Keeping Facebook fresh

This article talks about five Facebook pages that demonstrate qualities that keep fans coming back. In rhetoric, we talk about knowing your audience and giving its members what they need and expect.

As you all know, Facebook is all about status updates. People come back because they want to see the latest on their friends and family. Smart organizations increase their "social capital" by tapping into these updates. But marketers can't just use status updates to hawk their stuff. Fans want real two-way communication, not fakey commercials. Starbuck's FB is a good example of authentic updates. Some updates come from local Starbucks staff, but lots of them are from customers who shout out for their favorite flavors. Starbucks also includes tabs with photos, videos and games.

If you like your caffeine cold, the Red Bull page is also very interactive. Two special tabs highlights Red Bull's relationship with professional athletes, including following their Tweets. Another one has places for discussion threads. Of course, there are plenty of photos and video too. There aren't as many fan posts, but there's still plenty to look at.

Do you have a favorite Facebook page to share? What makes it such a good site?