How to get your first 25 fans on your Facebook Page
UPDATE Sept 2011: Facebook have updated the rules on this and you no longer have to get 25 Likes before setting your specific username for your page.
However, I will leave this post up here rather than archive it as many people are just not aware of these changes. Facebook do like to keep us on our toes!!
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One of the key features of your Facebook fan page is having a specific username that will give you a dedicated url for your page.
When you first set up your page, you are automatically given a very long url with lots of numbers and characters. Long links have the habit of getting broken in emails and look quite ugly on printed literature! So it makes sense to get a nice, tidy website link for your Facebook fan page.
To get your specific username, you have to get 25 fans. And it’s these first 25 fans that are usually the easiest ones to get.
Here’s what you do.
You ask your friends!
Not your mailing list. Not everyone who follows you on Twitter. Not everyone who passes you on the street corner!
You ask your friends!
- Your current Facebook friends. Send them a personal message along the lines of “Asking a favour – can you like my page so that I get my username?” Most of your buddies would be delighted to do this.
- Remember to add the link to your page in the message. Make it easy for them, so it only takes them one click to do.
Don’t over complicate it. Don’t make a big deal about it.
When you are ready, then go tell your list. And by then you will have a lovely dedicated web link to give them.
Quick note: What if you don’t have any Facebook friends to be able to do this? Well, this is one of the reasons why I recommend you use a personal profile on Facebook. May be not a full on one that you use for business (that’s what a fan page is used for) – but one that you use for selected people. If you don’t use Facebook on a personal level, you will find it very difficult to understand what and how your fan page is going to work. Read my post here to read more on this.
FREE! copy of the Facebook Guide for Small Business Owners
Photo Credit: Lincolnian