Facebook Do's And Don'ts For SMB Marketing

Scott Gerber's Facebook marketing do's range from making use of Facebook Places to carefully placing a 'Like' button on your site. Don'ts include turning off user comments and sending mass messages.

"Facebook may have 500 million users, but having an outpost on the social-media site won't necessarily increase sales or referrals to your website. But the right tools, used strategically, can help make Facebook an important part of your marketing, lead acquisition and customer-service strategies.

Here are some do's and don'ts for your company's Facebook page.

1. Do: Take advantage of Facebook Places. This location-based application allows users to "check in" -- or alert their network -- wherever they are. If you have a brick-and-mortar location, turn patrons into Facebook promoters by giving them freebies or specials offers if they check-in from your location, using Facebook Places. But be sure to connect your check-in page to your company page, otherwise Facebook users who click check-in links on their News Feeds and Walls will be taken to a generic Facebook page that doesn't contain your keywords or branding."