By Anne Holland, Content Director

It's the Facebook marketing secret hardly anybody knows about yet. Each of your products and brands can have their own special Facebook pages -- without charge currently.

I'm not talking about regular Facebook profiles. Those are for real human beings only -- you'll get booted if you try to make one for a product or brand, so don't do it. (Unlike MySpace, where even my dog, Betty Boop, has her own account.)

Facebook has created an alternative for marketers. To check it out, go to the homepage of Facebook (the one you see before you log in). Click on the small text link titled "Advertisers" at the footer of that page. This takes you to a homepage to buy ads. If you look closely, though, you'll also see a free offer to post a Facebook page for your product even if you don't advertise.

Obviously, Facebook hopes to monetize this somehow, someday. In the meantime, why not take advantage of it?

Then your product or brand can start networking with customers, fans and their friends and their friends ... etc. Probably works especially well for strong brands that already have built-in enthusiast and fan bases.

Let me know how it works out for you.