Yes, I’m crossing the social barriers and talking religion here, kind of…

For some reason, I’ve had several businesses challenge me recently that Facebook isn’t the right platform to engage with their audiences. Although I’d agree that having a Facebook page or group isn’t always the best solution for an organization’s social strategy…you can’t argue with the fact that if Facebook were a country it would be the 3rd largest ahead of the United States (308 million) with more than 350 million active users.

While reading through a recent Marketing Profs white paper entitled, “Facebook Success Stories” featuring 21 companies using Facebook successfully, I started documenting the similar traits of each featured company. Many were using contests, fun tools, offering special deals, and even integrating video to entertain their fans.

As any marketer might do, I started brainstorming a simple way to present this to businesses, clients or others that are looking for an easy-to-use formula for leveraging Facebook for business purposes.

Growing up as a Christian (Missouri Synod Lutheran) I had to memorize a number of creeds including the Nicene and Apostles’ - both statements of belief often recited during church services. As words fell into place, low and behold I have come up with The Facebook CREED to serve as a statement of belief for how businesses can best utilize Facebook…

Contests that encourage word-of-mouth driving new friends to your page

Real engagement and feedback with your fans

Entertain through videos, games, applications, or other creative forms of reoccurring engagement

Educate them about the things that matter most to them – how to use your product, tips, advice, etc.

Deals that are exclusive to your fans – they want to feel special for being connected to you on Facebook

Yes, I know there are MANY great ideas and ways for how to leverage Facebook beyond this clever acronym such as a blog I read last month, “How to create a business-friendly profile” and Mashable‘s “30+ Apps for Doing Business on Facebook.”

What do you think…are you going to join me in reciting The Facebook CREED?! As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you’ve found something equally or even more useful. Cheers!