a service of Teen Challenge International, USA

Facebook is the new Yellow Pages

Written by Timothy Cloninger on Dec 22, 2010

Setting up a Facebook Page is easy. It requires little technical knowledge, and no additional staff is needed to maintain it. Just follow a few simple steps, and designate a couple minutes a day (maximum) or a week (minimum) to update your “wall” or respond to comments.

How to setup your Facebook Page…

  1. Create the page.
    1. Go to facebook.com/pages. Click “Create Page”.
    2. Under the “Official Page” section, choose “Brand, Product, or Organization”, then “Non-profit”.
    3. Name your page. Do be specific (ie – Teen Challenge of Ozark). Don’t be vague or misleading (ie – Teen Challenge Men’s Ministries).
    4. Click “Create Official Page”.
  2. Provide some basic organizational info.
    1. Upload a profile picture.
    2. Provide your address (optional), website, mission, etc
    3. Make your first page post!
  3. Tell people.


Additional Tips…

  1. Interact with your fans.
  2. Use photos. They’re “worth a thousand words” and “need no translation”.
  3. Don’t forget to click “Like” on your page.
  4. Get a user-friendly URL (facebook.com/username). A minimum of 10 fans is required to activate this feature.
Category: Technology •

3 Responses to “Facebook is the new Yellow Pages”

  1. pattyb 12 April 2011 at 3:46 pm Permalink

    I just want to add a word of warning to TC centers about the FaceBook posting of pictures. Remember that you will need photo releases from everyone in the photos, not just the students (who should have signed those during intake.) I would suggest that you specifically have social media mentioned on the photo release forms and have the family members sign them also. Most family member are happy to be included, but we have to be certain that we’re following the confidentiality rules for everyone.

  2. admin 1 April 2011 at 10:43 am Permalink

    At the Nat’l Office, we use the Causes app (http://facebook.com/causes). Not a huge benefit there but it was easy and no monthly cost, so any benefit is a good one.
    Our biggest benefit for online giving has been the “Donate now” button on our homepage. I suggest doing that now, if you haven’t already got one.
    If you have the know-how your best benefit is probably to integrate it directly on your site, if you don’t have the time or knowledge, just provide a link to your donation page on our site (you can find it by visiting http://teenchallengeusa.com/locations, finding your center, clicking “Donate to this center” and using that link address).
    Questions? Email timc@teenchallengeusa.com.

  3. Sonya Chapman 29 March 2011 at 9:14 pm Permalink

    In Tallahassee, we have begun to post Family Day photos to an album each month.The families and extended family love getting to see the photos and they in turn tag the photos so that the “word” is spread even farther.
    We show our facebook address on all newsletters, business cards and correspondence so that the audience will grow.
    Question: Have many of you added a Paypal for nonprofits widget to your page so that folks can donate from your facebook page?
    Any advice appreciated !


Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.