Welcome to the third part of my series about using Facebook more creatively. I have already written about putting Facebook content on your website and using Facebook Connect to get access to details about your website fans and their friends. In this blog I will look at Facebook Applications.
What is a Facebook Application and why do you care? A Facebook App is a way of extending Facebook with your own pages, databases, forms or anything else that will provide extra reasons to visit your page. You can also add features to your Facebook page that Facebook does not have built in. One example is shopping. There is no official shopping facility on Facebook so a number of third parties - including us - now provide one (see below).
Here are some examples...
You can now read our FAQ and Blog on the GMAC Internet Solutions Facebook page. They appear in the content part of the page and look like they are part of Facebook.
GMACIS FAQ
FAQ original - http://www.gmacinternet.com.au/index.php?ID=52
Facebook version -
http://www.facebook.com/gmacinternet?sk=app_304784182896954
GMACIS Blog
Blog original - http://www.gmacinternet.com.au/index.php?ID=50
Facebook version -
http://www.facebook.com/gmacinternet?sk=app_270358163027301
We have also created some Facebook Shops. These use the same product database and credit card gateway as their normal sites so there is no double entering.
Aero Plus Shop
Aero Plus Shop original - http://www.aeroplus.com.au/?ID=PRODUCTS
Facebook version - http://www.facebook.com/AeroPlus1?sk=app_202614516450166
Hallam Hobbies Shop
Hallam Hobbies original - http://www.hallamhobbies.com.au/
Facebook version - http://apps.facebook.com/hallamhobbies/?ref=ts
When we set up the website for Creditline we reproduced their application form on Facebook as well.
Credit Line Application Form
Credit Line original - http://www.creditline.com.au/?ID=APPLY_ONLINE_NOW
Facebook version - http://apps.facebook.com/creditline/
As an experiment we also made some Apps that grab reviews from the ABC website and show them on their Facebook Community Pages.
Good Game Reviews Page
Good Game Reviews original - http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/reviews/
Facebook version -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-Game-Community-Page/112009402179280?sk=app_207701745986672
Spawn Point Review Page
Spawn Point Reviews original -
http://www.abc.net.au/abc3/goodgamesp/reviews/?view=2011
Facebook version -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-Game-Spawn-Point-Community-Page/180690578662526?sk=app_205809639511175
These are just some of our ideas about how to link your website and Facebook so they can both be useful. Same content, update once, more exposure. You can also do more for your customers and provide a real reason for them to go to your Facebook page in the first place.
Do more than just try to get lots of likes by spamming and blogging. Add some real value. Otherwise it is very difficult to stand out amongst all the other pages that are on Facebook now.
