26 replies to this topic

[ganalon]

I'm actually a facebook junkie, but I'm concerned about polluting my facebook page with non-friend stuff as I try to brand/market my site. My girlfriend created a separate fan page that is strictly for business. Perhaps that is the way to go.

[hulio]

I actually addressed this issue with my Marketing VP, and we decided to have our employees set up "business" accounts that reflect the company. No personal friend connections allowed. It's also just an added level of protection for our employees. It's a bit against the point of social media, and it's been a bit of a slow go at first, but it seems to be working.

[CTPhil]

Whenever I post on FB I do so as if the whole world can see it. It's a simple filter and keeps me out of trouble. It's basically just being on your best behavior, which is how I try to interact with the internet in general. If I have something off color, religious, or political to say to someone, the PM works fine.

[Brismom]

Facebook should really be used as a tool to communicate with your customers who choose to be a fan of your business fan page. This is a great way to advertise specials or sales and to keep them updated in real time and also communicate in real time. Facebook is excellent for business growth if used in the right way.

[Katja]

Facebook should really be used as a tool to communicate with your customers who choose to be a fan of your business fan page. This is a great way to advertise specials or sales and to keep them updated in real time and also communicate in real time. Facebook is excellent for business growth if used in the right way.

Yes, I have been thinking about that for some time. Right now I have a Facebook account which really isn't business oriented at all, with old friends and family from all over the world... yes it's best to keep it separated, business and private. But I still don't understand how people can spend all days on Facebook, just milking digital cows on Farmville , there just must be more interesting stuff to do in life.

[origamiFOLDER]

I am amazed at what people post on Facebook.

Sometimes, I think they forget who's in their list... I've seen more than one update followed by a mom-comment of, "You did what???"

[...] I started to post on my FB status that I was really tired of watching the tail wag the dog but realized several of the people who called this meeting are in my "friends" list. Which is annoying in and of itself. Removing them has additional implications. [...]

Privacy settings is where it's at! You can create limited profiles for different groups of people which makes all the difference in the world! For ex. If you're a big fan of expressing your emotions abut work on your status, you can prevent co-workers from seeing your feed & your wall! Etc.

Be smart, play it safe now, so when, yes, we all slip up sometime, when you forget, you'll have your tail covered.

[wings21]

I think because of the reach facebook now has, with everyone using it, everything has to be taken into consideration. Who's posting (if it's a business related post coming from a personal account, is it going to be received more readily as "word of mouth" or more likely to be dismissed as not being "authentic" or professional?"

Then you have the issue of businesses that are steadily using facebook as a means of gaining followers, positive WOM and adverting/promotion and marketing. They can quickly gain a bad rep if not using morals/ethics with their business profile. For example, I've seen instances of business profiles deleting bad reviews psoted on their website....the implication of that is then, the changes someone out there has seen it before you deleted it are high. You then risk the poster reposting, and if you are consistently doing it, you risk multiple people calling you out of the businesses' professionalism.

I guess bottom line, is keep personal and business profiles completely seperate, and be aware of perception.....

[chrishirst]

I guess bottom line, is keep personal and business profiles completely seperate, and be aware of perception.....

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

There is an increasingly "blurring" of the line between business and social activity, Sure, one year you got absolutely rat-arsed at the office Christmas party and ended up "bumping uglies" in the toilet/store room with the bosses PA, or you photocopied your nether regions and emailed them to everyone, does that mean you are not fit to do the job you are employed/contracted to do?

Naargh, 'course it doesn't. It just means you are a human being and can do some damned stupid things when not actually working. Just because they are not breathtakingly hilarious later doesn't mean they were not at the time.

Same with teenagers, Hell I'm sure that we all did things that we now think of as "too risky" or not being good for the "image".

The only way that we really know where the line is drawn, is to cross it a few times.

[Jill]

Sure, one year you got absolutely rat-arsed at the office Christmas party and ended up "bumping uglies" in the toilet/store room with the bosses PA, or you photocopied your nether regions and emailed them to everyone, does that mean you are not fit to do the job you are employed/contracted to do?

speaking from experience?

[wings21]

I agree, how many people have made the rookie mistake of calling in for a "sickie", only to then put pictures of you up at the beach....forgetting who's watching.

Business/personal it all spills over...6 degrees of seperation theory applies here. Everyone's interlinked in someway - if you're not happy with EVERYONE knowing something you post, best to be safe and not post at all...too risky that e-karma will come back to bite you!

[chrishirst]

speaking from experience?

My lips are sealed on the matter.

[Cwtguy87]

A Big Danger of Facebook is a Lack of Consistency and Quality

Believe it or not, having a Facebook page for your company or website can be quite a burden especially if you are smaller and do not have the time or resources (in my case interest) to put into the page to make it look great and provide something useful.

Posting links to your newest posts or content does not help. People want those reminders but they want information not available there. They want to engage with you. They want to participate and be part of something. If you cannot provide other interesting content, ask questions, share images, offer freebies, etc. you could be in danger of looking irrelevant, lazy, or unprofessional.

The worst you could do is register your business name and develop the website with a link to your social networks at the top of your page. Now every vistor who goes there sees a lack of dedication and focus. I have defensively registered my Facebook name but have provided no links or ability to get to the page.

I stick with the social media I actually have an interest in and can engage in with my readers. In my case that is Google+ and Twitter.

I hope that helps.