Creating a Facebook landing page

If you’re out to impress do consider creating a special landing page just for them. So rather than letting them land on a just-another-generic-Facebook wall, you take them to a more personalized, more welcoming page.

You create this by adding a static FBML application. Put it in a tab, then turn the tab into a landing page. You can put almost anything on that page, but the most important one would be to ask them to Like your page. It would be a loss if they leave your welcome page without Liking your page, wouldn’t it?

This welcome page will become a landing page only for non-fan visitors. Once they Liked your page, subsequent visits will take them direct to your fan page’s Wall. (This page will in no way annoy your existing fans, because it doesn’t affect them.)

Here we go,

 

1) Add a static FBML (Facebook Markup Language) application

1. Sign in to Facebook.


2. Go to Static FBML application (this link opens in a new tab/window) page.


3. Click the Add to my Page link on the left.
   


4. Click Add to Page button next to your page name.
   

 

2) Add content to the FBML app

You want to tailor-made the content to appeal new visitors. Do include one or two call-to-action phrases or buttons. Encourage them to at least click the Like button before leaving the landing page. Here we go:

1. Click Edit Page link under your profile image to the left.


2. Then click Applications link on the left of the next page.


3. Scroll down towards the bottom of the page and look for FBML application.
   


4. Click the Go to Application link. This will open a text editor.


5. Begin with entering the title of your FBML application. The application will be named after this title, so choose something appropriate.
   


6. Next is to add the content in FBML field.  HTML is acceptable. Javascript and iframe are not allowed.
   -The simplest and most popular method is to just embed an image.
   
   
   
   1. Create your landing page image using Gimp or Photoshop.
   
   
   2. Set the width of the image to be the same as the effective width of the tab canvas, which is 520px.
   
   
   3. Paste this HTML code in the text editor:
      
      
      

      
      

      view sourceprint?

      
      

      
      

      
      

      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      

      <img title="" src="DIRECT LINK TO THE YOUR WEB HOSTED IMAGE" alt=""/>

      
      

      
      

      
      
   
   
   
   -To add buttons or other hyperlinked images, use this HTML:
   
   
   

   
   

   view sourceprint?

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   <a title="" href="DESTINATION URL"img src="DIRECT LINK TO YOUR WEB HOSTED IMAGE" alt=""></a>

   
   

   
   

   
   


7. Click Save Changes button when done.

 

3) Make the tab your default landing page

Now it’s time you make the tab you added into the default welcome page. Do remember this tab will become default only to non-fan visitors.

1. Go back to your the wall of your page.


2. Click the Options link under the status update box’s Share button. The link will the change to Settings. Click on it to view your page settings.
   


3. Under View Settings, select your new tab from the dropdown menu next to Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else.
   


4. Finished!

Adding a facebook fans page on blogger

I) Get your Facebook page ID URL

1. Visit Facebook and go to your page.


2. Copy the Id URL from your browser’s address bar. It’s at the end of the url.  Trim the URL until you get something like this:
   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blogger-Sentral/115496238467364
   [http://www.facebook.com/pages/PAGE-NAME/PAGE ID]

 

II) Configure your Like box

1. Go to Facebook Like box configuration page (opens in a new tab/window). You will see a configuration box, like this (Facebook has replaced Facebook Page ID with Facebook Page URL):


2. Now paste your page ID URL inside the Facebook Page ID URL text box.


3. Set other parameters such as width, height and stream. The Preview on the right will update itself as you enter the changes.


4. Click Get Code button when done. You’ll be given two codes, titled iframe and XFBML. You only need the iframe code.


5. The iframecode should look more or less like this (do not copy this code):
   
   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   <iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FBlogger-Sentral%2F115496238467364&amp;width=292&amp;connections=10&amp;stream=false&amp;header=true&amp;height=280" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:292px; height:280px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   Update February 2011:
   It seems Facebook (perhaps erroneously) has the box height fixed to 62px. This allows only your Facebook page title and the Like button to appear inside the box. The faces will be hidden. To show them, you must increase the height. For example, to show two rows of faces, change the height to 280px. There are two heights in the code, make sure you change both.


6. Copy the code (the code provided by Facebook, not the code in no.5).


7. In Blogger, go to Design > Page Elements and click an Add-A-Gadget link. Select HTML/Javascript gadget and paste the code in the content box.


8. Save and view your blog.


9. Enjoy!

 

Some useful things about Web Hosting you probably don’t know!

Web Hosting

The biggest challenge faced by any individual starting a small business, organization, developers or someone who wants to showcase their work is to reach the maximum number of people. The World Wide Web has been such a boon as it gives the individuals and the organizations a platform to publicize their work. Now how can one do that? How can they reach millions of unknown people and tell them what they intend to do? Well the answer is simple by making a website. A website is a web page which will have the entire details, ideas, pictures, videos of the kind of work they are doing so that anyone and anybody can just view it and understand it.

But the question arises as to how does one get an access to the World Wide Web? Is it so easy to create a website? Is it as simple it sounds? Well the answer is yes it is! Here comes the role of web hosting service which would help the individual to make their own website and will also give you a safe and a secure place to keep your information. These safe havens are called as Servers which are provided by a web host company. These servers are kept in a secure place called data centers which are connected to high speed internet facility. These Servers store all your data in form of web pages, graphic files, java scripts etc.

The different types of hosting available are as follows:

• Shared Hosting-where lot of websites sit in a common server. These are equipped with high speed powerful computers that have the capacity of taking the burden without slowing it down.


• Dedicated Hosting-is like asking for a dedicated servant, just to serve your needs. An entire server is just committed for your website/websites.


• Co-Location Hosting-This is equivalent to owning your own house where you have then access to the server 24/7.


• Re-Seller Hosting-where the web hosting company can provide its services to a third party at a nominal fee and who in turn can also re-sell the Server to many more customers.

Advantages of Web-hosting

• A web site is perhaps the first door introduction of the company to its viewers. It has its place in terms of brand value, conveying the right company image, advertise products and services, showcase its capabilities.


• Feedback is the breakfast of champions. A website is also a feedback gatherers which could be enabled such that it could track what kind of web traffic is viewing the hosted content. The crucial information of how many people are interested to know about your company and how much time did they spend on your website, what features and sections of the web content got more attention from viewers.


• The benefit of being able to create several e-mail accounts on your website with which you gain the attention and trust of the customer as you will be communicating through email from your own website.


• The dependability of web community. When a web content gets higher page hits and moves up the web search such as Google search it reflects the uniqueness of the website, the name, the brand that holds the web content and reflects confidence for the users to engage with the website.

The 6 Rules of Blogging?

 



The following is a Guest post by Tom Walker.

Tom Walker is a blogger and designer who works for an ecommerce store (offering HP supplies) as the lead editor and writer on their blog about vintage advertising and print media design.

Successful blog authors have learned that reaching their goals comes through following proven strategies that are known to be effective in delivering new, consistent and productive visitors to any site. If you are new to the blogosphere, here are six rules every successful blogger has learned to implement. Put them into practice with your own unique flair, and you will see steady growth that may well lead to big things.

1. Be Uniquely You: Let’s start there, because to stand out in an increasingly crowded field, you’ll want to create a one-of-a-kind look that is compelling – as opposed to just weird! This will tell your visitors you’ve got a unique perspective and provide something they won’t read in the mainstream of your niche. An approach to the design of the blog that’s uniquely individual will enhance the fresh perspective they are getting in your content. Don’t be afraid to do things differently. Add occasional video or audio or turn over the pen to an expert in the niche from time to time. Read plenty of other blogs in other niches and grab some good ideas, putting your own spin on them. Do some research on the idea of branding yourself, and apply what you learn to your blogging style.

 

2. Deliver Consistent Value: Being unique is great, but if it is not backed up by consistent value, your visitors won’t stick. Post consistently, if not daily, and make every contribution count with new, usable information that your readers can use TODAY! Guess what – this takes work! Those willing to put in the work to be consistently helpful to their readers will be those who reach their blogging goals. That’s why there is always room in a niche for you if you are willing to do what it takes to make your blog a “can’t miss” event for your readers.

3. Work Harder & Smarter Than the Next Guy or Gal: We say “don’t work harder, work smarter!” Success comes from working both harder and smarter. Both characteristics are absolutely essential. When you work really hard to be relevant, helpful and unique, you are creating your own competitive edge. That kind of self-reliance is a hallmark of those who succeed in every kind of endeavour.

4. Be Honest: Ever hear the talk radio guy start casually discussing a product and ¾’s of the way through you realize he’s trying to weave sponsored content seamlessly into his show? Blog readers hate that! Don’t you? If you’re posting sponsored content, let your readers know. In addition, provide an “About” page that gives readers a chance to get to know you, including the intention behind your blog.  Most readers would expect that you blog in order to make some money. They will appreciate you being up front about any partners or affiliates you may have. This is called integrity, and it is foundational to building trust.

5. Care About Your Subject: If you are passionate about your subject matter it will bleed through your content. If you are not passionate, you simply will not be able to keep up the consistency, quality, and hard work it takes to succeed. There are a million topics you build your blog around. Choose one that deeply matters to you, work it really hard, be unique, and success – along with profits – will follow. Any seasoned veteran will tell you that.

6. Engage your Readers in a Conversation: Great blogs are two-way streets. Feature responses to your posts. Highlight great comments, not only in your response section, though that is important, but consider devoting a post now and then to the great feedback you are getting from your readers. This will build readership, and using reader content will mean you don’t always have to have something fresh to say! Harder, smarter blogging will absolutely produce more, and more dedicated, readers.

While blogging may be relatively new, the rules for achieving the success you desire are as old as humanity. These will put you well on your way to producing a blog that many readers consider their most reliable and valuable source of information on topics you cover.