure out how, lol .....

I guess that's a benefit us dancers have is that we can list our dance names on fb :)

I have a personal page and three "business" pages, if that's what they're called... I've thought about another personal page for my dance persona but the FB restrictions keep me from doing that. It would be handy though.
BUT re the "updates" for pages, I know I never ever look at any Updates, does anyone else actually read them? Right now I've got over 180 unread updates!

Originally Posted by jesennia

I want to add more stuff but I'm wondering if dancers have been using this feature to help advertise their classes and performances? I would love to see this because navigating websites can take a long time whereas a status update is easy to follow

You can also send updates to those who like your page.

If you have one, please link to me and we can 'like' each other and build a network..

Originally Posted by Lauren_

It's frustrating for me, though, when people find my profile rather than my page. Doesn't seem to be any way to direct them to the business page without first accepting their friend request.

I'm thinking of having a profile for myself personally, where I can be myself, and one for me as a Dancer, where I can maintain contacts with students & other dancers. But it seems like too much work, it's hard enough keeping up with one profile, a page for my studio, countless events, and a group for my dance company!

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

You should be able to send the person inquiring a message without accepting them as a friend. You could direct people to your page that way.

I had trouble with this. I couldn't figure out how to redirect people to my fan page without offending them...most people did not go off and fan me, even after a kind nudging and an explanation that I wanted to keep it private.

So, I ended up starting a profile page for Andalee. I know it's against their terms of service, but until I get caught, I am not going to worry about it. You just need to have two e-mail addresses and two phone numbers, I think. I use two different browsers too (Chrome for personal, IE for Andalee).

The cool thing about it is that I can manage by page through both profiles. I set my page up with two Admins.

The only down side is that I feel spammy when I want to post the same message to both my Andalee Page and my Andalee Profile.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I'm thinking of having a profile for myself personally, where I can be myself, and one for me as a Dancer, where I can maintain contacts with students & other dancers.

I know a lot of dancers prefer this method (a regular-person-page with a dance name as opposed to a fan page). I find it problematic. For example, I have dancer acquaintances who have friended me with their dance page, which is fine. But they also have a 'real' page, with their 'real' name. By being facebook friends they can see all my personal stuff, and I can only see their dance life. Not quite in the spirit of the concept, to me. Does that make sense? If I decide to friend them I often block my wall. I would rather fan dancers I like or want to support to keep up with their activities.

I also want people to be able to like my page without having to share their own information with me. I have a policy never to initiate a facebook friendship with my students, but if they add me I will add them back. Many do, which is fine, but I don't ever *expect* they will, so having an option where dance students or colleagues can 'like' me without sharing their own vacation picture or politics or silly thoughts or whatever they post on their walls seems fair and respectful to whatever boundaries they might want to maintain.

one really cool feature is you can measure the % increase in interactions, users, impressions etc

in one week mine went up 74%..