buckworks - 7:06 pm on Mar 1, 2012 (gmt 0)

You don't need a test account to test a new page on Facebook.

Just use your existing account to create a page about some topic of interest and learn your way around all the controls. It doesn't have to be about a real business and the page can be temporary if you want.

When you're finally ready to try something for a real business, don't pester your friends for likes, earn likes by offering useful content, and contributing something intelligent to other people's conversations.

Running ads can be a way to gain likes quickly, and if you do things right those likes will likely (!) be more targeted than your friends would be.