FaceBook Fan Pages

Posted on July 31st, 2010 by Jean

• Do you have a FaceBook Fan Page?
• Do you have any tips for making the most out of a fan page?
• What are some of your favorite pages?
 
Some of my favorite pages are:

 

 
A FaceBook Fan Page allows you to update and interact with “fans” while keeping your personal profile private.
 
CREATE
When you are ready to create a Fan Page, visit FaceBook’s Create A Page.
 

 
Complete the fields.
 
PICTURE
Your Fan Page picture can safely be 200 pixels wide by 600 pixels long.
 
THUMBNAIL
Once uploaded, set your thumbnail pic by selecting the pencil icon on the upper right corner of your main page photo.
 

 
OPTIONAL STEP:
Fan Pages can have a landing page. A landing page is the first page visitors see.
 
To insert jpgs and/or links on your landing page, you will need to install Static FBML. This FB application allows html to work on your page(s).
 
From your main fan page, choose, “Edit Page”. Scroll down to, “More Applications”, and click, “Choose More”. Search the Apps for Static FBML. Here is the direct link: Static FBML. Click, “Add To Page”.
 
Your fan page will now have a new tab titled, “FMBL+”. From your main fan page, again select, “Edit Page”. Static FBML will now have it’s own place under Apps.
 

 
Choose, “edit” to rename the tab and insert your html.
 
I named my tab, “Welcome”, and created a landing page jpg that is 757 pixels x 522 pixels. I chose not to link it to my website so I would not redirect potential fans as soon as they had found my page. (Effective Aug. 24, 2010: The maximum width of your Fan Page welcome graphic is 520 pixels. It can be wider, but portions of your graphic will be cut off by advertising in the sidebar.)
 
As an added note, when I hosted my landing page jpg at Photobucket, the html did not work, and my image was a broken link. After much frustration, I uploaded the jpg to my wordpress site (under Media), and the link did work.
 

 
WALL SETTINGS
Return once again to the main page of your fan page, and select, “Edit Page”. Time to edit your wall settings. Here you can choose your landing page, and select whether fans can post videos, photos or links.
 

 
PROMOTE
Now you are ready to promote your fan page. From your main fan page, you can share the link to your personal profile, or suggest to friends.
 
Create your Fan Page Badge to display on your website. From your main page/edit page, “Promote With FaceBook” badge is in the right column. Insert the html on your website.
 
UPDATES
Use the Networked Blogs app. to automatically post links to your latest blog.
 
URL
Once you have 25 fans, you can change the url of your page to something more personalized. Find that setting here; scroll to the bottom, and Set A User Name for your pages.

Tags: celebrities, facebook, fan, fbml, how to, html, page, Shopping, social, socialize

Interview Tag

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by Jean

I was nervous to sit down with World Renowned Reporter, ^*Megan.
 

 
She looked like she meant business when she sat down with her notepad in hand.
 
I only hoped I’d be up for the questions she would pose.
 
MEGAN: If you could travel to one place in the world and you had to leave today, where would you be headed and why?
 
ME: Oh my gosh, I have to leave right now? I’m not even packed! I guess I’d better fly to Los Angeles and hope my sister can pick me up. I might be able to fit into some of her clothes. Oh heck, I’ve got charge cards. Sure, I’m ready. Where’s my ride?
 
MEGAN:No, you insolant boob. It was merely a hypothetical question. Care to try again?
 
ME: Oh, ok. Anywhere in the world….
 
MEGAN: Tick tock, Jean. Step it up.
 
ME: You know what? I’m still gonna say my sister’s house. She just recently moved, and I haven’t even seen the place. So, yes, I think I’ll fly into Los Angeles.
 
MEGAN: Fine. Good. Los Angeles. Next question: What are your talents, and what are some of the areas in which you wish you had talent but do not?
 
ME: I think I’m talented with PhotoShop. I can also google really quickly to get answers to my husband’s obscure questions. I pretty successfully juggle being a Mom, a wife, and a business owner. I wish I could ride a horse. Naw, I don’t really wish that! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!! My husband would wish that for me! I wish my talent was getting in shape and staying there. Does that qualify?
 
MEGAN: Sure, that qualifies. I’m sure you speak for many who wish they had the talent of … ahem… health. ::: rolls eyes ::: Next question: What do you love the most about your life and why?
 
ME: I love the flexibility of my work schedule!! Love, love, love it! Seriously, I work about 2 weeks out of the month. I’m a graphic designer, and create (or change) ads one week. The next week I put on my publisher hat, and get our magazines ready to print. So, during my off-time, I get to spoil my children with lots of attention! Plus, we work out of our house, so we, Tom & the kids and I, have a lot of quality time together.
 
MEGAN: Finally, I think you’re letting us see the real you! Question number 4: What are you most afraid of?
 
ME: I hope this doesn’t sound silly, but my biggest fear is home invasion. I check all the doors each night, and make sure the gates are closed. I check on my daughters in their beds. I just want us all to be safe, in our home. It’s a scary world out there, and a shame these thoughts have to enter my head.
 
MEGAN: Amen. Ok, let’s end on a lighter note. My final question is, what is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
 
ME: Just one? I’ve got a few. Hard to narrow ’em down. Let’s see… Well, for starters, I was in high school, but away on a debate tournament. There were a whole bunch of us sitting around, laughing and joking. Well, one guy was SO FUNNY, I literally lost control of my bladder! I had to run to the bathroom and freshen up as best I could. Another time, I was on a date. The guy and I had decided to snuggle in the back of his car. I must have been tired, and fell asleep. Know what woke me up? The sound of my own fart!
 
MEGAN: I’m afraid that’s all we have time for, Jean. Thank you.
 
If you’d like to be interviewed, please say Interview Me in the comments. I will send you five questions specific to you.
 
^*Megan is a lovely friend who no longer blogs. This post was originally published February 8, 2008 on MySpace.

Tags: Humor, interview, MySpace, tag

Fiverr Review

Posted on July 20th, 2010 by Jean

Fiverr is a new site where you can offer or purchase services for $5.00. Fiverr makes money by keeping $1 of every sale. There is no fee to open an account, and no fee for placing an ad.
 
Offering your services is simple. Just fill in the blank.
 

 
S E L L I N G
 
Within 24 hours of placing my ad for photoshop services, I received four job offers.
 
• Job One ~ Create a banner for a website.
This client was easy to work with. He provided a sample, dimensions, favorite colors, and a vision for his end product. I created his banner and allowed for two revisions. He liked both samples, and asked if he could hire me to create an entirely different look for $5.00. I declined, but he contacted me a week later, saying he liked my work the best, and hired me for one more revision.
 
• Job Two ~ Create a button for a website.
It was a little trickier understanding what this client needed. He directed me to two “iffy” websites. One site had multiple pop-up windows, and the other was a blank template. He finally sent me a jpg of what he wanted, which I easily recreated. This is a good time to note that Fiverr is not responsible for any viruses you may download.
 
• Job Three ~ Photoshop a sign.
The client provided one of his real estate listings, asking me to change the business signage. I didn’t feel I could do so believably, so I turned down this offer.
 
• Job Four ~ Create 5 banners.
This client wanted 5 banners in various sizes for her gecko related website. She really expected more than what I was offering, so I turned her down.
 

 
B U Y I N G
 
One year ago, I paid CartoonMe $5.11 to cartoon me, and to be frank, it stunk. (Original post here.)
 
I thought I’d try my luck at Fiverr.
 
I browsed the ads, found an artist, placed my order, and paid through Paypal.

 
The artist’s ad promised completion of work within 4 days. She contacted me immediately and shared that she was extremely busy. Five days after placing my order, she claimed her Paypal account was frozen, and canceled my job.
 
My second artist offered to transform me into a Spongebob character. One day later, well under the deadline date, Beck sent me this work of art.
 

 
I love it!
 
If you want to hire Beck, click here. For all the ins and outs of Fiverr, check out their website here.
 
• Can you see yourself using Fiverr?
• Can you see yourself as a Spongebob character?

Tags: artist, banner, buy, cartoon, fiverr, money, paypal, Photoshop, review, sell, services, spongebob