In my article Attention – The New Currency I told readers that I would outline technologies that are available for them to try and get the attention of readers, customers, prospects, supporters, the media and others. I am going to paint with a narrower brush than to just cover social networking and focus this week on Facebook. Next week I will cover LinkedIn, followed by blogging and then Twitter.
As you read through this article you can find definitions for terms about Facebook at the Denver DataMan Facebook Dictionary.
Facebook is designed to be very casual and laid back. Facebook is geared at business to consumer relationships but more and more business to business relationships are being fostered using Facebook. If your business is not compatible with being laid back and having some fun with the work you do Facebook is not the place to be. If you think your business does not have the compatibility you might want to reconsider changing this given that fostering relationships is critical to success and we do businesses with people and firms we like.
Mike Hanbery is Owner & Chief Business Development Officer of Hanbery & Hanbery . Mike uses Facebook for business and helps drive traffic to his company and other social media projects that he does like his blog The Holistic Interconnectedness of All Things.
Hanbery & Hanbery that has a page for theeir accounting and business consulting firm so that they have another channel to reach people who they want to meet. Many of their clients and prospects come through the South Metro Chamber of Commerce who is helping people connected with Facebook and other services. Experience Pros is another SMCC company that is using Facebook to promote their business to business events.
If you are have a storefront then Facebook is another place to put up your hours and drive traffic. Cartridge World of Englewood is doing this well. If you are a restaurant or club build a following and send out specials. If you are an artist, like musician Julie Geller you should have a page to excite your fans and share music samples with them.
Facebook does not lend itself to selling. Social media in general lends itself to the idea that people will see your name and be reminded of you or you will post something that resonates and keeps you top of mind. Hard selling does not work unless you are buying ads (a post for another day). In all things we do with social media we are trying to pull people in not push information to them.
One way to passively remind and inspire is to change your status message to talk about what you are doing or drive people to a new project.
Example:
If you have interesting ideas on using Facebook, post them here and share.
Given that I started using Facebook before I had a business and before business was being done using Facebook it has been very hard for me to transition to using Facebook for business. This is a big challenge for people in their 20’s and early 30’s who have started connecting on social networks for purely social uses and are now being asked to use them for work. All users should be aware that if you would not put something on an I-25 Billboard you should not put it on Facebook or other social networks. If you are wondering if you should post something or not than it is probably best that you not.
Facebook can be a great business tool to stay connected with their supporters. If you like this article become a fan of Denver DataMan on Facebook. Next week I will talk about ways to use LinkedIn to gain attention.
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3 comments:
Steve,
Thanks for mentioning us in this great article. Regarding bridging Facebook for business, I quite purposely use the profile picture to brand myself differently. On LI and Meetup--sites I use only and overtly for business--I appear in a collared shirt and necktie. On Facebook, you'll see me in shades and a sweatshirt. This is my way of letting people who know me through business and with whom I connect on Facebook that while I will conduct business with them on the medium, they will see me acting like a human thereon. Thanks for all the valuable insights and keep up the great work.
My account was deactivated for no reason. I provided lots of info for other members, by commenting and tagging their photos. I am a highly respected published rock photographer. The shock and grief they have caused not just myself, but my friends, is stunning. I've read other accounts deleted and people could not retrieve photos hosted there nor contact info, often while on the road, meaning they could not connect with people.
I've found people writing on wall-to-wall very private info having to do with work. There is no distinction between private email, wall-to-wall and comments under photos or notes. I tried and tried to explain to people, to please not my take private business public.
I am glad they deleted me. Wait, they left my photos and text on a group I started. All my photos are watermarked, so it's quite clear they belong to the woman whose account they deleted. Maybe auto s/w randomly or for whatever purpose, deleted me?
I had to file TWO Notice of Claimed Infringements before they removed a site with my copyrighted photos and personal attacks against me. I usually file one and Yahoo, Flickr, Yahoo Groups, Google, Blogger, and other blogs take down within 24-48 hours.
I could go on and on, but because people online and Facebook's policies make it a very dangerous place to host your photos, contact info, and discuss business.
Whether or not my account is reinstated, I will never conduct business on it again. My group and photos are still up, but the minute anyone posts anything private, they will be deleted from my friends. I know made my groups closed, meaning I have to approve each member.
I am conducting business on meetup and Ning, where more professional people gather. I simply can't get behind this mentality of mixing snide remarks, private info, and business for the world to see.
I've been on myspace for years. I thought Facebook was great to get in touch with so many lost friends, family and new friends. Until they too many wrote things that really should remain private.
I am not paranoid. People steal my photos and ideas quite often. I don't want to make it any easier.
Watch your back. People write things that you can say in private to each other. But said in public can backfire, esp if you are running a business.
Jenny makes a good point, social networks like Facebook are the not the place to post your content that has business critical copyrights. In fact if you read the the newly updated terms of service from Facebook (TOS) you have limited rights to any of your content and this is true for most networks.
Your use of the networks needs to very specialized to what you do for your business.
In terms of how quickly Facebook acts - in there defense they are one of if not the fastest growing company in the world in terms of new clients. I can see how they might be slow but this is something that they should address. I am a fan of Facebook but I don't profit in any way by "supporting" them.
In terms of people writing things that should stay private I can not stress enough that if you would not put a picture or comment on the Interstate don't post on Facebook or any other social network.
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