Last month, in BusinessWeek, writer and entrepreneur Jeff Pulver asked that question, adding, "Maybe you should be."
Jeff has essentially abandoned LinkedIn in favor of Facebook—because of Facebook's rich and flexible platform and overall experience. While LinkedIn gave him "no compelling reason...to stay and interact," FaceBook "is great for business networking as well as socializing, and provides a platform for creating networks among like-minded people."
I still see a role for LinkedIn, but I'm beginning to embrace Facebook. As I've spent time playing around with it, I've become increasingly enamored (and impressed).
Facebook bills itself as a "social utility" that connects people with friends, as well as those who work, go to school, share interests with and live around them. You can use Facebook to keep up with friends, learn more about them, see who they are networked with, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and join groups, both professional and not-so.
Facebook, in my mind, is a seamless mix of social and professional, of serious and silly—kind of like our world. It gives you a more complete picture of all the small threads that make up the tapestries of our lives—which I think is critical in an age where we are marketing to People, not Markets. And it's FUN. (There are more reasons I like Facebook, which you can read about on the Daily Fix blog.)
All that is cool, you say. But what's the point? Can it help you grow your business? I say: Absolutely.
Facebook offers an unfiltered way for people to connect with other professionals. But I also see the potential for businesses to interact with customers and fans on a more personal level. How, exactly? Well, there's no a magic formula; every business has to figure out the best approach for itself. I created the Fans of MarketingProfs group on Facebook, for example. And I created an “Event” listing for our upcoming Driving Sales conference. I see it as yet another way for us to talk to our audience—to let them get to know the people behind MarketingProfs—and for us to listen, to get feedback on what we don't do well or on what we do well but could do better.
Here's my Facebook profile, if you're curious. (BTW, like all the Facebook links here, you have to become a member to see the page itself.)
So back to you. Have you checked out Facebook? If yes, how do you use it? If no, do you plan to?
Until next week,
Ann Handley
ann@marketingprofs.com
Chief Content Officer
MarketingProfs
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