Small & medium business

With all those users, the potential for reaching new customers for your business is obvious. But if you want to use Facebook to further your company’s online presence, some cardinal rules need heeding.

First of all, remember that you can't simply create a Facebook user page for your company - all Facebook users have to be real people (and should have real names - otherwise, the account may well be closed).

If you want to create a page for your company, though, you can do it by making a Facebook Page. This allows customers (and of course your employees!) to become "fans" of your company. You can create pages around individual products, too.

If you want something that your customers can interact with, create a group. For example, local bar The Tooting Tram and Social created a Facebook group to keep its customers in touch, and to let them post photos, comments and so on. So far, it has over 450 members - enough to pack out the bar on Friday nights!

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