Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Creating a Facebook Fan Page


If you belong to the Etsy community, you're most likely familiar with Timothy Adams of the Handmadeology fame. Yep, he's the guy who very generously shares loads of tips and information on how to market your products efficiently and successfully. He spends hours creating detailed tutorials and blog posts to help make things easy for etsy sellers. His most recent post was about how to make use of Facebook to market yourself, you can find it on his Etsy Secrets blog.

The blog post gives detailed information, complete with screenshots, on what information and applications to add to your Facebook Profile and Fan Page and how to further promote them.

After reading this post, Donna of Creative Treasures, a dear friend of mine who makes gorgeous lampwork and crystal jewelry had a couple of clarifications. Since she's very new to facebook and I live half my life on it, she approached me with a few questions, one of which was exactly how to make a Facebook Fan Page in the first place.

Inspired by Timothy's effort, I also decided to create a tutorial and share it here on my blog. It might not be as professionally done but it's basic, easy to use information and I hope it helps you create your own fan page on facebook.

You need to already have a facebook account to have a fan page. This page is different from your personal profile.

1. You start by adding an application called Pages. The easiest way to find a link to this application is by going to someone else's pre-existing fan page and finding the 'Create a page for my business' link. Here's a screen shot of  my Art by Susmitha Page. You can see that the link you're looking for at the bottom of the left hand column (click pic to see a larger version).



2. Add the application and you will be taken to the 'Create New Facebook Page' link where you enter the first bit of information.


3. Now your new, empty fan page has been created. Begin by clicking on the 'Edit Information' link.



4. Enter the basic and detailed information. Hit 'Save Changes' at the bottom and then 'Done Editing on top'.



5. Now you'll be taken back to your main page where you can add your website info and URL and also a profile picture of your logo or product. When you hover over the top right corner of the profile picture space, the edit icon will appear.



6.  After you've got your pic and URL info added, go on to edit the page by clicking 'Edit Page'.



7. This will take you to the Settings and Applications page. Make any adjustments you'd like here.



8. Then scroll to the bottom of the Settings and Applications page. Click on the edit icon at the corner of 'More Applications' and browse for more apps.



9. To add your Etsy Mini to your page do a search for 'my stuff' and click on the 'gigya my stuff' application and add it.



10. Go back to your page, click on the + sign next to the Wall, Info, Photos... tabs. Add the 'My Stuff' application to your tabs.



11. Follow the instructions and paste the flash version (larger code) of the code into the box (the java version cannot be added). Now you have your etsy mini tab all set.



12. Finally, click on the 'Photos' tab and add loads of images of your products.




Your basic fan page is now ready. Hit the 'Publish This Page' link (its in red) on top and tell all your friends about it :)

53 comments:

  1. wow, thanks for the informative post on creating an fb fan page. This needs to be bookmarked.

    Hopefully, I will need to use it in future :)

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  2. You're welcome Geri :)

    It's really a good thing to have!

    Are you an artist/crafter?

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  3. Thanks so much for this information! I will be using it!

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  4. Wow, what a great article! you have totally inspired me to create a fan page and get back on Facebook! Thanks so much for doing this for me and everyone! :)

    And I must say- your blog is looking really cool these days! So much to look at and check out! Great job! I'll be back often! :)

    See you later! Cindy

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  5. Hey, Sus - GREAT "tut"! And congrats on being featured by Etsy :-) with it in their success tips!! I bookmarked you and will be setting up my FB page with your assistance - thanks, dear! Peace, Sue

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  6. thank you for this! your timing was perfect as I started working on this yesterday and was getting overwhelmed a bit and put it aside to finish today- this is a great, simple tutuorial!

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  7. Hi there - thanks for the info. QUick question...I followed your directions and everything went perfectly...but I waswondering how people will know I have pages - because it is not showing up on my home page or profile page...maybe I did something wrong...any suggestions?

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  8. I just made one last week. Search SunshineCityLassie and you'll find me.

    Question: What is the best way to access your fan page from your own personal page? Is there a link? I can't seem to find a way, so I put my shop name in the search box and go from there, which is kind of annoying.

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  9. What a timely article! I have been wondering how to use facebook to promote my etsy site beyond the "my friends" people who can view my site. Since I post personal pictures of my family, I don't want strangers looking at my full facebook profile. Now I can have a promotional page attached toit. Thanks for the tips!

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  10. I am so happy that so many of you have found this tutorial helpful. Makes the time and effort put into it all the more worthwhile :)

    Cindy, thanks for the compliments on my blog. You're welcome to visit always my dear :)

    Sue, it was such an awesome surprise when Danielle asked if she could use the article! I still can't believe I'm in the Etsy's Success Tips newsletter :)

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  11. Tina, there's a link on the left hand menu of your facebook fan page right under your pages profile pic which says "Suggest to Friends" (you may have to click on the little down arrow to expand the menu to see this). You can use it to invite all your friends to become a fan of your page.

    However I suggest you do this only after your page has been set up completely with at least a handful of pictures. That way everyone gets to see your creations at first glance. And as more people fan the page, their friends get to see it and visit your page and so on.

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  12. Sunshine the way you've done it is the best way unfortunately.

    You could also bookmark the Ads and Pages application. That way it appears (only to you) at the bottom of your facebook always. And then getting to your page is 2 clicks away.

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  13. And all of you please feel free to leave a link to your brand new facebook fan page here so all of us can heart it :)

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  14. I'm new to Facebook and found your blog very helpful. Thank you so much!
    glenda ganis
    cosmichippodesigns.etsy.com

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  15. Okay, here's mine! Become a fan of SunshineCityLassie Vintage and Handmade Goodness!

    http://tinyurl.com/oaj4a9

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  16. Thanks so much for your hard work to make this tutorial! I'm still learning the ways of an Etsy seller, and I love the idea of creating a page for my shop on facebook!

    I do have one question, though, and this is because I'm insanely illiterate when it comes to technology. But on the step where we paste the code into the My Stuff tab on our profile, what code is it that we're using? Is it something from our shop on Etsy?

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  17. Hi there, this is great info! I've added the my stuff etsy mini to my profile. My big problem is that it always seem so go onto my own facebook page and not my business page? Any help on that one or am I just being dumb?
    Thanks for the info!
    my fan page is helen rawlinson design

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  18. Carolie, in the left hand menu of your "my etsy" ou'll find somthing called "etsy mini". Here you can create a code easily by choosing the number of colums and rows and the size of the picture (gallery or thumbnail). Remember to select "items from my shop" and not "items from my favorites".
    If you look at the right hand side of my blog you'll see the etsy minis for both my stores there. That's the kind of thing you'll be adding.

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  19. Helen, I can't remember exactly how I did it but I think you can add it to the page by searching for the My Stuff application through the page's Settings link.

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  20. Thanks, I'll try that. The recipes on your blog are making me hungry!

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  21. OMG!!! This has been an excellent tutorial. I'm "kinda" computer savy so it didn't take me that long. My only problem was finding "my stuff" application. But I finally found it. Thanks so much!!!!

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  22. I am still to set up my etsy store with stock and my facebook page to but when I do I will be sure to use this to set up my fan page. I have read Tim's secrets and wanted to Thank you to for your information and helpful advice. I was wondering if I can I do the same for my own website or dont fb allow that?

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  23. Elaine, it's absolutely fine for you to advertise your personal website on your facebook fan page.

    Ellen, glad you managed to find the My Stuff app.

    Helen, try the recipes, most of them are easy to make and *mostly* guilt free :D

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  24. oh my gosh I think I have done it, thanks so much I just have to see if it works now fingers crossed.

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  25. Oye! Can't believe I am so technologically impaired. Thanks for the assist!

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  26. Elaine and Allie, glad to have been of help! :)

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  27. Thanks for the walk through. I'm seriously considering using facebook, although I do not have a personal page to use as a basis to generate fans.

    Allison of Dominant Hands

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  28. That was very helpful, Thanks so much.

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  29. Gooc concise easy to follow information. Thanks for sharing it with us. I don't know what many of us would do without you and the Timothy Adams of the world.

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  30. Thank you soooo much! I think I have mine up and going now.

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  31. Just wanted to say THANK YOU! I'm in the process of following your directions as I type! I don't think I could have done this without you!

    Bella

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  32. Many thanks for this fan page tutorial. You're a very generous blogger and I appreciate it.

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  33. Well, I started at 9:00 last night, it's 12 midnight tonight and I just published my page! Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us cyberly challenged artists how to do this. Very, very much appreciated.
    Lynette

    www.lynettesadowystudios.etsy.com

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  34. Thank you soooo much, just set mine up. Here is my Fan Page, any fanners I will gladly fan back!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ninas-Custom-Designs/129281226782

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  35. I created my fan page, but when I try to go to it, I have to log in to my regular Facebook account. When it comes up, it shows my regular acct at the top of the page, and the fanbook page below. Mine does not look like others I've pulled up where it says "Name is on Facebook..." Have I missed a step or something?

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  36. Jeanette I don't completely understand your question, what do you mean by "Name is on facebook..."? You do need to login to facebook to access your fan page but it won't be shown on your regular home page of facebook. Go to this URL and your page should be listed there:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/

    And if you have more than a 100 fans on your page you can go to http://www.facebook.com/username and get a special address with your store name for your page so it'll be easy to remember.

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  37. I hope you can help me. I have played with this fan page for weeks now. Today, I found your post. I got as far as search for my stuff then click on gigya my stuff. I get an empty box. What do I do now?

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  38. Lyon you need to enter your Etsy Mini code there. But I would suggest you focus on the rest of your fan page first. Like photo albums, updates etc.. Those are a lot more important than the gigya box since most people don't even bother to click on the large "play" button to view your mini in that box.

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  39. Hi! I have put some photos on my fan page. Now I want to publish the page but no where is the red lettering that tells me to do that. Actually, it was there a few days ago and I clicked on it many different times and it did nothing. Now I don't even see the red lettering.
    Also I am still trying to get my stuff listed. When I search for my stuff, that box shows me a large G with my stuff next to it. When I click on the plus sign near the wall, I don't see my stuff.
    I did put an etsy mini on my personal facebook could that have something to do with why I can't get my stuff now?

    I just want to get this Facebook fan page up and published. I have obviously messed it up somewhere along the line. I must admit, I have deleted many fan pages I started so again, I am thinking this is where I went wrong.
    Please say you can understand what I am telling you and that you are able to help.
    I really appreciate the time you are putting into helping me.

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  40. Hi Lyon, there's a chance that the fanpage got published at some point when you tried clicking on the button. Please send me your fan page link so I can confirm that for you. If it has been published, I should be able to see it.

    As for the My Stuff, there's a chance that you aren't able to add the new one because you've already got it in your personal page. I was able to add the My Stuff in one of my fan pages but wasn't able to add it to the other. I didn't bother trying much after that so I'm not really a pro at adding that widget. And as I said, it really isn't worth too much effort since people don't click on that big play button to view the mini.

    Your photos and updates are far more important.

    Also, I don't think deleting fan pages and re-doing them would screw things up. So don't worry. :)

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  41. Hi again, Here is my fan page link. Let me know if you can see it. I havent' done anything to facebook since the last time I talked to you. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Lyons-Creations/197936136421

    I really appreciate your help. Ellen

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  42. Hey Ellen, I see your page. I fanned it now and also commented. :)

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  43. Hi thanks for the great info! I created a very basic fan page and went back in today to edit it and can't find a way in to do that. I searched my personal facebook page--everything! Help! Please?

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  44. Hi Susan, there's an "Edit Page" link right under your page's avatar picture.

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  45. This is the most helpful instruction for a Fan page. I reviewed it again and it makes total sense. I have my page up and running. Thanks so much!

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  46. Hi Glenda, good to know it helped you. Congrats on your new facebook page! :)

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  47. Apparently, I'm way behind the times, but I am just now finding this post. The question I have is: I would like to share my newly listed items on my fan page, but not my personal profile. When I go to My Etsy and click on share for one of my items or click the link to share with facebook that appears when I have just listed an item on Etsy, it looks like it is going to post to my personal page and not my fan page. How do I do it? Confused. Thanks!

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  48. EmG, unfortunately there's no way to post to your FB Page directly from Etsy. You need to manually post the link yourself to your page.

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