According to The Small Business Social Media Survey conducted in May 2011 by Webs, 78 percent of small business owners said they plan to spend more of their marketing budget on social media this year than they did in 2010. Facebook is overwhelmingly the entrepreneur’s favorite tool, with 68 percent indicating that it is the social media tool they use most for business.

New to Facebook or not, the number one social networking site is constantly changing and adding new features, which can be understandably overwhelming for first time users to navigate.  As a small business owner, it’s important to understand how Facebook can be leveraged to become an integral part of your marketing mix and why it’s an incredibly useful tool to connect with your customers in an immediate and personal way. 

Here are some tips to get your business on the social media bandwagon. 

What’s the different between a group and a fan page?
Fan pages allow real organizations, businesses, celebrities and brands to communicate broadly with people who like them. Pages may only be created and managed by official representatives. On the other hand, groups provide a closed space for small groups of people to communicate about shared interests and can be created by anyone.

I don’t have a Facebook account, can I still create a fan page for my business?
Yes, but you must first create a business account. To learn more about business accounts and how they differ from personal accounts, click here. To create a business account, follow the steps below:

Create a Facebook page by clicking here. After entering the required information, you will be prompted to log in to an existing Facebook account or create a new one. If you do not currently have a Facebook account, please select "I do not have a Facebook account." Enter your email address and date of birth.

My fan page for my business is linked with my personal page. Will users be able to view my personal information?
People who choose to connect to your fan page won't be able to see that you are the page admin or have any access to your personal account.

Can I turn my personal page into a fan page?
Yes. This feature may suit someone who is simply more interested in maintaining a business presence on the site than a personal one. Be aware that when you convert your profile to a fan page, your profile pictures will be transferred, and all of your friends will be automatically added as people who like your Page. No other content will be carried over to your new page, so be sure to save any important content before beginning your migration.

What other tips can you offer about setting up my business page?
Be authentic.  What worked for Business A may not work for Business B. Pay attention to what your competitors are doing but before trying to replicate, determine if it’s the right strategy for your brand to reach its goals.

Additionally, everyday topics garner more interest than branded messages. We all know there is a person behind that logo. Consumers want authentic conversation, so don’t be overly promotional and do push relationships over messages.