Never to late to post – Check out my slides on Successful Facebook Marketing

Succuessful Facebook Marketing

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iPhone App for WordPress

Just testing the iPhone app for WordPress. So far… It is just simple.

Things that suck about Facebook!

Okay, I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. I am still learning but I do have somethings that I wish they would change or at least upgrade. Even Myspace is doing somethings better… Yes I did say Myspace is doing some things better than Facebook.

I am sure that some would argue that Facebook is doing some of these things for a reason but they make it hard to use as a online marketing tool.

Here’s my list of things that annoy me and if they changed would make it easier to market businesses online using Facebook.

If any of you know of a work around for these, please let me know!

1. SUPPORT SUCKS ON FACEBOOK – First of all, the support system on Facebook stinks as most do. I have submitted several support questions and no response. What happened to customer service? Maybe it would be better if i paid for the service. I doubt it.
2. NO PRETTY URL’s ON FACEBOOK – You can not have a pretty URL on Facebook which makes it really hard to use your page as a marketing tool. No-one wants to use a UGLY hard to remember link like this on their brochure or billboard: EX:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Houston-Zoo-Inc/15008187525
   It would be much better if the URL could be something like this: http://www.facebook.com/houstonzoo
   
3. LOGIN IS FORCED TO VIEW PAGES: Then you cannot see a page unless you are logged in as a Facebook user.
4. SPONSOR PAGES GET TO HAVE CUSTOM GRAPHICS: I know that myspace ruined the ability to have custom graphics on Facebook. Facebook is taking to the extreme. Why can’t I add a URL to my copy areas at least? Sponsor pages can have custom graphics but the sponsor is control of the graphics. Here is description from Facebook on Sponsored pages: These groups are paid promotions by outside companies. The sponsor controls the look and feel of the group, but does not have access to personal information or profiles. The money from these promotions, like the money from all our ads, goes towards the Facebook’s server and operational costs. Sponsored groups help us keep the service free and fast.
5. CAN NOT ADD APPLICATIONS TO FAN PAGES AS AN *ADMIN: I am an admin of several fan pages that need applications added to them. I can not add applications to fan pages because it adds them to my personal profile instead. For the Houston Zoo I had to create an profile for Houston Zoo and then add the applications but could not do this as an admin logged in under my name. Now I run the risk of being kicked off Facebook because the profile for the Houston Zoo is just Houston Zoo and not a person. (rumor so far)
6. FAN PAGES HAVE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A PROFILE: Fan pages must be associated with a profile but for a business this is not appropriate. What if I need to run the Houston Zoo Facebook business page? I have set this page up connected to my personal profile and then I leave the Zoo 2 years later and I am a mad employee. Not good. Why does it have to be a person? Then as rumor has it you could be kicked off Facebook for associating a Fan page with a profile that is not an actual person.
7. BUSINESSES PAGE LINK IS HIDDEN: Ok I realize Facebook may not have been meant to use as a marketing tool for businesses in the start but why link Businesses at the bottom of the site? We are using Facebook as a marketing tool now. It took me forever to find this link. It is time for a navigation upgrade.
8. I CAN’T EASILY SEE THE FAN PAGE OR GROUPS I AM AN *ADMIN FOR: I can not find a way to access my fan pages or groups that I am an admin for. They currently show under my pages if you made yourself a fan. This is all pages you are fan of. LAME!

I am sure I will find more as I continue to email support at Facebook and tinker with the tools that are available.

If Facebook would charge a small fee for business pages I would pay to have quality contacts as part of my fan base. Then maybe they could target this product to normal users and businesses a little better.

If any of you know of a work around for these, please let me know!

Houston Zoo launches the new web site

If you are wondering why I have not posted in quite some time well here is why; I have been managing the web site re-design for the Houston Zoo. After many months of hard work and strategic planning, I and Schipul – The Web Marketing Company presents to you the new Houston Zoo web site.

I managed the wonderful people involved as well as strategy and creative. It is a huge accomplishment that The Houston Zoo Marketing team, Schipul and myself are extremely proud of.

Schipul created the pretty shell and an easy to use navigation, while providing Tendenci Software as a content management solution.

Stemulus Media created flash headers and a interactive podcast flash map. The beautiful flash elements give the site that extra bang.

Thanks to everyone who has been a part. More to come.