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The latest trend in business marketing involves using social media, to stay in constant contact with customers. One easy step to entering the social media world, is to create a Facebook business page. By following Facebook’s step-by-step process, business owners will have a tool that allows them to send content to customers anywhere, at any time.

Pages are different from profiles. Profiles are for individuals, while pages are set up for organizations and businesses. Pages are administered by someone who maintains a profile, but the people who connect to the pages will not know the identity of the administrator, and will not be able to access the administrator’s profile. The pages themselves may be managed from the profile, in a method similar to managing a group, or an event.

Owners should link to the “Create a Page” menu. Then, owners should choose “Local Business or Place”, select a company category from the drop-down menu, and then fill in the phone number, address, and name of their company. When naming pages, generic category names may not be used, or administrative rights may be revoked. After pages have established one hundred connections, the name may not be edited.

Managing a page, once it is created, is simple. Administrators may either type the name of their pages into the search bar, or select the name from the “Ads and Pages” section of their profile. After clicking “Edit”, administrators may update their status, share links, post photos, or upload videos. Their posts will appear in the News Feed of people who have “Liked” the page. One simple tip that administrators should remember, is to “Like” their own pages. Pages will not come up in the search box, until they show at least one connection.

Facebook offers exciting marketing capabilities. Administrators have the ability to send updates directly to the Message box of people who have “Liked” their pages. By clicking “Edit”, then “Marketing”, and then “Send an Update”, a message will be sent to either all fans, or to certain targeted fans.

Marketing tools also help with ad campaigns. Administrators choose certain marketing line items, such as keywords, or locations. Facebook will then list the number of members who might respond to the ad, and will send that ad to targeted members. Administrators then have to bid the amount they will pay per click, understanding that higher bids mean better exposure.

Facebook’s “Insights” capabilities highlight the target market. “User Insights” provide data on the total likes, fans, daily users, demographics, and new likes and unlikes. “Interaction Insights” provide daily story feedback, including comments, as well as daily activities regarding pages, including mentions, discussions, and wall posts.

On their pages, administrators may post updates or connections to blogs, as long as all content focuses on creating a need for the product, and not on offering a sales spiel. Administrators may also add their pages to company cards, to electronic signatures, or to their Twitter feeds. In addition, administrators may connect to other businesses, and to bloggers within their industry, by creating their own Facebook business page.

Are you on the look out for a social media consultant who can deliver an effective Facebook business page?