How Apps can Help your Facebook Ad

Applications have the ability to go viral - and Facebook is all about viral: But did you ever stop to think how much apps can help increase the effectiveness of your Facebook Ad?The beauty of Facebook apps - they're interactive: Something your fans can click on, and get a tiny reward in the form of a result. It can be as minimal as the "Like This" link you click on ads, allowing you to express your preference... or something that provides a more tangible reward. For example, clicking on a flower to "send" it to a friend.And now that Facebook's development platform allows anyone who's interested to concoct their own app, it's something you may wish to consider as a strategy to enhance your Facebook page - or ad!In case you're breaking out in hives at the word "app", let me ask you a question:  Have you ever created a widget? If you're nodding in relief, and saying, "Oh yes. I've created lots of widgets!" you should have no problem. That's basically what Facebook apps are; or at least, how they operate.App ExamplesIf you're brand new to apps and are just curious what they look like... think of all those little links on your Facebook pages:- Poke- Like- Facebook WallAnd, of course, all those annoying messages your Facebook friends send you:  "Give Jane a Virtual Slap".  So you click, and the first thing you see is the message: "Allow Access? Allowing Slap Your Friends will let it pull your profile information, photos, your friends' info, and other content that it requires to work". You then either click "Allow", or the "Leave Application" link. If you click "Allow", you've added the App to your Facebook account... as well as allowing it to access all your information.Apps that Catch On QuicklyIf you want your app to catch on quickly, there are certain attributes you need to make sure it contains. It's not nuclear physics - just logical common sense:- Migrating users to your website by inserting a link- Incorporating an element of interaction- Utilizing current events (e.g. an app that allows you to vote or input on some element of upcoming "green" events)Including competition against the computer, or against your user's "friends"- Creating an unbearably cute app with appealing graphics that hugs, sprinkles fairy dust, gives jewel to or other wise lavishes attention on your lonely Facebook friendsThis latter tactic can be especially successful in increasing your app's popularity because when the element of competition is added, you can virtually count on users promoting the app for you by begging friends to "vote" or click - or whatever way you've set up for them to use it.Making Money with AppsYes. You can. But if you are using one to augment your Facebook ad, making money should be a side-effect, rather than your main tunnel-vision focus.How Do You Actually Make a Facebook App?If you are familiar with PHP and MySQL, or other coding languages, you can easily create one from the Facebook Developer page, which walks you through the process. If not, you might want to consider visiting a site such as guru.com, and hire a coder to create one for you (search, using the parameter "Facebook applications").Whether you regard apps as the most annoying curse of the 21st century or the most exciting thing since "The Pirates of the Caribbean", it's a subject you shouldn't ignore - particularly if you are considering marketing with Facebook Ads.