With more than 800 million users, Facebook is a major player in the world of social networking. Businesses looking to market using Facebook have one major tool at their disposal: the Facebook Page. Facebook Pages were specifically engineered for businesses. These pages provide a public home on Facebook for a business, and they allow businesses to publish content and receive comments and feedback from fans and customers.
Facebook Pages are a simple tool, but they allow for many interesting business opportunities. So we combed through the web to find 15 Facebook Pages that you absolutely MUST see. Put simply, these pages are awesome. Each of them has different strengths, but they're all AWESOME.
The 15 Best Facebook Pages You've Ever Seen
1. L.L. Bean
Why it's Awesome: This is an example of a great like-gating image that also includes an email opt-in form as well as Twitter and YouTube links above the fold. The page also uses a sidebar image to connect to a relevant and timely promotion and includes a custom tab to support its new free shipping program.
Why it's Awesome: Great Facebook pages aren't only for huge companies. Travel agency Intrepid Travel has put together a great page complete with an awesome like gate, a special tab to meet and connect with other travelers, and a tab that lets users book a trip directly from the Facebook Page.
3. Threadless
Why it's Awesome: T-shirt company Threadless makes great use of the image gallery at the top of their Facebook Page to showcase some of their products. Threadless also carries over important functionality from its core website, allowing users to vote for t-shirt designs and enter design contests. Threadless does a great job of creating a fantastic user experience that doesn't require the user to leave Facebook.
4. Nutella
Why it's Awesome: How can a hazelnut spread have an awesome Facebook Page? Well it does. Beyond a sweet looking like gate, Nutella has a special tab outlining the rules of its Facebook Page, setting expectations with its fans. The company also shares a ton of great images on its wall that generate a huge amount of engagement.
5. Zappos
Why it's Awesome: Zappos is known for great customer service. That extends to its Facebook Page. Zappos has an amazing like gate that sits next to a featured photo submitted by one of its fans. Users can also easily join the company's VIP program from the page.
Why it's Awesome: The NHL rocks Facebook. They have a like gate with a very compelling call-to-action. They also have a customer photo generator application that allows users to customize their Facebook profile picture with their favorite NHL team.
Why it's Awesome: Everyone likes TVs -- but not always on Facebook. Samsung Televisions does a great job of integrating a contest into its page. Additionally, Samsung provides custom tabs for more in-depth product information and even support questions!
8. Bing
Why it's Awesome: Bing might just have the coolest welcome page on this list. It uses social proof and data from Facebook to actually show why people like the Bing page. Bing also uses like gates within its custom tabs and integrates its social search product into its Facebook Page.
9. Starbucks
Why it's Awesome: You have to love a fan page that lets you manage and share your gift card information. Starbucks was an early social media adopter, and it comes through in the polish and features of its Facebook Page. Beyond an awesome gift card app, Starbucks uses its page to run contests for seasonal products and also offers a slick store locator application.
10. Livescribe
Why it's Awesome: Facebook commerce is a huge opportunity for many businesses. Livescribe does a great job of integrating the product shopping experience into its Facebook page ... and then make it social! This is a great example of a robust page that, in many ways, functions like a business website.
11. Burt's Bees
Why it's Awesome: Your customers can be your best marketers. The Burt's Bees Facebook Page uses a customer tab to aggregate the global online word-of-mouth buzz about its products in an interesting and unique way. It also has a great like gate with a $2 off coupon as well as the ability to order products directly from the page.
12. Clarisonic
Why it's Awesome: Sometimes the best way to build a community is through a shared cause. Instead of offering visitors a coupon, Clarisonic offers a donation to support a non-profit. Clarisonic also uses like gates throughout its page tabs to generate Likes prior to users entering its contests. Overall, the page is on brand and clearly displays the utility of the product.
13. Community Coffee
Why it's Awesome: A great Facebook page can help bring a product to life. Community Coffee uses recipes and fun birthday ecards to help bring its products to life. Overall, this is a deep page with lots of content to keep engagement high.
14. ecycler
Why it's Awesome: A page is only as good as its content. Recycling company ecycler is a terrific example of a Facebook pages with interesting and engaging content. It shares a TON of great videos that are both educational and entertaining.
15. Mabel's Labels
Why it's Awesome: Mabel's Labels is a great example of going beyond simply asking for the Like. Its Facebook welcome page has a contest entry that collects contact information and gets opt-in permission for email marketing. In addition to this awesome welcome, Mabel's has a great Facebook store and awesome multimedia content.
Use these awesome page examples as inspiration to finally create a Facebook page for your business or as motivation to improve your existing page. You don't have to do everything. Instead, focus on the core needs of your fans and customers.
What are some of your favorite Facebook Pages? What makes them so awesome?
Inbound Marketing Blog Feed
surveyor 6:14 PM on November 04, 2011
this is a great collection..personally i like http://facebook.com/landsurveyorsunited
surveyor 6:14 PM on November 04, 2011
this is a great collection..personally i like http://facebook.com/landsurveyorsunited
Pollyanna Darling 12:12 AM on November 05, 2011
Great list thanks. What tools have they used?
Bill F. 4:16 AM on November 05, 2011
Great pages, I have just found one this morning, it has everything it needs. Simple, nice and useful.
SlideMotion:
http://tinyurl.com/3zy5sua
Peter 8:47 AM on November 05, 2011
I do like these pages but the main wall should never be dominated by a large image as it'll prevent the very thing it was meant for, socializing. So if you have a separate link for your personalized portion of your business page from the wall then it's fine.
john chambers 11:18 AM on November 05, 2011
I've been resistant to Facebook ... but this has certainly converted me. Have a big BIG THANKS.
John Trader 11:24 AM on November 05, 2011
Great collection of outstanding Facebook pages. A lesson to be learned from each one...thanks for assembling this list!
Luis Aleta 2:03 PM on November 05, 2011
Excelent article, actually it help tu acomplish wtih the activities of the first day stablish on hubspot´s ebook How to master facebbok marketing in 10 days
Michael H 1:30 AM on November 06, 2011
Wow! I just started learning about HubSpot in an effort to improve the family business and I am seriously impressed! Thanks for an amazing product - no need to google anything else, I found all the resources I need here!
Steve Troutman 7:00 AM on November 06, 2011
Thanks for the content on the 15 greatest facebook pages. Someone that wants to create a good looking page can get some great ideas from these. Probably have to hire a designer though. They look very professional. Definitely Facebook is the place to advertize with over 800,000 people coming all the time.
John Kottcamp 4:29 PM on November 06, 2011
I can't disagree with the quality of any of the Facebook pages shown. However when I read what makes them awesome, I see a pattern developing that points to how well they are able to drive Likes, but not really engagement. When companies move into the social ecosystem that have to leave behind the notion that customer experience is a series of uni-directional posts. Most companies publish content on their Facebook pages that is really not much different than on their websites of their advertising. It is essentially pushing marketing copy to a favorably inclined audience. In a recent study, it was found that 85% of people visiting a brand's Facebook page are already customers. Liking the brand is just an affirmation, not a conversion. So for brands to really take advantage of the connection that Facebook offers, they will have to go beyond using their pages as another flat advertising channel and use their pages to really engage with people who are probably not as interested in the brand as they are interested in the experiences associated with the brand. This mutual area of interest is where co-experience happens.
Peter Charalambos 7:51 PM on November 06, 2011
I agree with John Kottcamp. There are many fan pages where fans are able to socialize with the fan page administrator and each other which is what I assume is meant by 'social media'
Angela 8:15 PM on November 06, 2011
Mirvac Hotels & Resorts in Aus are doing some cool things with Facebook. Sea Temple Port Douglas an example https://www.facebook.com/SeaTemplePortDouglas
cool welcome graphic
Marla Gonzalez 9:19 PM on November 06, 2011
While the list you mention above is impressive, Facebook is allowing much more than just a landing page as you can now integrate an entire website inside of Facebook. Please check out a page that B Culture Media designed and created. Now this is a cool site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Lee/250935554923569?sk=app_115365878570693
MASATOSHI KOBAYASHI 9:21 PM on November 06, 2011
Great collection! Very informative.
thank you!
Michael Hartzell 10:40 PM on November 06, 2011
Sure enough. I am convinced. Though I have to admit that for a b2b, I was hesitant. Thank you for the info and the ebook. A game changer...
Mike
David Nielsen 11:24 PM on November 06, 2011
Great research finding all of these, makes me think a little harder about how I can do a better job of marketing on Facebook..
elsoar 7:39 AM on November 07, 2011
really v good
i will buy now
beyondthese.com 8:24 AM on November 07, 2011
Hi, they were sure good examples of facbook business pages. Thank you for showing this.
Chris Dushek 1:21 PM on November 07, 2011
Definitely some great examples. As we look further into the value of these pages, John Kottcamp offers some great insight and identifies some areas of consideration It's essential to looked into the areas associated with the return on investment as well.
Marty Duren 7:52 AM on November 08, 2011
A nice one from my company, LifeWay Christian Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/HCSBible?ref=ts&sk=app_190322544333196
Sugarluxe Art 10:00 AM on November 08, 2011
We've been in the process of building our own app (instead of using the freebie apps like pagemodo) to have total control of our like gate and other marketing iniatives on Facebook. So, these examples really showcase some great ideas on making that first impression. Thank you for sharing.
Additionally, I agree wholeheartedly with John Kottcamp's comment above about engagement. Those of us who are small brands, small manufacturers, and small business owners HAVE to engage and find other ways to captivate our fans because it's impossible to compete for attention with the brands listed above.
I hope in the future you'll feature some smaller companies who really engage their audience, too, regardless of name recognition or number of fans.
Megan from Pholiofy 11:17 AM on November 09, 2011
We built an app using wordpress to help designers and small businesses create great landing tabs and fangates in a snap. We are hoping that all businesses, regardless of marketing budget can have Facebook pages as good or better than what is posted above. You can also add google analytics to track visit vs. likes. We just launched and you can test it for free. Would love your feedback.
Pholiofy - the facebook pages publishing platform
Tudor 5:19 AM on November 11, 2011
Great post. I'll ask the question as well... what tools are available for building these pages?