As a business owner I know how important it is to get on Facebook in China. Facebook, and social networking in general hasn't quite had the same effect on the Internet and businesses IRL. Business in China is still very much a "family and friends" deal, and advertising is very old school - posters, handing out flyers, and TV commercials. However, there still are a larger number of expats who are able to get on Facebook in China, and being able to reach them is very important to your business in China.

Expats stick together, whether they're college kids, English teachers, or quality control managers. Many people find it hard to jump into Chinese society 100%, especially when language is a huge barrier to overcome. If you own a bar or restaurant in China, you should be on Facebook! In case you didn't know, thousands of expats are able to bypass firewall restrictions in China with proxies and VPNs. Much of what they do is check their Facebook account.

As a seasoned expat, I frequently get on my Facebook account and waste time. When I don't know what to do or where to go, sure, I would be susceptible to advertising. I see it constantly on Chinese community websites - offers, events, and info all targeted at the expat crowd. Why couldn't you do the same thing on Facebook?

Even for businesses in China, Facebook has a lot of opportunities. Facebook fan pages, targeted advertising, and word of mouth opportunities to get people to know about your business. As of 2011, except in large cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, expat communities are tight. There's a track run in the road where they frequent specific bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping centers. Some of this is due to language, and people generally hang where English speakers are, but some of this is just due to "being used to it". If you can get your business on Facebook in China, you can get people "used to" frequenting your place too.

Before you get started on your advertising campaign, you're going to have to get yourself a VPN. Proxies are commonly used to access blocked sites in China, but as a business owner, you're going to need a VPN. A VPN secures your whole computer or phone, as opposed to strictly your browser as a proxy would do. Because you'll be uploading pics and video, and managing various aspects of your websites and Facebook page, a VPN is a much better choice. When you're able to get on Facebook in China, you'll be able to grow your business in a way you may not have thought possible.