Let’s assume that you have already got your Facebook Fan Page with a regular fan following. Now there are two kinds of people who visit your Facebook page – those who are fans and those who are not yet fans and therefore prospective fans.
If you direct all visitors to your wall, then those prospective fans will not get a good idea on who you are and what you do and why they should become a fan. In order to do that, you need a custom landing tab – a sort of a welcome tab – which will be shown to your prospective fans and encourage them to become a fan.
I am now going to show you how you can distinguish existing fans from prospective fans and direct them to either the wall or the custom landing tab.
Step 1: Add the Static FBML App
FBML or Facebook Markup Language is similar to HTML and it will help you to add custom tabs to your Facebook Fan Page. If you already know HTML, you can easily work with FBML. Else, you will need to get some help from a web developer to do the job for you.
a. In the Facebook search box at the top, type in FBML
b. Go to the FBML page by clicking on the icon.
c. Click on “Add to my Page” link under the icon. This will open a pop up with all the Fan pages you have created.
d. Select the Fan Page you wish to add the FBML to.
Step 2: Create Your Custom Content
Go back to your fan page and click on Edit Page. You will see the FBML application you installed in the previous step. Alternatively, you can also access the link from Pages Manager. Click on the edit link on the FBML application. Now there are just 2 simple fields to enter to create your custom landing tab.
a. Name of the Tab. You could call it the Welcome Tab.
b. HTML code for the page. For this, you will need to know HTML. You could use an application like Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver. These apps allow you to create your own content and give you the HTML code for the same. Note that you need to make this page interesting with attractive visuals and relevant message for your prospective fans. You could actually create a short video clip on this page and greet your first time visitors. If you have difficulty in creating your HTML code, do take help from a web developer. (Note: You could add extra iterations of Static FBML apps if you want additional tabs on your Facebook Fan Page.)
c. Go back to your Fan page and click the double arrows at the far right on the tab bar. Select the custom page you have just created and drag and drop to the place you want to position it. Quite Simple, isn’t it?
Step 3: Adjust the Settings for Fans and Prospective Fans
Now, we can set the new landing page for prospective fans. Go to the wall and click on the options link below the Share Icon. Then click settings. Select the landing page you have just created from the drop down menu for the option – Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else. So everyone else apart from your fans will be directed to this new page.
Step 4: Want to do some more?
You could do a lot more with custom tabs. For instance, you could add a custom tab with an opt-in box just like the one you have on your website or blog. All you need to do is to copy the code given by your autoresponder (AWeber, GetResponse, etc) and paste in the appropriate box just like what we did in the above case. You could also embed an already published video from YouTube.
Remember that the idea behind having a separate welcome landing page for prospective fans is to get them to become fans.
I would love to hear from you about your customized landing tabs for prospective fans. Do leave a comment below.
Believe in Yourself!
Ange
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April 2nd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
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April 2nd, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Another excellent article Angela, Thanks for freely giving.
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April 3rd, 2010 at 7:57 am
Holy smoke you know your way around Facebook Angela!This is so good information, yet I have looked around Facebook and end up reading everybody else’s posts.I just heard that Facebook is giving Google a run for its money. Is this right? I wonder how long it will take for Google to buy Facebook out. Look what happened with You Tube. Need I say more..?
I need to stick to your methods if I am to truly appreciate Facebook. I will give this serious look at, it just JV Giveaways has taken up a lot of my resources, mostly time. Here it is 1.56am in the morning typing this message. Thanks for your keeping me posted I do appreciate it!
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April 4th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Sure no problem, Nathan!
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April 5th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Hi Angela,
I didn’t know how else to contact you. Have been getting your newsletter for a while now and have a question about facebook groups. Once you join a group, can you send a message that will go to everyone in the group.
Here is the scenario. I want to create a group about ways to stay healthy and tips to regain your health. There is a group that hates the health care bill. I was wanting to join this group and then send a request/message to those that are interested to find an alternative approach to health by joining my group. Would this be ok? And is there a process that allows you to send a message to large numbers of people within groups.
I don’t want to spam anyone. And won’t be sending message after message…but want to get the word out to large numbers of people that are interested in this topic.
Your help would be appreciated.
Darlene. Oh…by the way our website is not active yet but should be within the week.
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admin Reply:
April 5th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Darlene,
You can always contact me at whoisangelagiles@gmail.com or post facebook question on my facebook fan page:-) What you can do is post a message on the wall of the group that you join. You can ONLY email the group that you are actually an admin of….I hope that this helps. Post any other facebook questions and your link to your new group here please…would love to share it – http://www.connectwithAngelaGiles.com
Ange:-)
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April 5th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Thanks Angela. Just joined the fan club and will hold on to your email address. Also will let you know when we get the group started. Appreciate it! Darlene
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April 11th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Wow!, this was a top quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get something done
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Thanks very much, I’ve found this very useful!
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This is a great blog. I’m going subscribe.
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April 18th, 2010 at 10:10 am
I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks – you cleared up some things for me!
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April 19th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Awesome post!
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Hello. Great job, if I wasn’t so busy with my school work I read your whole site. Thanks!
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April 25th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Invite your friends to participate too.
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April 27th, 2010 at 1:58 am
Heya…my very first comment on your site. ,I have been reading your blog for a while and thought I would completely pop in and drop a friendly note. . It is great stuff indeed. I also wanted to ask..is there a way to subscribe to your site via email?
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admin Reply:
April 27th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
yes the rss feed
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April 27th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Wow!, this was a top quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I keep putting it off and never seem to achieve anything
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April 27th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
I really enjoy your site, thanks for posting!
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April 27th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Love the design of this blog!
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May 4th, 2010 at 11:51 am
It appears that static FBML application is no longer working in Facebook. I went to set up a custom tab this morning and I can’t seem to find any new ways! Do you have any insight? Thanks!
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May 14th, 2010 at 5:32 am
Thanks a lot for enjoying this beauty article with me. I am apreciating it very much! Looking forward to another great article. Good luck to the author! all the best!
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June 6th, 2010 at 9:13 am
I’m an email subscriber. Credit!
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nice little site you got, is your template custom? Looks really great
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