Sometimes you may find it hard to distinguish between a Facebook Group and a Public Profile (aka fan page), most differences become evident only after you try them out first, we at 77, have created both types, however, we’re currently dedicating more time to promoting our Public Profiles than our Groups.

First it’s important to know that a Public Profile should not be considered just another destination or pretty brand page. You don’t want your Public Profile to be one more page added to the bunch and be forgotten in time. Ideally, you want people to use the network to amplify and pitch your product to friends and colleagues. You also want people to have a stake in it, and allow them to express themselves as well as add personal messages.

Currently, there is very little interaction between members and Facebook Groups. In the end, Facebook Groups get added into a list that is then used for show off since they usually involve cool brands that you want people to associate you with. However, do you ever go back to them?

Public profiles should be created as communication hubs while at the same time offer good, valid content. This way good content leads to substantial conversation which leads to greater engagement which leads to more WOM until eventually increasing your fan base exponentially. Public Profiles allow fans to comment on posts, share, like posts, start-up new discussions, comment on photos, videos, links plus more.

Information can range from product information you want your customers to know about, to value added information which may not necessarily relate directly to the brand/product but which holds great pertinence with the customer.

A good example of this is Dell’s resource page they offer to consumers and in particular, small businesses. It’s a perfect way of keeping your brand in the consumer’s top of mind while at the same time targeting a different audience other than the current fan base making part of your Public Profile.

Features such as coupons, contests, freebies, events, etc may also engage users in becoming a fan.You can always turn to advertising on Facebook, that’s for sure, however, the idea of a Public Profile is to create brand loyalty and involve fans as much as possible.

Building Facebook Public Profiles can seem like a simple task, but what can get a bit complicated is getting them to work thoroughly. Keep in mind you must offer good content, make it easy to share, and allow people to participate and express themselves through your profile at all times.

• to keep a close relationship with clients and consumers
• maintain an open dialogue with prospects and clients
• brand promotion and awareness
• boost sales
• increase visibility in search results
• drive traffic
• word-of-mouth
• …

Reasons, there are plenty. The number of Fortune 500 that have embraced blogging since last year has more than doubled. According to Socialtext, a people directory with social networking features who’s co-founder is Chris Anderson (Wired), 12.8% of Fortune 500 have taken up blogging today.

This is just a sample of some of the company’s included in this 12.8%, click here to view the entire list.

Included on this list are the links to the different blogs, some have multiple blogs, plus any review that has been written about them. B2B marketing holds an immense amount of valuable content that should be exposed and available to all so that communities may begin to form as contributors add valuable information to them.

Because ‘marketing crisis’, ‘how to market in times of recession’ and the likes have become quiet popular search queries on Google these past months, B2B blogs can serve as a way to demonstrate thought leaders and bring new ideas to the table while establishing corporate credibility.

SocialText has also put together a document discussing the corporate approach to blogging. It’s a good guide where a group of random blogs are selected into writing styles and content style. This way corporations have a wide variety of approaches to analyze and consider for when plunging themselves in this new media universe.