Knowing how to set up a Facebook author page is essential for independent writers these days. Be mindful, though, that Facebook pages are not the same as Facebook profiles. Pages are intended for companies, brands, and public figures to openly interact with any social media user who decides to ‘Like’ their page. For an independent author, this can be an excellent method to talk directly with readers, and discuss insights or a personal journey while writing the upcoming book.

1. Log in to Facebook by visiting this link: www.facebook.com. For those who do not have an account yet, do sign up by filling out the form on the exact same page. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen. Once done, the author can now log in to his account and begin setting up his page. Click the link labeled Create a Page at the bottom portion of the screen. This will then take you to a screen that shows a variety of page type choices. In this case, it is recommended to choose the option Artist, Band or Public Figure. Then, select the more specific page type. In this case, choose Author.

2. Create a name for the page. This name is going to be public. This is what people are going to use to find an author. For authors, it is best to put their names here.

3. Read the Facebook Page terms and tick the Agree box. It is not possible to continue setting up a page without agreeing to these terms.

4. Write a description about who the author is and his works in the About section. This can be modified any time in the future. Yet, still make sure it is well written and free from any grammatical errors. This is especially necessary since the page is about an author - someone who is expected to be an expert when it comes to writing. This is also a great venue to insert links to other websites where people can find them.

5. Add a profile photo to the page. Choose a professional looking photo, or anything that would represent the brand. This step on how to set up a Facebook author page is optional and can be skipped. Yet, it is highly recommended to place a photo on the profile as it adds to the authority and credibility of the author. This will also help make a profile stand out among many others. If there is picture available on your laptop or computer, just click Upload. It will then take the user to the standard photo upload feature on Facebook. The new photograph will now show up on the Facebook author page, in search engine results, and beside any comments typed in by the author using the page.

6. Facebook may invite the author to include the page on the list of favorites. All the author needs to do is click on the green button with the label "Add to Favorites" to gain easy access to the author page. On the other hand, Facebook may invite authors to promote their page.