Tired of using Facebook to just update your status with comments about your overall dissatisfaction with it being Monday, trying to build your Mafia and poking people?

Here are four great ways to use Facebook’s resources to either brand yourself or market your company. If you managed to create your profile, add a photo and use any of the social applications available, then you’re qualified to effectively use these tools.

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The first three are free; the last item is a paid service.

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• On the groups page, click on “Create a new group” in the top right corner.
• Enter your group info; be specific and make it interesting.
• Once created, start adding relevant content that will interest potential group members. Add links, pictures and videos. Start a discussion – anything to get people involved and to keep coming back.
• Start inviting people that you know will be interested in your group.

Create a Page

• Click on “Add this application” in the top right corner.
• Instead of Group Members, your Page will have “Fans.”
• Pages are now much easier to manage – familiar items from your personal profiles such as the navigation tabs, blurb box, status updates and application boxes are all available.
• Be sure to check out Facebook’s new step by step overview for even more tools and tips. Very helpful.
• Fans love new content like  polls, interviews and contests.  Happy fans will your Page rock.

Add the NetWorkedBlogs application

• Click on the “+ Add New Blog” button in the top right corner.
• On your personal profile, click on the plus sign on the far right side of the navigation tabs.
• Select NetworkedBlogs from the list. This will add a new tab called “Blogs” to your profile.

Use the Advertising tool

• Promote your affiliate, blog, website… anything, using the targeting capabilities within the Advertising application.
• Choose the link wisely. Link to a checkout page that has relevant ad copy to increase your goal conversions. Ads about sneakers linking to a page selling a home based business opportunity won’t be successful.
• New strategies even include linking to your Facebook Page, Application, Group or Event.
• Your Ad can have 25 characters in the title and up to 135 characters in the body.
• Use an image that really pops; pick one that is still sharp because it will be reduced to 110px wide by 80px high.
• Choose your target audience – increase the likelihood of interested based on: Location, Age, Sex, Keywords, Education, Workplace, Relationship Status, Relationship Interests and Languages.
• Choose your budget; the daily minimum ad spend is only $1.
• Test your ads often and keep them fresh. Expect high impressions and low click through rate (CTR) – however the cost per click is still very inexpensive, even when compared to other online channels.

Here’s a couple of examples: Used Cars Blog and the Auction Direct USA group page.

How are you using Facebook to promote your brand or your company?

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