No, that wasn’t a typo. There’s actually a thing called ‘Facebook Places’. It’s the latest and greatest feature from the giant social networking site. ‘Places’ is an application that is targeted at those with web-enabled phones. Similar to the Google Maps Profile & Foursquare, it is a way to virally share where someone is physically located.
No longer does someone need to update their Facebook status and say where they are. All they need to do is to “check in” at Places and updates are given through their account. The question on every business owner’s mind, though, is what it means to them and their business.
For website owners, the answer is that it doesn’t mean much to them at all – at this stage in the game, anyway. The answer for brick and mortar businesses is that they have the potential for much more exposure. That’s why we’ve combined three of the best Places tips to give to those who want to capitalize on this new application.
Fan Page vs. Profile Page
First, don’t limit your options. You need to set up your Facebook account correctly. That means you need to sign your business up for a Fan page instead of a Profile page. What’s the difference? A Fan page is geared more toward businesses as it allows an unlimited number of ‘likes’ to be acquired. A Profile page is geared toward regular individuals, which means it caps out at 5,000 friends.
Since much of the promotion of your business’ Place will be done via your account, it’s important to set it up right to begin with and not limit your options for the number of potential followers. For instance, if you are a dealership for a Nissan Chicago location, there are thousands of people who have purchased vehicles at your location and might therefore “like” your fan page as Nissan Dealership in Chicago. This activity on your fan page exposes your brand to thousands of their friends and connections. If instead you had set up a standard profile with an individual’s name (say the owner of the dealership), it could limit your potential “friends”, exposure and Facebook branding efforts.
Fill Out Profile and Places Claim Completely and Accurately
The one issue with Places is the fact that it does not magically know which businesses are at which physical address. That’s why it’s imperative that business owners not only fill out their Facebook Fan page profile completely and accurately, but that they also claim their listing on Places. Be sure to put as much information as possible, since the hope is that many consumers will see this over and over again.
Promote Your Places by Offering Deals to Those Who Check In
Since Facebook users can’t display your location when they visit it unless they check in, it’s best to entice them to do so. Offer special discounts and savings to those who check in to your business on Places. When they check in, their friends can see that it’s a place they’ve been to and it will lead to far more visibility in the long run.
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