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Getting Started with Facebook

In this Article:
 
What is Facebook?
Facebook is a hip, easy-to-use, FREE social networking site. It’s a place where people create profiles, join groups, and interact. For an individual or a non-profit organization, joining Facebook can be fun and rewarding.

Anyone with an email address can join. You sign up either independently or through a variety of networks—such as universities, cities, regions and workplaces—to connect with others of similar interests. Facebookers communicate via text, pictures (or “pics” as they like to say) and videos. Facebook surpassed MySpace in April 2008 to become the Internet’s leading social networking site. Many non-profits are already taking advantage of Facebook to promote their cause, so read on if you don’t want to fall behind.
 

Target Users
Facebook started as a university networking site in 2004, but has since been embraced by all age groups. Though the primary audience is current and recent post-graduates, everyone is hopping onboard. It’s fast-becoming one of the Internet’s essential tools. It’s so popular that, like Google, you can use it as a verb. 
 
 
Benefits of Using Facebook
  • The majority of users are looking to network—an ideal donor group
  • Facebook is FREE
  • Facebook is easy-to-use; It’s set up so users can network immediately
  • Facebook enables charities to reach out to new audiences
 
Things to keep in mind before joining Facebook
  • Many users who join groups and causes remain idle instead of taking action. As more organizations join up and inspire action, this will hopefully change!
  • You have limited control over other users’ opinions.
  • Information is shared online. Charities with sensitive missions will need to think about privacy online before deciding whether Facebook works for them.

Getting Started with Facebook
There are different types of ways that your organization can use Facebook to promote your mission and build your network of supporters. Some organizations will set up a regular Facebook (personal) account for their organization. While this works great for some organizations, we recommend using Page: the tool set up specifically for companies/organizations.
 
Now is a good time to check out our Facebook 101 webinar recording. It's a great resource to help you get started with your Facebook Page!

 

Making a Personal Facebook Account
Registering with Facebook is simple and quick.
  1. Click the green Sign Up button.
  2. Fill in the form with the information requested.
  3. Review the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
  4. Click the blue Sign Up Now! button.
  5. Next will appear more pages where you can add information about yourself and pictures. You can either do those now or later.
  6. Review your privacy settings to be sure that you know what information is being shared on your profile and with who.
 
Making a Non-Profit Facebook Page
Your personal account is just that—a personal account. Facebook also offers “Pages” for those who wish to promote their businesses and organizations. A Facebook Page is a your organization’s Facebook account.

Facebook Page accounts can only be set up by representatives of the organization or company they represent. The pages can only be updated by the administrator of the Pages account.

To make a non-profit page, follow these steps:
  1. Visit the Facebook Pages homepage.
  2. Select to “Brand or Product”
  3. Select “Non-Profit.”
  4. Fill in the appropriate information. Add applications such as Events and Causes, give your organization an image, and add whatever else you think is necessary.
A non-profit page does not work in the same way as a personal page. Instead of finding friends, you recruit fans. Here's a tip: check out some popular non-profit pages and see what works for them.
 
The video demo below provides provides a step-by-step guide on how to create a Facebook Page (also/formerly known as Fan Pages).

 

Building an Online Community
Once you have created a Facebook account, search out people to add to your fans list.  Include past supporters, volunteers, staff member, Board members and anyone else you think would like to join. Ask those fans to invite their friends to become fans of your page… soon your list of fans will grow!

Interact with your fans as much as possible: respond to their wall posts, provide updates on new information about your organization and let them know about upcoming events or volunteer opportunities. You want to engage them in your page so they can engage their network to become involved.
 

Sending and Receiving Messages
There are many ways to communicate through Facebook, but no doubt the most popular is the “Wall.” This is where your friends can send text messages. However, remember that all of your contacts can view your wall posts, so it’s best to keep things professional.

The same goes for pictures. If you click on “profile” you will be presented with a ton of options. You can upload pictures from your computer to add some flare. Just remember, once again, that any picture you put on your profile and any photo albums you make will be viewable to everyone.
 

Making Events
Facebook is a great way to promote your organization’s events. Create an event by accessing the Applications menu (be sure to bookmark “Events” so it shows up on your profile page as an icon). Next, create your event, add pictures, and invite your contacts.

You have the option to leave the event open to people in your network or open for everyone. However, you shouldn’t rely on Facebook solely to promote your event because only Facebook users can RSVP your event and access the event information. Many people still do not use Facebook; thus, it’s best to use the Event application as a secondary promotion method.
 

Promoting your Website, Blog and Newsletter
You can use the “Write Note” and “RSS” tabs to alert your contacts to any new information about your organization’s website, blog, or Facebook Page. You will find these tabs on your profile page, near the top of the screen. When you write a note, this note is posted in the status field on the shared home page and on your profile wall for all of your contacts to see. This is a great way to advertise news that is of interest to you and your stakeholders; as well, it’s an easy way to add an external link to your website or blog.

You can also click on the RSS feed icon (the orange and white button next to the “Write Note” command) and subscribe to any blog or website—including your charity’s—that you think your contacts will be interested in. This will also come up on your status for all your contacts to see. The RSS and Note applications are fast, easy, and they enable you to reach out to all your contacts simultaneously, saving valuable time.
 
 
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