Will Facebook Pages Replace Traditional Landing Pages

[asha]

Facebook currently tenders a huge opportunity for businesses to get new customers.Facebook Pages are at the center of that opportunity.We can target individuals on the basis of their interests, job position, as well as a number of other interest factors and drive them to our Facebook Page. So why on earth would we drive them to a Facebook Page and not a traditional landing page? Thats not hard to understand at all. Anybody that’s viewing a Facebook advertisement is guaranteed to be a Facebook user. It was a matter of concern because previously there was a huge barrier to getting a user to enter their contact information into a form. Visitors would regularly have to enter their email, name, phone number, and often numerous other variables. Now on Facebook Pages the only thing they need to click is 'Become a Fan'. That means the hurdle for generating new leads has been reduced by a substantial amount.

[Matt]

There is a downside to this, however.

Sure, you are able to cultivate new "fans", but what else do you get from them?

1) There are no sales occurring on these pages, so there is no chance to cultivate new customers right then and there.
2) There is no form sign up or newsletter sign up, so you also miss out on building your mailing list.
3) It is up to the members to not only join, but leave as well. They leave without your knowledge, which gives them more control over reception of your message than through a traditional mailing list.
4) The prospect is not yet on your site and they now have at least one additional step to get there, or more than one to get to the desired product or service.

This is pretty much a form of 'push' advertising, but to a predefined audience (your fans). I just wanted to ensure that we understand that we should know how to properly use Facebook pages as a form of marketing, and not have them replace traditional, successful formats, but supplement them.

[Sreedhar]

I agree with what Matt said. Social Networking sites may get a lot of "fans" or "friends" on your page, but business out of them? I really doubt. But it might surely add to the whole.