Displaying Facebook Events with the Facebook Sync Plugin and Shortcode

Before we get into how to use, lets talk about why to use

Best Ways to Use this:

You can display Facebook Events on your website. I tell ALL clubs to ALWAYS have facebook events, no matter if the officers and immediate club members don't use it, you need to attract modern riders, and those folks are in bars on facebook on their smart phones bragging about the big air, or helmet mowhawks, or whatever kids do these days. Some clubs though may not choose to use the Events Manager plugin. If this is you, then be sure to utilize facebook Events as a way to list upcoming events. I suggest using a Widget on sidebars where you feel the need to display upcoming events (common for you to use custom Sidebar named INFO, put it on the info page. Assign pages the INFO sidebar. Go learn more about sidebars if that confused you by viewing another article). I also suggest you put the Facebook EVENTS SHORTCODE on any page of your site you feel it fits. Sponsors, Club Info, your Home Page, Snowmobile Safety, Links, whatever! The shortcode features are well documented, so just get what you need for specific settings there. Widget would need to be enabled (it probably already is) before it appears.

 

Basics

Shortcodes are easy ways for non technical people to add what would be lengthy script in the form of a simple code. Facebook events offers a shortcode. Let's remember a few key things. 1) Your Facebook page has a Page ID (its in the browser when youre on the page unless you have an advanced config with facebook. If so, you are advanced enough to not need my help!) 2) Your Facebook Page does not have Events displayed, then that means you need to EDIT Page and add events. Please don't ask me how to do this, I don't own facebook! :) 3) Events of a Page use the Page # (or the page id # in your browser). Individual Events have their own unique ID tag. Don't mess up and grab that number by accident when trying to set things up. For more info on the above. Contact facebook. Again, we don't own them :) Facebook application comes with an Events Widget (to be added to a sidebar) and a shortcode. Widget is under Appearence > Widgets. Add it to the appropriate sidebar, and check whatever settings you want. Use the facebook ID. Shortcode is more unique. It can be modified liek a widget, however, it can allow itself to be slip streamed into pages. The downside, these aren't making clickable links. To view the shrortcode commands, go to Dashboard > Facebook > Shortcodes. Copy and paste your snowmobile club facebook page's # in it.