Are you going to lose your Facebook Fan Page?

Probably not, but Facebook's change to SSL encryption for Fan Pages tonight is going to make some elements of many Fan Pages disappear.

You need to make sure that yours isn't affected.

Read our post on how to make your Facebook Fan Page SSL secure.

The pitfalls of 'Like for track'

Very simple piece of advice from Musformation on the use of 'Like for track' functionality of Facebook apps like RootMusic's BandPage.

Don't lock people out completely from listening to your music by forcing them to 'Like' before they can hear something!

Read their advice and think about it!

40 Facebook Fan Page Designs and Practices

This isn't a music focused post but there is a HUGE amount that you can learn from it.

We are doing some more posts on Facebook music promotion in the next few days, which you'll be able to find on our page, Facebook for Musicians, and this post has helped already.

Not only does it list 40 Facebook Fan Pages that can give you great ideas, but it also lists 10 very cheap (around $20 on average) apps that will allow you to create a custom iFrame tab on your Fan page, and it links to 5 other great articles.

Bookmark it, refer to it, and read it!

Making the most of your Facebook Fan Page

This article on Amp Music Marketing give a really good overview on best practice for your Facebook Fan Page.

Although, don't follow their link to Mashable for the photo strip as it's misleadingly for personal profiles!

What you'll need for that part is our post on the Facebook photo strip here.

The piece is good though, and if you do everything that they cover you'll have a very effective band presence on Facebook working for you.

It’s 2011 and every artist worth their salt has a Facebook fan page. But keeping yours up to date can sometimes feel like a chore. And how do you know if you’re really making the most of your page? Could you do things better to encourage your existing connections to share your page with their social networks? Here we describe some helpful ways to make the most of your Facebook page.

Read their tips here.

Facebook iFrame solution

Pesky Facebook!

Making it super difficult for all the non-techy musicians to make it do what they want with this new iFrame thingy!

And it's TODAY that they switch off new FBML tabs - existing FBML tabs will work but they aren't going to support it, so, eventually, you're going to need to deal with iFrames.

@cbracco has a great post if you want to see how to build an iFrame Facebook Canvas app for yourself.

But, if you want to keep it simple, Involver have just released the 'Static HTML for Pages' app which is free to use and pretty clever.

It'll let you do pretty much anything you want in HTML, including a reveal tab, and just slot it straight in to Facebook using their app.

You still need to deal with the HTML coding of what you want your tabs to look like and do (time to unleash your inner geek, or find one to do it for you), but the app/iFrame end of the issue is dealt with for you.

If you just want to upload a static image (520px wide) as a welcome tab, it is beyond easy.

The only downside that I can see is that you have a small orange 'edit page' tab at the top of the page when it's been installed - at least I did on mine when I tried it, whether I was logged in to Facebook or not.

Nonetheless it's a great quick solution and I recommend that you check it out.

This is what they have to say about it:

The Static HTML app from Involver is the simplest way to customize your Page, and it’s free to use!

If you’re using FBML now, or just want to add new content in the new Facebook iFrame environment, Involver’s Static HTML app is a great way to incorporate your HTML images and designs to Facebook without any hosting or investment. Here are some great ways to use this new application:

• Add a customized image on your Facebook fan page

• Render static HTML code, within the framework of Facebook’s current guidelines

• Customize your tab name

• “Fan gate” your page, requiring users to Like your page in order to see other content

Check it out here.

Facebook iFrame Tutorial - you NEED this

Thank God for Chris Bracco's TightMix blog!

No, seriously.

There's a few people giving great advice to aspiring musicians on the web but Chris Bracco's blog does that and more - because he has technical skills (i.e. he's a Geek!), he can give simple tutorials that are absolutely essential for artists learning how to do tricky web stuff that will help them promote their music.

He had the definitive guide to creating custom tabs on Facebook but has updated it so that the future use of iFrames will be something that you can deal with.

A couple weeks ago, Facebook announced some really big changes to their Facebook pages. In my previous article, however, I neglected to mention one major change.

On March 11, 2011, the Static FBML application will no longer be available for Facebook pages, and no new FBML applications can be created after that date. Existing Static FBML and FBML tab applications will continue to function for now, but if you want to create any new custom tabs for your page, Facebook strongly encourages everyone start using iframe-based applications instead.

Basically, this renders my old tutorial and template (and most popular article) completely useless. A bummer, I know, but we shall overcome. Onward with the new hotness!

Go there - read it and bookmark it.

It is ESSENTIAL for your future use of Facebook.

Facebook Pages - In depth guide

I know that we covered this last week - several times!

But, I keep finding new posts that teach new things and this is a cracker. The best to date, in fact, and a must read.

Not only is it the best in-depth guide to the new Facebook Pages, but it also has a few things in it that I have never seen before.

The big one is a method that will allow you to make a 'Welcome' tab on your page (or a 'landing page') in which the 'Like' button is embedded rather than having to point to it with a big arrow. And, it's done using an iframe rather than FBML, so it'll work if you only decide to do it after Facebook closes down new FBML tabs next month.

A landing page has proven over and over to increase 'like' conversions on your page and is well worth your time and effort.

We'll be adding one to our page with a tutorial in a couple of week's time.

For now, check this post out and think about using the method they set out for your landing page on Facebook.

Here are a few tricks I’ll reveal in this post:

• A way to embed a Like button and other social programs into any tab (no more arrows pointing to the like button at the top of the page)
• A potential way to pre-moderate (i.e., review before they are posted) every user comment left on your Page
• How to comment and Like items on Facebook as your Page and not just as you personally
• Better control the order of your Wall posts and how users see the Wall

You can read these awesome tips here.

Facebook Fan Page - 10 things to do now!

I know that we posted about this on the day that they made the change, but it's only today that I've had the time to get stuck in and have a little mess about with the changes myself.

Despite Amanda being a genuine Facebook wizard (and I'm not so bad myself), we've been waiting for these changes before really working on our own page - hopefully as a showcase of some ideas that you can use on your own. BTW, please, please go and 'like' it now as we'll be doing some stuff there that you'll want to see. Here's our Page - http://www.facebook.com/MakeitinMusic

So, we started messing about today and we're loving it. I think it's a massive step forward for the interaction available that you can now do as 'the Page', or, as a musician, 'the Band'.

In particular, being able to leave comments and threads as 'your Page' will really allow you to spread your brand across Facebook. Don't spam - just do the same things that you would with your personal profile.

And the iframe option - I'm horribly bad at tech stuff but 'my people' tell me that this is a game changer and will mean that what we can do on Pages and in making Apps is going to explode.

Good stuff!

So, other than the links we gave in that post linked above we found this one that has a great list of ten things that you should do now to set your new Fan Page up right.

Facebook announced a massive overhaul of its Pages for business today, and here's the most surprising part: It's awesome.

Don't listen to the angry mobs complaining about change. Today's shift is overwhelmingly positive and creates much-needed options for Page admins.

That said, you've got some work to do if you want to make the most if it. We've compiled 10 simple steps that will get you started on the right foot:

Read and act on that list of 10 steps NOW.

Facebook Fan Page revamp - what does it mean for musicians?

There is only really one story today - that Facebook have rolled out the expected changes to their Fan pages.

Image by Robert Scoble

How does this affect what you do to promote your band on Facebook?

The good news is that, on balance, it's an improvement. A few things I liked have gone - the tricks with profile photos for instance.

But there are two great improvements - switching between admin and yourself which allows more personal interaction - i.e. you can now interact on your page as the band or as any individual from the band (excellent!) and secondly, being able to act all over Facebook as your page.

These are both really good developments for artists in the ways that they can up their interaction.

And, the great concern was that tabs would change, but these have stayed as is, so all the work you put into making them work (such as with BandPage) will remain. Plus the introduction of iframes will allow some new trick apps to be developed and gives more freedom of design - don't ask me how but the techy people are excited about this!

I'm just going to link to four good reviews of the changes at the foot of this post so that you can go and get the gossip.

Amanda and I were waiting for this, since the changes to personal profiles, before we started finalising her eBook on Facebook for Musicians and various posts on the site about best practice for Facebook for bands.

Now that we know how Pages will look for the time being, we'll get stuck in to giving some specific advice on the main site.

Here's the four best posts about this that I found:

All Facebook

Ignite Social Media

Mashable

Inside Facebook

 

 

 

Facebook Tagging - a full guide

We looked at Facebook tagging a while ago in this post.

It opened my eyes to a tactic that very few people use on Facebook.

But, now, Mari Smith - an expert on all things Facebook who we've referred to before -  has written a post that is really a full guide on how to use '@ tags'. Her angle is about businesses using it, but it applies to musicians too - probably better in fact.

Tagging your Facebook friends in photos is one of the most ingenious and popular features on the site. Tagging friends in Notes is another use of tags, though used less often than photos. In September 2009, Facebook broadened this tagging feature by allowing users to tag friends, pages, groups, events and apps in status updates and posts. This type of tagging is referred to as an “@ tag.”

But, the big deal isn't in tagging photos or the like, it's in using tags to spread your posts right on to massive traffic fan page walls. There's a right and a wrong way to do this - basically spam will make you look like a twat.

Mari has the lowdown - read her post here - and use the technique.

DamntheRadio - Facebook Fan Page wizardry

I mentioned and linked to this in the last post, but, in case you missed that one, here's a little bit more info.

All artists now need to be rocking a good Facebook Fan Page - you know that already.

Unlike MySpace, there isn't one accepted way to do the perfect 'Facebook for musicians'.

This is a new option - and I really like the look of it.

It's just been bought and integrated with FanBridge which means you get loads of cool Fan Page stuff and it links to your email system - if you use FanBridge that is!

Just go and read what they have to say about their service and let me know if you choose to use it over RootMusic's BandPage.

Sell your music on Facebook

Moontoast is a new suite of tools that allow you to sell your music direct on your Facebook fan page.

It also promises much more - interaction, storefronts on multiple platforms (your website and others) with email collection and track sharing to come. Is it the answer to Facebook for musicians that everyone is looking for?

Will it be better than RootMusic? It looks like a more comprehensive offering, but, I haven't used it yet, so it's a case of watch this space.

Go and look it over at http://www.moontoast.com/

Facebook Fan Page changes coming and to affect musicians

So there we all are just getting to grips with Facebook for Musicians.

Not least me and Amanda - Amanda has written 30,000 words or so of our definitive book on what to do with your Fan Page as a musician - and now they're going to change it! Just when we had it all covered and were working to release the eBook in early 2011.

Oh, well.

This article is a good round-up of all the hullabaloo yesterday and suggests that we will be losing a good few of the things that we'd become used to on our Fan pages.

Be informed - read the piece here.

10 ways to engage your facebook fans

Go and look at this post on facebook music marketing on our main blog - Make It In Music.

It's a description of and a link to two free pdf's and recorded webinars by the world's biggest facebook marketing company.

Their expertise can be applied to your efforts.

Well worth studying!

Join us on Facebook - get a free guide to Fan Pages

Our main site redesign is an ongoing project at Make It In Music.

I'm very pleased with where we have made it to so far - now comes the tricky bit of filling it with regular content!

I've started off with looking at Twitter for musicians and will start posting a very comprehensive guide later this week.

Facebook is next.

BUT, before I start posting some of the tips that we use on our musician client's Facebook pages, I want to increase the following on our fan page - I'll then be making changes to that fan page that you can see as we do them - we'll film them and post the method on our site.

So, in the next two weeks, I need you to join our Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/MakeItInMusic.

And I need you to ask other artists and bands to join.

In order to incentivise you, I am going to give away three copies of the brilliant AllFacebook guide to getting fans on Facebook - called '30 days to attract 3,000 Facebook Fans' - but in order to get one you have to be a fan of Make It In Music on Facebook.

I have learnt a great deal from this AllFacebook eBook over the last year or so and have directly implemented some of the ideas for our clients.

OK, it's only $9.95, so I'm not pushing the boat out with my freebies, but it is well worth having for all artists and I'd recommend it to all musicians.

For those that want to get it for free, well, you'd better just join us on Facebook and see if you can win a copy! I'll announce the three winners on our Facebook Fan page wall and buy you a copy on 1st December (I'll need your email address for that!)

So, I will point you to this page every day as reminder!

To join our Facebook Fan Page go to http://www.facebook.com/MakeItInMusic.

Have a look at the '30 days to attract 3,000 Facebook Fans' eBook here.

A 'Reveal' tab on Facebook can dramatically boost fan numbers

How do get someone to 'like' your band on facebook?

It's a problem and a good facebook landing page is one way. But if you use a 'Reveal' tab you can gently force people to 'like' your act before they get the benefit of doing so.

Reveal tabs are a way to get Facebook users over the hump of liking your Page. Not only do you need to tell the user to like your page but you also need to tell them why they should be liking it. The greater the incentive, the greater the conversion.

Read this great AllFacebook article for more.

And this article conatins the all important 'how-to' information.