Facebook Pages are where most nonprofits establish a home-base on Facebook. You can send targeted updates to fans, engage supporters on a wall, and give visitors a customized experience by using a variety of applications.
Your Page comes standard with a few applications developed by Facebook like Discussions and Events. But you can also add third-party applications to your Page.
Eleven Killer Facebook Page Applications For Your Nonprofit
Below are eleven popular apps that many nonprofits are using to create a unique experience for their fans (WARNING: Establish clear goals and a strategy before adding apps).
- Twitter App – This app automatically re-posts your tweets in your Facebook Page status. A big time-saver, but a potential bother to your fans if you use Twitter a lot, or if you tweet about topics that aren’t related to your Page.
- Selective Tweets – This app allows to you to selectively post a status update on your Facebook Page from Twitter simply by adding the hashtag “#fb”.
- Facebook Notes – Allows you to create formatted text with images, links to a post or add an RSS feed from your blog. Set it and forget it!
- Blog RSS Feed Reader – This a bit more robust than the notes app. You can add an image for your feed, add multiple feeds and even send out alerts to friends of new updates.
- Flash Player – This app allows you to upload Flash videos or games to your Page, which can create a highly customized experience for your fans.
- Static FBML – This app allows you to add certain types of HTML within a custom tab which can be named to match your brand. Below is an example of how Epic Change customized their Facebook Page using the Static FBML App.
- Extended Info – This app works much like the Static FBML application but is slightly easier to use. You can add lists, images, videos and other pre-formatted sections to a custom tab.
- Fundrazr – This app makes it easy for your supporters to fundraise for your cause. You can sell tickets to events, communicate to members and event track results with an analytics feature.
- MyFlickr – Display your Flickr photos on Facebook so that fans can view them, comment on them, and tag them without leaving your Facebook Page.
- YouTube Video Box – This app is pretty straight forward. Search for videos, add them to a custom tab and share them easily on with fans. Epic Change has created a unique tab for YouTube fans to share Epic Change videos with friends.
- Poll Daddy Polls – An easy way to increase engagement and understand your fanbase is with simple polls (yes / no, three choices). This app also has a sharing element to it: As soon as a user votes, they are given a choice to share their vote with their friends. Below is a poll I added the the Inbound Zombie Page.
Less is more on Facebook
Don’t go app crazy. Start with goals and strategy first – decide what you want to accomplish first. Remove any application that you’re not using through the applications setting in the app.
