Last month, I co-presented a talk on blogging and social media to the Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. My part of the talk was on blogging. My co-presenter, Michelle Ma of Orange Coast College, talked about social media, specifically Facebook as she uses it to promote the college. “Interesting stuff, I thought.” But, I wasn’t sure that having a Facebook page was necessary for me since I already have a web site—www.StContiCommunications.com—and started this blog.
Now, just a few weeks later, LOTS of people are telling me I need to get on Facebook. Even Andrew Potvin, the Magic PR Man from my previous post, has a Facebook page.
Just yesterday, I had two people—a client and my brother—telling me to get with it. OK, now, as recently as three years ago, my brother would have been the first to admit that he was technologically challenged; he didn’t even an email address. Now, he only uses a cell phone (no land line); he’s texting all the time; he sends me email jokes, and he’s a Facebook fan!
So, Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/about.php) is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. According to their site, people use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet. So, having a Facebook page is like having a blog within a network of blogs?
One of my clients started a Facebook page called Allness, a community that celebrates God, by any name, in everything. Its description reads, “Everything is part of the dance… if Spirit is for me, no-Thing can be against me…”
It strikes me that being on Facebook is also similar to being a part of, say, a Yahoo! Groups list. I’ve done that—been active in a Yahoo! group. It was great to have a group of like-minded people communicating with me. I guess now I can do it with photos, mpegs, etc, right?
I’d love some comments about how to make the most of Facebook. For now, though, I’ve created a profile page and will check out Allness, plus others that friends and clients have recommended.
E-I-E-I-O.