Hasn't the Internet certainly changed over the past 5 years? Once upon a time social networking sites were just places to track and make friends. A place to enjoy and reprieve from the daily grind and relax. The good news is that we can still enjoy that relief from the structured duties of daily business and yet make profits at the same time. Facebook is the perfect platform for that!

One of the first things you need to understand about Facebook is that there are specific terms and conditions that must be followed. After all, this is a social networking site and the members did not join because they wanted to receive sales pitches. So before you do anything related to building a business on Facebook read and learn about what is acceptable and what is not.

Fortunately Facebook understands that business owners need to grow their businesses and there is a realization that this community is ideal for that. You see, as of February 2008 Facebook had a membership of over 75 million. Additionally, the membership is said to double about every six months!

It is not a wonder then that savvy business owners are tapping into this potential audience. The key is to follow the guidelines and participate in the community. By using the tools and resources provided by Facebook you will find that you can establish yourself as an expert in your field or niche and you will build a following a friends with an interest in what you can offer them.

A well thought out profile is essential to your success. Before setting it up you should decide what it is that is important to convey to viewers. The best way we can help you is with a business plan.

A quick tip is to join groups and networks that relate to your niche, service or product. This will enable you to get to know people that may be interested in what you have to offer.

Another way to build your business is to search for people you think will be potential customers for your business. Be sure to spend some time checking out individuals that appear to be in sync with your demographic. When you find a match you can invite that person to be a friend.

Keep a keen eye on your friends friends as they are likely to have similar interests in regard to what you have on offer. The ultimate way to build potential customer is to be specific about those friends you target.