*Facebook is constantly changing.   While we periodically review this guide to reflect these changes to the interface, we can’t always guarantee that what you see on your screen will exactly mimic the information in the guide. 

Designing Your Facebook* Fan Page

Table of Contents1. Basics of your Fan Page

2. Customizing your Page

3. Adding an Event

4. Adding an RSS Feed

5. Customizing your Boxes Tab

6. Terms of Use

7. Other Tools

Basics

Accessing the Fan Page

•Go to: http://www.facebook.com

•Login with the email address and password you used to create your profile. (Guidance on setting up a profile can be found in the first in this series “Getting Started with Facebook”)

•At the left of the screen, click on the Ads and Pages link, as shown.

•You will be brought to a screen with “Settings”, “Wall Settings” and “Mobile” sections, among others, as on the right.

•If you do not see this initially, click on the “Pages” link at the top of the page.

Edit Wall Settings• Click on “Edit” below Wall

Settings as shown.

• Select the default view for Wall as “Posts by Page and Fans”

• You can also select which section your page will load first. It’s recommended to stay with the default Wall setting.

• You can set preferences for how much content your fans can upload to your page. Most pages allow fans to upload any content they wish, but this is up to you and your public affairs office.

Choosing Your Page Logo

•Click on the image at the upper left corner of your Facebook page . Then click on the “Change Picture” link and upload the graphic or photo that best represents the community you’re creating.

•This can be a picture of your base, a logo designed specifically for your organization, or anything else that defines the purpose of your page.

•Make sure that your picture is clear even as a "thumbnail," since the image will appear at that reduced size throughout the site.

•Note: Do not use copyrighted photos as your profile picture. Make sure you have the rights to use the picture you use.

Good Logo ExamplesLook at the Defense logo below. It is a clear image, and it is easy to distinguish, even as a thumbnail.

Other good examples can be seen on the U.S. Army page and the U.S. Navy page.

Clear image – even as a thumbnail

What’s My URL?•Go to your homepage, and scroll to the bottom of your “Info” pane

Customizing Your Page

List of Available Applications•To get to your list of available applications to customize your page, just click on the “Ads and Pages” link from your profile or click on “Edit Page” from your Page. (when you are on the Wall tab)

•Here you will see a list of applications, the ones available by default, and the ones you’ve added, which we will discuss next.

Customizing Tabs

• Pages have multiple tabs. By default, your page has a Wall tab for you and your fans to share content, an Info tab for you to share information on your embassy or page, and tabs for photos and discussions.

• You can choose to devote entire tabs to several Facebook applications, such as Photos, Reviews, and Discussion Board, or just for one application such as Polls or Events.

Adding an Event

Adding an Event•To add an event first you need to click on the “+” sign and “Events” to add an Event tab. Now click “Create Event.”

•You can also add an event by going to your Wall, clicking on “Edit Page” under your logo, and then click on “Edit” under the Events application.

•You will be sent to the “Create an Event” page where you can add all the information about the event (next).

OR

Create Event

In this first box you need to fill out the event logistics (title, location, date and time) then click on “Create Event.”

Add your event details and click “create event”

Add Details

•You can add a picture that describes the event if you like.

•Also, choose an event category and type if it makes sense.

•Add a description as well so that you can spark more interest among your fans.

•Finally, uncheck “Enable the event wall,” check “Only allow admins to post content to the event,” and uncheck “Show the guest list.”

•Click on Save and Continue.

Invite Friends• Next you will be asked to invite friends. Since you don’t have any, you will not be able to do this.

• However, there is an “Invite People Via Email” option where you can add email addresses of your contacts. The event will also show up on your wall and homepage where your fans will see it.

• Click “Send Invitations” if appropriate, or just “Skip.”

Your EventYour event details are now available for your fans to see. You can always edit your event information later.

Editing the Event Box•You’ll notice that there is now an Events box on the left hand side of your Page (when you are viewing the Wall tab). You can do a few things with this.

•You can either “Remove” the box from your Wall or you can move the Event box to a “Boxes” tab. This “Boxes” tab will then be created with the Event box in it. (notice you’ll still have the Events Tab). You can move the Events box back to your Wall by clicking on the little pencil next to it and clicking “Move to Wall tab.”

•We’ll talk more about the Boxes tab later.

Adding an RSS Feed

What is an RSS Feed?

• RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a web-based syndication format used to publish frequently updated content including, but not limited to, blog entries, news headlines, and podcasts.

• An RSS feed contains either a summary of content from a web site or the full text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up with their favorite web sites in an automated manner. More info here.

• RSS content usually is labeled with one of these icons:

• Facebook allows you to add RSS feeds to your fan page that you want your fans to see. We’ll show you how next.

Adding an RSS Feed Using Social RSS

•From your page, click on “Edit Page”, scroll down to the bottom of the Applications list, then select “Browse More.”

• In the search box type “Social RSS” and hit enter. Click on the “Social RSS” link.

•Click on the link to the left that says “Add to my Page.”

•The Social RSS app will now show up in the list of your applications

How to Add an RSS Feed to Your Page•Click on “Edit” under the Social RSS label in your application list.

•Scroll down the page until you see the form, as shown to the right.

•Minimize this browser window and open another.

Example Feed: DOD Live

•In the open browser, go to www.dodlive.mil

•Click on the “Posts” button next to the RSS heading

•Highlight and copy (Ctrl-C) the hyperlink that appears, as shown.

Add the Feed to the Social RSS Application

•Return to the Social RSS form page.

•In the form provided, type in a tag for the feed

•Insert the title of the blog:

•Now put your cursor in the URL field and paste the URL that you just copied from dodlive.mil (Ctrl-V).

•Click Update

Making an RSS Feed Tab

•Return to your Page and click on “Add a new tab” then on RSS/Blog.

•An RSS/Blog tab has now been created.

•You can also have your RSS feed show up on your Wall. The next section will show you how.

Adding RSS Feed to Wall•Go to Edit page and your list of applications.

•Click on the “Application Settings” link under Social RSS.

•Click on “add” next to Box: Available. Click Okay. This will add your Social RSS feed to the Boxes tab.

•Go to the Boxes tab and go to the Social RSS box. Click on the little pencil and select “move to Wall tab”.

•Your Social RSS feed will now be present on your Wall tab.

Customizing Your Boxes Tab

Customizing Boxes Using Static FBML

•You can add a Boxes tab if you don’t already have one. There are many uses for a Boxes tab.

•Static FBML, the application that allows you to make these boxes, takes a little knowledge of HTML, but if you know the basics you should be able to create simple boxes that provide text, images and links.

Static FBML – How to Customize your Boxes Section

•Follow the same steps as adding Social RSS, but search for “Static FBML.”

•Once you add the application, you’ll notice it resides in the Boxes tab.

•To edit the FBML box, go to your list of Applications and click “Edit” next to the FBML app.

FBML Box continued

•Design the content for your FBML box using an HTML web editor, then simply copy and paste the code into the FBML box that you created.

•Save your changes.

FBML Box continued•Once you have created your FBML box, it will show up under the Boxes tab.

•You can choose to move this box to your Wall tab by clicking on the pencil and selecting “Move to Wall Tab.”

Terms of Use

User Agreement

•It is important to include a user agreement or terms of use on your Facebook site.

•The template for Department of Defense Facebook terms of use can be found at socialmedia.defense.gov/about/user-agreement.

Other Tools

Poll Application

Note: The poll app gives you the option to publish the poll on your user profile – make sure you don’t do this, but rather publish it to your page.

• The poll app allows you to post polls to your page and have your fans vote. You can add this app by going to the Applications section under “Edit Page.” Click on “Brows More” under “More Applications” and search “poll.”

• You can add the poll to your Wall tab or have a separate tab for Polls, especially if you tend to do a lot of them. The nice thing about adding the poll to your Wall tab is that your fans see it right when they enter your page.

Using Insights to Learn About Your Fans• Insights is a tool provided by Facebook to help you track information about your fans. Information provided includes:

o Countries and cities your fans are from

o Monthly Active Userso Interactionso Most popular postso Male/Female ratioo Age groups

• To access Insights click on “See All” on the Insights box on your page or go to www.facebook.com/insights

The End

•If you have questions or comments, please contact the Department of Defense Public Affairs New Media and Outreach team at socialmedia@osd.mil.