Facebook has recently added some new features and made some changes that, from this reviewers point of view, helps the user experience quite a lot.
One of the most annoying things I found about Facebook is that my posts (which are ALL very important, and should be read and responded to) can quickly be lost in the "push-down" process of real time postings coming in. Translation: other peoples posts that come in after mine, push mine down and then OFF the wall. No good.
Now you can click on the "most interesting stories" deemed so by the Facebook team/machine. I'm guessing the stories are those posts that get the most interaction, but I could be wrong. "Interesting" is a relative term and I'm curious how a machine could figure that out.
You can also check out all LIVE FEED (which appears as a link at the top of your WALL) to view all the posts in real-time chronological order.
But before you get all misty eyed about Facebook's recent user experience facelift, consider that changes have been made to the "advertising" experience (and the way(s) marketers can advertise) as well.
See all changes at Facebook's official press release: Facebook News.
Posted: June 15, 2009 2:47 PM
| Posted By : ICND Team
Related Categories:
Facebook,Social Media,SEO
I have to admit. I'm not very enthused about Facebook's decision to allow users to create Vanity URLs for their profiles (and pages...though I haven't seen any for those yet. Not sure who is eligible, and when the rest of us will be?)
Of course, it just makes sense that a person can give out easy-to-remember static looking URL's to their family, friends, and clients/customers instead of a long string of variable gobbledeegook. But, I knew - as an SEO professional - that the mad rush to SQUAT on the best keyword phrases would ruin the usefulness of Facebook's move.
Can I blame anyone for the rush? Nope. The opportunity is there, so why not take it? I blame Facebook for allowing the opportunity to be there in the first place. How fair is it that some unrelated person, business, or organization can steal (take) your name, your identity, or more likely, YOUR MAIN KEYWORD PHRASE?
First come, first serve. And that's all that qualifies you to choose your URL "username".
And the change is permanent? So no swapping. Once you're TheKiKi, or MyrtleBeachSEO, you're that until death do you part. Does that mean the squatters can't unload the goods? Not sure, but money talks so there's always a way around such obstacles, like swapping account logins. And is Facebook monitoring for copyright infringement of identity theft...or can anyone swoop in a take Nike, McDonalds, Coke...or even Barrack Obama or Kobe Bryant?
In the coming weeks (probably much less than that) you'll see Facebook pages inundate the SERP's. And the 'why' is obvious. Facebook hit critical mass some time ago, and continues to balloon. Think of how many times you see Wikipedia pages in the SERPs.
I hope that Facebook makes good on its promise to combat blatant squatting. And, I hope that Google and the rest of the Search Engines do their due diligence with their own algorithms. After all, the premise of the page URL's text [ALWAYS] properly defining the focus of the page went south when the first black hat SEO salesman crawled out of the mud.
Maybe I'm peeved that someone got to my name on Facebook before I did? I can only imagine how annoyed I'd be if someone snaked the name of my business.
So let's have some fun, and you tell me whose side Facebook is on. The common man (and thus small business) or the Superstar and million dollar brands.
And watch what happens. Do you think Facebook would let you - oh common man - set something up like that for yourself or your business?
Now start searching for things that you KNOW what have been snatched up right at midnight Saturday morning, like Disney or Myrtle Beach (yeah, Myrtle Beach...I know there are plenty of companies licking their chops over that one).
Find any other glaring inconsistencies in Facebook's new vanity URL's. Let us know. Disgree with me...well you can let me know that too.
Posted: June 2, 2009 3:26 PM
| Posted By : ICND Team
Related Categories:
Facebook,Social Media
So, kudos to Facebook on changing how they allow and implement businesses into their social networking site. (Yes, I know they did this some time ago). But, it's like jumping through flaming nuclear hoops to try to organize the whole effort. Here are some important questions to ask before you embark on Facebook Business Page Creation.
If your business is a one person show, then no big deal. You create a business account (from Facebook's home page, scroll to the bottom and look for the link on the right hand side. The line reads, "To create a page for a celebrity, band or business, click here."
Now, the first thing it's going to ask you is, "do you have a personal Facebook account."
Facebook doesn't like faceless group pages. After all, it wouldn't be "social" networking if it was just a bunch of marketers babbling back and forth to each other. But I digress...
If your business or organization has more than just one employee, picking a personal account to attach to your new business page is more important than you think. After all, there are no such things as permanent employees (unless you sign your own paychecks).
So, what if you assign your business's Facebook to an employee who suddenly leaves the company? You definitely don't want control of your group page going over to an ex- or discruntled employee. So really put sometime and effort into answering that question, or you'll be deleting your business page more times than you'd like to admint (trust me).
The next thing to consider is who to name as ADMINS for your business page. You should have a least one besides the creator (the owner or the president, or some other executive should always have ADMIN status, even if they don't use it). Having multiple ADMINS prevents your organization from ever losing complete control of your business page (unless of course you get rid of every single one of your ADMINS all at the same time).
ADMINS can make changes to the account, and post content from the BUSINESS (not from their personal accounts). This helps delegate social networking responsibilities across multiple employees (especially if your organization needs to cover multiple topics).
You can easily assign ADMINS by logging into your CREATOR account, and clicking into your FANS page. There will be a button beside each fan that allows you to name them as ADMINS. So, tell your employees or members to become FANS of your Business Page first, then you can upgrade them as ADMINS.
Remember, not everything that is FREE means it's not complicated. If you need some help getting your Social Media Marketing campaign off the ground, contact Intercoastal Net Designs, an Internet marketing company.
