If you're thinking of sharing your business via Facebook, creating an effective profile is important. It's easy to go into Facebook and set up a profile that doesn't do much to reflect what you're about. So here are some tips for Facebook beginners.

1. Be careful

It's wise to exercise care when you set up your business profile. You may or may not already be on Facebook to socialize, but it's a good idea to keep your business Facebook page separate. It's also a good idea to limit who reads your status updates so that your personal news does not conflict with your professional news. 

You can use Facebook's privacy settings to control who sees your updates. And remember, privacy settings aren't perfect; some cross-over is possible, so take care what you post. Some things you don't need to share!

2. Your name

Most business people suggest using your real, full name in your profile - another good reason to pay attention to privacy settings. But you're a business, so you want your name out there. Using your real name makes it a lot easier for people to get hold of you.

3. Your avatar

You will need to choose an avatar. Some successful business people suggest using a professional picture of yourself, but it's entirely possible to get a good photo with your home camera. Let your "look" reflect the mood of your business (you don't want to be pictured in overalls, for example, if your business is a professional marketer; but overalls would be an excellent look for a gardening business). If you have some photo software on your computer, you can adjust the background and so forth to construct a good avatar.

You can also use your business logo as your avatar. Various sources disagree as to which is the most effective from a business perspective, so ultimately it's up to you and what you're comfortable with. Consider your avatar's look and colors, and see if it makes an effective avatar or not.   

4. Think like a client

If you were a prospective client of your business, what would you like to see on a profile? Be thorough and truthful, but keep your prospects in mind. There are some things your clients don't need to know, and other things they should know - remember, this is a business profile. Include those aspects of yourself that coincide with your business intent.

Something else to consider are online resources such as free printed guides and tutorials.