5 "Getting Started" Strategies for Using Facebook to Grow Your Business

Did you know the number way to build a solid profitable business is through relationships?

Social networking sites provides an excellent opportunity to connect, make friends and develop relationships. Using them can get overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where to start.

Thanks to my awesome coach [1] Deb Micek, I cut through the learning curve and finally got "pimped out" on my space and began building relationships. [2] http://www.myspace.com/timediva

Next thing Deb suggested is Facebook. I created an account months ago but didn’t do anything with it. I figure I’d make Deb a friend now and deal setting it up in a few weeks. Other higher priority items on the agenda right now.

"Flip Your Time-Quick Tip™"

Set regular times like 2 or 3 times a day to check your email.

I checked my email and discovered a "Friends Request" for Trevor Crook. Come on.. I just made Deb my friend. Seems we have a mutual friend in Deb.

Checking out Trevor’s profile, I went Oh My Gosh (OMG), and decided I better get mine put together real quick. Thanks to Trevor’s inspiration and sending me a few apps, my profile page happened quickly.

In less than 24 hours I connected with 18 friends, got invited to a Hawaiian luau, got "leid" celebrated a birthday, sent drinks and gifts to my top friends, joined some groups, and post on friends walls.

And there are still friends request to waiting approval… Needless to say I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and excited. It happened fast.

These Five Strategies can help you get started on Facebook.com

1. Create your account and set your privacy settings

[3] Web Worker Daily give some great advice on privacy settings

I also recommend using an email address strictly for all your social networking. Scott Allen, author of Virtual Handshake, wrote an excellent article on [4] how to make your email address work for you

2. Set up your Profile.

Most of it, you use drop down menus but your personal part requires some thought. You only need to include a couple of items for each section now. You can go back and tweak it later. These sections include: Interest, Music, Movies, TV, Books, Quotes and About Me. The about me can include your 30 second commercial and web address. Don’t forget to upload your photo.

3. Personalize Your Profile Page

You’ll find thousands of applications to customize your profile page. Don’t go crazy. Start with a few… try these recommendations

• Profile Web Address – give you simple url
• A Free Gift- instead of paying for gifts
• Top Friends – display your top friends
• Welcome Friends – a personalized welcome
• Snapvine – audio messages/comments

Remember the Key is to Build Relationships

4. Find Friends

You’ll be amazed at the number friends that already exist on Facebook. You can use "Find Friends" to start locating people you already know.

Join a couple of groups like the Pay it Forward for Entrepreneurs and invite group members.

5. Strategy Plan

People start accepting your invitation… now what? You want to build relationships not collect friends.

So engage them.

• Send a welcome/thank you email.
• Send them a "new friends" gift.
• Post on their wall. –very important
• Invite them to post on your wall
• Block dedicated time each day to interact.

That’s enough to get you started. Still in the learning process myself. So far I like Facebook over Myspace. It’s easier to connect and stay in touch.

Since I’m part of the Pay it Forward Entrepreneur Group… I’m paying it forward to Trevor for his help… visit his site [5] http://www.trevorcrook.com/ get a free gift

Don’t forget to stop by and make a friends request.
[6] http://profile.to/annrusnak/

[7] building better relationships [8] Deb Micek [9] Facebook [10] Myspace [11] networking [12] social networking

[13] Read the Story behind the sunglass

"The Time Diva"

Ann Rusnak, "The Time Diva" developed a system to show busy self employed solo business owners how to gain more time and increase sales working less hours. Receive the FREE eBook "Thinking Outside the Clock" when you sign up for Time Myth Busting Minutes ezine at: [14] SimpleTimeManagement.com