You've heard the numbers - Facebook is bigger than most countries.

With so many people using it, the marketing opportunities are fantastic...but with growth comes challenges, for you and your business.

Facebook Business Issues to Watch:

• Check your Personal Privacy Settings: they change occasionally (as recently as April 2010) and Facebook has been criticised for not making the process obvious.

  >>> Watch this short Video on how to Upgrade your Facebook Privacy Settings.

• Do you need a Profile, Page or Group? You need a personal Profile to do anything on Facebook, but it's meant to be a real person, not a business. Take care with this, as Facebook may delete your Profile if what's set up is not a living, breathing human. Facebook Pages are for businesses to share information, and promote events and products - they're ideal for a restaurant, bar, hotel or club. Facebook Groups are for people sharing a common interest eg a basketball club or fans of a music group.

• Should you 'Friend' your Staff? How personal do you want to be with someone half your age? Maybe it's OK for you, but how do they say No if you request to 'friend them' but they don't want you peering into their love life?. Definitely an item for discussion - there may be connections here with your Staff Dating Policy.

• Who Administers the Business Page or Group? These can (and should) be shared responsibilities so you're not stuck by someone leaving suddenly or on bad terms. Password access and records are as important as the Key Register - are your systems up to date? Important: if you set up a Page, you don't have to be visible as the administrator - you're seen only if you actively 'Like' the Page.

• Facebook Pages are Not 'Set & Forget'. You want them to be active forums humming with comments and enthusiasm. Someone needs to check the Page everyday, responding to requests and adding a short update or photo. Chit-chat is good, but official silence is not. A quick update takes no longer than writing a text message...

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  >> Use the wide range of Online Marketing Resources to expand your reach and stay right up to date

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• Automate some of the Facebook posting: when you set up a blog or online photo diary , you can have the content automatically fed to your Facebook Page every time there's an update. This usually includes the photo, so it looks lively.

• Coach Staff about Privacy: concepts of privacy, discretion and sharing are very different these days. If staff are friending each other on Facebook and MySpace, it doesn't take long before crazy photos have a wider audience.

• Your Business Needs a Social Media Policy: It's essential that staff have guidance on what is acceptable and not acceptable to say on Facebook, MySpace and review sites, especially as it relates to the business they work for. Use these pre-written Social Media Guidelines for your business - all ready to go.

• Watch for Developments: Facebook keeps changing - new features, privacy settings, advertising options; plus new ways to reach Page Fans and Group Members. Profitable Hospitality members are regularly updated in the Online Marketing Department.

Need to Boost your Marketing or Make it More Effective? As a 1st Class Member of Profitable Hospitality we give you 'how to do it' examples, with support, forms and pre-written templates. Customer service, menu development, online marketing and better sales methods - this website is loaded with great resources.

>> Download the hundreds of Staff Manuals and Forms - ready when you need them.
>> Download Cost Control & Profit Calculators to pinpoint problem areas fast!

>>> Click to Join Profitable Hospitality and Start Running a More Successful Business.

2010 Training & Events Calendar

Starting a Cafe or Restaurant Workshop 29 May in Sydney

In New Zealand: The Business of Hospitality in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland: May and June 2010

Internet Marketing Workshops - see the wide range offered in Sydney every month.

DVD Set: Club Food & Beverage Management Summit - ORDER NOW: huge value in this 4-DVD set, with 13 presentations from the Oct 2009 event. Great for building staff and manager skills - check the preview video online.

With warm regards -

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