This is the most inescapable social networking outlet of them all, and odds are you probably already have an account. More than likely your PARENTS already have an account. And that’s because Facebook is a great way to keep tabs on your friends and family, share pictures and let everyone in the world (and their grandma) know what’s going on with you. But that’s not all there is to it. Facebook can be a fantastic tool for marketing your restaurant, and if done correctly, can help you connect personally with your customers.

First of all, the site for your business is a little different than the one you have for yourself. It’s called a Page, and it’s for businesses, bands, celebrities and groups. If you have your restaurant on a personal account, the super secret Facebook police are probably going to make you move it any second. To create a Page, go to the Pages sign up site and fill in the information on the screen. It will be fairly similar to your personal page in terms of structure, so it should be pretty easy to follow along.

Once you’ve got your Page established, you’ll need to find fans. Invite your Facebook friends and other business contacts just as you would normally. Additionally, include the Facebook widget on your website, blog and other social media sites to cross-promote. Since you’ve already done last week’s homework and you have a Twitter site going, link them together so your profile updates work in unison.

Now for the fun part. Update! As we mentioned, keep your content fresh, interesting and funny – not just a bunch of menu announcements.  For instance, links to press about your restaurant, articles about the industry or your particular genre of cuisine/service, funny quotes, stories, community awareness items and other foodie-related thoughts are all ways to mix it up. That will keep your fans checking in to see what you have to say. You can also use Facebook to invite fans to events, share pictures and show videos. It is VERY important for your restaurant to interact with fans. Engage them by asking questions, posting to their walls and  RSVPing to events with a personal message. The more you say on Facebook, the more publicity you get, and that will show up in Facebook searches and other search engines as well.

So get to it. Your homework is to play around on Facebook. You were already doing that at work anyway, right?

Extra credit: Become a fan of the GHRA on Facebook!

Still struggling with Facebook? Leave comments below or contact us directly. Tutors are available.