Use an extended profile picture to make the most of your screen real estate.

Maximize your visual branding of the vertical banner on your Facebook business page, better known as your profile pic. By creating your profile pic, in your favourite artworking program, to be 540 pixels high by 180 pixels wide (please note: Facebook occasionally changes these dimensions), you will receive more valuable space on your page to get your message across.

Why not visit our Facebook page and see how this looks live www.facebook.com/EightWire

Create a custom landing page and set it as the default landing page for people who are not yet fans.

Instead of new visitors landing on your wall you can create a custom landing page (also known as a welcome page) to achieve your own aims. This can include a call to action such as to 'like' your page. Once a visitor likes your page they will be taken to your wall.

Visit one of our clients' pages here to see an example www.facebook.com/FlushingHolidayCottages

Subscribe to my newsletters.

Add a "subscribe to my newsletters" function to your Facebook page by using an app provided by your HTML email service. This is an opportunity to use Facebook as an additional platform to collect addresses for your e-newsletters. By adding a subscribe form, you offer visitors the added opportunity to buy into your brand. Eight Wire has it's own email service, get in touch to find out more.

Get a custom username for your page.

When you create your Facebook page, you are automatically assigned a URL, which often includes a string of numbers and letters. However, Facebook will allow you to create a shorter URL for your Facebook page that will help when communicating the link and will look far more professional. For example: our Facebook page URL is Facebook.com/EightWire. It’s a simple, yet effective method.

Why not visit our Facebook page and see how this looks live www.facebook.co.uk/EightWire

Manage the photos displayed at the top of your page to convey your message.

Facebook has recently introduced a row of images along the top of your page. By default the pictures are automatically placed randomly however there is the option to manage which photos show up, putting you in control of what shows on your page and how it looks.

Get your team involved.

people listen to people not to companies The word "social" should be central to every part of your social media strategy. Facebook is a valuable platform to bring your brand personality to life through an authentic and consistent voice. When you get others involved be sure to develop guidelines for the use of your page. No-one wants to know what the accountant is having for lunch.

Create a plan for your content to regiment what you will be talking about and when.

At Eight Wire we always create a planning document including a content calendar when we develop social media strategies for clients in which we outline all the topics we intend to include in our posts and the type of massages we will write and when we plan to post these. For example we can decide that one of the type of posts we do is 'tips about social media'.

Make your content 'sticky. Be engaging, be interesting and stay fresh.

It's all about adding value. People who like you on Facebook are spending their valuable time reading what you post, therefore you'd better make it worth it. Most importantly, your Facebook page should never be used as an advertising platform. You will disengage users and lose followers.

Instead create messages that are valuable to your audience. That does not mean you cannot offer promotions and special deals as long as they show value for your reader. See the graph on why people "unlike" brands on Facebook.

Tag other businesses or groups in your posts by using the @ symbol.

When you tag another business in your post you will show up on their page and your brand will gain exposure to all their fans. It's a great way to attract new 'likes'.

Encourage 'check-ins' at your premises.

If your business has a bricks-and-mortar address it's a good idea to encourage check-ins. When someone checks-in, using their mobile device, they are telling all their friends on Facebook that they are at your location. An excellent way to promote your business. By using some creative thinking you can find ways to reward your fans who check-in.