Building community is one of the key activities NDSU Extension Service must practice to communicate effectively online. This session shows you how to use the popular social media tool Facebook to build community around your county extension office, subject matter, project or department.

1. Working Differently: Building Community With Facebook Fan Pages Bob Bertsch

2. Facebook Profiles, Groups and Pages Profiles A Facebook Profile is meant for individuals only, according to Facebook’s Terms of Service. If you are a person and want to join Facebook, set up a Profile.

3. Facebook Profiles, Groups and Pages Groups Facebook Groups are spaces on Facebook where people can connect around a topic or issue and have deeper discussions. If building a community and engaging in more in-depth discussions are your goals, then Groups are more effective than Pages.

4. Facebook Profiles, Groups and Pages Pages Facebook Pages provide a place for users to connect with authors, celebrities, products, companies, organizations and campaigns. Pages are the only part of Facebook that is fully viewable to the general public who are not logged into the site.

5. Creating a Page Go to www.facebook.com to log in to or create your account. Go to www.facebook.com/pages to create a page.

6. Creating a Page Choose the type of page your are creating. Choose a category (Education for NDSU Extension pages). Choose a name for your page. Include "NDSU" or "NDSU Extension" in your page title when appropriate, for example "NDSU Extension - Cass County"

7. Page Settings Choose to be yourself or your page when commenting and posting to your page. New pages allow you to interact as your page throughout Facebook.

8. Page Permissions Allowing users to post to your page is critical for engaging them and building community.

9. Basic Information Be sure to include contact info and, especially, your web page address.

13. Featured Feature pages you like to build relationships between other pages and their users. Add featured page owners (admins) to add faces behind the brand.

14. Marketing Use a badge or like box to connect your web page with your Facebook page. Create an alias or username to get a concise URL (http://www.facebook.com/NDSUExtension)

15. Facebook Apps Apps can be a good way to build community on your Facebook page. Facebook apps like Events, Photos and Videos area must. Third-party apps can be useful, but should be used with caution. They can make your page look too much like a page for a for-profit brand. They can also contain viruses and make your profile info vulnerable.