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There is no doubt that social media has become an efficient and savvy business tool. With half a billion people using Facebook, and 145 million tweeting about everything from up-to-the-minute world events to what they had for lunch, it makes sense that your business use these sites strategically to reach consumers. As with your main website, a business fan page on Facebook has to be attractive to traffic in terms of content, design, and optimization tactics. Design, particularly, is key to reaching your target audience.

Facebook business fan pages can utilize more than the status update; there are features that allow you to customize a page. This is important visually to distinguish your page from others, as well as to build your brand with images, logos, slogans, and other key features. Skittles’s fan page, for instance, features their recognizable rainbow color scheme and logo, “Taste the Rainbow.” Here is a look at other great business fan page designs that include important elements to appeal to their audience.

• 1 800 Flowers. Women love flowers, so 1 800 Flowers targeted men as their most likely visitors. They installed a “Guy’s guide to flowers” to appeal specifically to this demographic. It is easy to find and easy to use, which is also important.
• Ritz-Carlton. The ritzy resort uses the power of pictures to entice you. You are immediately surrounded by luxurious images, and the fan page also includes interesting factoids about exotic locations around the world. Ready to book your room?
• Intel. This business fan page keeps people coming back with incentives, like giveaways, promotions, and contests. Giving away free merchandise is always a great way to earn fans.
• Red Bull. It is fun, and they don’t take a formal business approach. Their call to action is an image of a can of Red Bull with the caption, “Like our page. HINT, HINT.” This page strengthens brand image both with graphics and tone.

These fan pages work because they suit the business and appeal to their target audience. When designing a fan page, choose a layout and features that fit your brand, create custom tabs to guide consumers, ask engaging, conversation-starting questions – and respond, make it interactive with contests, polls, don’t be afraid to give something away now and then, and use the same tactics you would on your regular site, including video; excellent, valuable content; and a user-friendly experience.