Facebook fan pages-the future of business or a dead end?

nikiblack: Re: Facebook fan pages. How's everyone feel about being inundated w/ requests to be a fan? I don't see the benefit of fan pages. Am I alone?

• ScottElias: @nikiblack I would think being a "fan" would be something you didn't have to be "invited" to be, no?

• kluper: @nikiblack I don't see any benefit of Facebook fan pages except for free advertising. I ignore all requests.

• btannebaum: @nikiblack when I wrote my e-book, I created a FB page. But a personal FB fan page? Ridiculous, stupid, ego-centric, annoying.

• GrantGriffiths: @nikiblack I think Fan Pages have purpose. Problem is how Facebook allows one to promote the Pages. That is the problem.

• AaronCU95: @nikiblack how about fb friends that want you to be their fan. not their business, or band, but of them. seems a bit strange

• GrantGriffiths: @pauljacobson and @nikiblack You can do that on twitter, email newsletter or in blog post. Not blasting your FB friends.

• TMarieHilton: @nikiblack FB fan pages have potential to be a 'one-stop' shop to combine blog/social media feeds w/ personal interaction, but not there yet

• advocatesstudio: @nikiblack Value is in helping firm/product you might want to support - the pages on Facebook get good google juice.

• pauljacobson: @GrantGriffiths and @nikiblack You're right about the "join my Page" spam ... drives me nuts sometimes

• davidtcarson: @nikiblack Most fan page requests I receive are from lawyers I'm already following on Twitter. And the fan pages have no unique content.

• nikiblack: @davidtcarson Exactly. I simply don't see the point. What am I missing? Seems like ppl jumping on the bandwagon, but no real benefit

• dougcornelius: @nikiblack FB Fan pages. Why limit your audience to those in Facebook? But Facebook search is something to keep an eye on.

• plzfollow: @nikiblack Are you a fan of anything/anyone? If so - you can participate in forums. Otherwise it's like a bumpersticker to show off

• mikefixs: @nikiblack Re fan pgs: I think ppl miss the point: Shouldn't fan = "advocate" or "proponent"? Sory, I'm not a fan of yr biz unless I luv it!

• nikiblack: @DougCornelius I get the search end of things--but do more fans increase your SEO at all?

• legalwellness: @nikiblack I hope my fan page adds value to my fans - I stream my blog there to make it easier to see/comment and I give fan-only discounts

• advocatesstudio: @nikiblack You also can get updates on what is happening with the firm/product/site. Don't see the show off part.

• Bradinator: @nikiblack The fan pages have limited appeal for me. Events and offers I can rarely take advantage of. Inbox cloggers.

• advocatesstudio: @nikiblack Value within FB can create Google value outside FB. Ask @JDTwitt

• nikiblack: @advocatesstudio But I don't see FB as an outright biz tool.FB is about personal connections leading to biz-not blatant biz PR

• nikiblack: -->@advocatesstudio @DougCornelius ppl search Face Book for other ppl, not for businesses. But maybe that will change...

• advocatesstudio: @nikiblack I think it will change, so pays to keep an eye on it for all purposes. For better or worse ;)

• dougcornelius: @nikiblack I just don't know how lawyers and law firms fit into the mix. "Fan" seems like the wrong word.

• nikiblack: @DougCornelius But that businesses jumped on the bandwagon doesn't mean it will work/is effective. Agreed that maybe will work for some biz

• SCartierLiebel: @nikiblack I'm disinclined to do a Facebook page unless I'm going to be offering something unique there. And then it would under #SPU

• JDTwitt: @nikiblack you remark about local wine store using Twitter well (by advertising 15% off). Many FB biz pages offer more than discount

• nikiblack: @JDTwitt But if no one pays attention to FB pages, then do offers matter? Fans do not = attention/eyes.

• AbacusLaw: RT @nikiblack @justia But do # of FB fans affect SEO? Great question. I am curious about the same thing...

• justia: @nikiblack - number of fans does lead to higher FB search rankings, but does not impact Google rankings

• Opveon: @AbacusLaw @nikiblack @justia # of FB fans will increase SEO if each is a separate post that a search engine can index

• Balasubramani: @nikiblack Facebook could do something to make bz pages a lot more useful - disassociate a bz/fan page from an actual person's page

• Opveon: @AbacusLaw @nikiblack @justia but "21 fans of X" won't increase your SEO. Multiple links will + SEO, not necessarily a # following one link.

• nikiblack: FB fan pages will work 4 biz that are part of user's social experience-music, movies, celebrities, food/wine, tech products-not service biz

• akamrt: @nikiblack +point. Is there a limit to what FB can leverage? Limit to what bz can leverage through FB? What causes limits?

• nikiblack: @akamrt Limits when the users refuse to participate in certain ways or stop using FB because other platforms serve their needs better

• RWSJR: @nikiblack Usually agree with you but as long as people choose who they want to follow, there is still room for these. Have some good exps.

• RWSJR: @nikiblack People do business and are source of referrals for those they know or think they know. Properly done FB presence could do this.

• nikiblack: RE: Face Book fan pages-perhaps what I'm saying is that they're a bad idea for service biz like law firms-Better ways to reach your audience

• nikiblack: Re: FB pages, a lawyer just DM'd me and advised that over the last few months she's gotten 3 new client through her FB fan page.

Comments

[tara]

Well, I found this page cuz I typed "Facebook, fan pages, what's the point". I am a recording artist with a good buzz and fans on other sites. All I wanted to do was reach a FB audience via my music (did not originally want the personal profile). However! What I'm finding is that the fan page is the one that no one sees or has a reason to visit, but the personal is. FB's philosophy re: fan pages SUCKS. Whoever could have actually designed it so that you can't invite fans to your gig but can invite your friends is stupid. And note: hardly any one (not even me) knew that the band/artist you're a fan of sends you updates in this tiny "Updates Section" on one of ur menu bars. STUPID!! No one reads these so "updating your fans with message" means nothing. Fan Pages *currently* are a disadvantage not an advantage. I'm considering eliminating the thing completely and just using my personal. That's where the control/interest is. I can make it all music anyway and use it for that purpose. What a waste of time tho.