Comments on: Re-Thinking My Facebook Strategy http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html CEO, Thomas Nelson Publishers Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:42:37 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pat http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-47146 Pat Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:36:36 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-47146 Interesting reading, even if a few months late! My computer was hacked several months ago, and as a result, I went through and deleted just about all of my online accounts, photographs, etc. I found, to my surprise, an enormous sense of relief about the simplicity that returned to my life. Only at the urging of extended family did I recently open up a new Facebook account (everyone but me was on it). But this time, like you, I was judicious in keeping the list of 'friends' to about 100. I ditched my old Fan Page, and with the new account, I made everything as private as possible ("only friends"), even turning off the search capability for my name. I don't 'friend' people who are just acquaintances, and unless they are friends of a friend, they can't 'friend' me, either. I discovered that if I don't click 'ignore' on a friend request, that there is still some capability of 'awaiting confirmation' folk to read my wall posts--and due to my need for privacy from my hacker, I click ignore for all friend-of-friend-but-stranger-to-me requests promptly. I've trained myself to do so without guilt. ;) To simplify my newsfeeds, I don't enable/accept applications, and hide all games. And the biggest help to me with the newsfeeds is the creation of categories of friends ('lists'). I found that my general newsfeed was still missing many posts from family or other close friends--but that when I put folks in lists, such as Family, Local, College, High School, etc.--if I clicked on just that list group, I'd get ALL the newsfeeds for that category. So now, I can at least stay current with family feeds, or certain groups of friends. The thing that's odd about Facebook is that it generalizes all as 'friends' or 'not friends'. In real life, though, there are shades of grey...there are some things I'd share with certain friends and not with others. So mass-posting certain posts to 100 other people sometimes means either I'm staying light and superficial, or I'm getting close with a few folks who I otherwise might not share so intimately with. Just one reason why technology is likely to always fall short of real-life interaction and communications. Interesting reading, even if a few months late! My computer was hacked several months ago, and as a result, I went through and deleted just about all of my online accounts, photographs, etc. I found, to my surprise, an enormous sense of relief about the simplicity that returned to my life. Only at the urging of extended family did I recently open up a new Facebook account (everyone but me was on it). But this time, like you, I was judicious in keeping the list of 'friends' to about 100. I ditched my old Fan Page, and with the new account, I made everything as private as possible ("only friends"), even turning off the search capability for my name. I don't 'friend' people who are just acquaintances, and unless they are friends of a friend, they can't 'friend' me, either. I discovered that if I don't click 'ignore' on a friend request, that there is still some capability of 'awaiting confirmation' folk to read my wall posts–and due to my need for privacy from my hacker, I click ignore for all friend-of-friend-but-stranger-to-me requests promptly. I've trained myself to do so without guilt. ;)

To simplify my newsfeeds, I don't enable/accept applications, and hide all games. And the biggest help to me with the newsfeeds is the creation of categories of friends ('lists'). I found that my general newsfeed was still missing many posts from family or other close friends–but that when I put folks in lists, such as Family, Local, College, High School, etc.–if I clicked on just that list group, I'd get ALL the newsfeeds for that category. So now, I can at least stay current with family feeds, or certain groups of friends.

The thing that's odd about Facebook is that it generalizes all as 'friends' or 'not friends'. In real life, though, there are shades of grey…there are some things I'd share with certain friends and not with others. So mass-posting certain posts to 100 other people sometimes means either I'm staying light and superficial, or I'm getting close with a few folks who I otherwise might not share so intimately with. Just one reason why technology is likely to always fall short of real-life interaction and communications.

]]> By: Tim Westermeyer http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-41535 Tim Westermeyer Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:18:57 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-41535 Michael -- It looks like you were able to change the URL for your "fan" page from "facebook.com/michaelhyattfan" (which is the link to it you have in this blog) to simply "facebook.com/michaelhyatt". How did you do that, since you can apparently only change your user name once? Sorry for such a pedestrian question -- great information in all of your blogs. Keep it coming. Tim Michael –

It looks like you were able to change the URL for your “fan” page from “facebook.com/michaelhyattfan” (which is the link to it you have in this blog) to simply “facebook.com/michaelhyatt”. How did you do that, since you can apparently only change your user name once? Sorry for such a pedestrian question — great information in all of your blogs. Keep it coming.

Tim

]]> By: Alyice http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-40894 Alyice Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:12:23 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-40894 I went through the same thing some time back. I almost deleted my FB altogether, but then I realized I have kids to monitor--and now that my son is in college, it gives me an opportunity to play a few games with him online and stay in touch. I did, however, unfriend a bunch of strangers and even some high school acquintances who friended me but never talked to me beyond that "Friend" status. Even unsubbed a few friends who no longer talked to me on a personal level once we became FB friends as it was easier for them to catch up with my updates and then move on with their day--which made hurt our relationship. Unfriending them, has allowed us to reconnect on a more personal relationship. A may have to start a fan page, for the magazine though... something to think about. I went through the same thing some time back. I almost deleted my FB altogether, but then I realized I have kids to monitor–and now that my son is in college, it gives me an opportunity to play a few games with him online and stay in touch.

I did, however, unfriend a bunch of strangers and even some high school acquintances who friended me but never talked to me beyond that "Friend" status. Even unsubbed a few friends who no longer talked to me on a personal level once we became FB friends as it was easier for them to catch up with my updates and then move on with their day–which made hurt our relationship. Unfriending them, has allowed us to reconnect on a more personal relationship.

A may have to start a fan page, for the magazine though… something to think about.

]]> By: Ellie http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-39413 Ellie Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:29:53 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-39413 Hi, How were you able to contact facebook and ask them to transfer your friends to fans? If anyone can help me with this??? That would be great! Hi,
How were you able to contact facebook and ask them to transfer your friends to fans? If anyone can help me with this??? That would be great!

]]> By: Maureen http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-39272 Maureen Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:35:00 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-39272 Finally an approach that is realistic. I struggled with quality versus quantity of friend numbers I have numerous friend invites waiting for my response but would not add them due to this dilemma of melding everyone in one pot. It was about integrity of my values for me.. allowing anyone into the sanctuary of my family life without due course and natural evolution. so I held back until you beautifully expressed your plan as you plugged through your list... I now have a fan page and what I consider healthy boundaries for both my family and my associates. Much appreciate your candor Michael and the example of integrity that you emanate always. Finally an approach that is realistic. I struggled with quality versus quantity of friend numbers I have numerous friend invites waiting for my response but would not add them due to this dilemma of melding everyone in one pot. It was about integrity of my values for me.. allowing anyone into the sanctuary of my family life without due course and natural evolution. so I held back until you beautifully expressed your plan as you plugged through your list… I now have a fan page and what I consider healthy boundaries for both my family and my associates. Much appreciate your candor Michael and the example of integrity that you emanate always.

]]> By: @EmcsMedia http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-35662 @EmcsMedia Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:28:26 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-35662 Interesting read. However it looks to me like it's more like a noise cutting effort, than a real strategy per se. Like twitter followers and following, Facebook allow grouping and total and precise control of inbound and outbound feeds. I agree with the Fan page being 'the business personae' but that does not mean that your fans have to be different than your friends, as some of them are both, and you want to be able to speak to few as well as to all, but also be able to listen to as many as possible, and just choose when you want to hear what they have to say. Interesting read. However it looks to me like it's more like a noise cutting effort, than a real strategy per se. Like twitter followers and following, Facebook allow grouping and total and precise control of inbound and outbound feeds. I agree with the Fan page being 'the business personae' but that does not mean that your fans have to be different than your friends, as some of them are both, and you want to be able to speak to few as well as to all, but also be able to listen to as many as possible, and just choose when you want to hear what they have to say.

]]> By: Flossip http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-35530 Flossip Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:43:39 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-35530 I am curious how you contacted facebook to transfer friends to fans? Thanks! I am curious how you contacted facebook to transfer friends to fans? Thanks!

]]> By: My FaceBook Strategy | Indie Business Blog http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-35517 My FaceBook Strategy | Indie Business Blog Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:42:05 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-35517 [...] leaders I respect and admire. First Robert Scoble unfollowed 106,000 people on Twitter. Then Michael Hyatt unfriended all but his most initmate FaceBook associates. I knew I too had to [...] [...] leaders I respect and admire. First Robert Scoble unfollowed 106,000 people on Twitter. Then Michael Hyatt unfriended all but his most initmate FaceBook associates. I knew I too had to [...]

]]> By: Re-Thinking Facebook Strategy « Todd’s Mindbloggler http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-2#comment-35450 Re-Thinking Facebook Strategy « Todd’s Mindbloggler Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:54:25 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-35450 [...] CEO of Thomas Nelson Inc and social media extraordinaire has a helpful and insightful post on Re-Thinking My Facebook Strategy.  I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking through social media strategy in general [...] [...] CEO of Thomas Nelson Inc and social media extraordinaire has a helpful and insightful post on Re-Thinking My Facebook Strategy.  I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking through social media strategy in general [...]

]]> By: Peter_P http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html/comment-page-1#comment-35112 Peter_P Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:19:16 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/08/re-thinking-my-facebook-strategy.html#comment-35112 "At least at a theological level" is precisely the problem. Too many of us relegate truths about the Christian life to theological discussion and don't put them into practice. I don't really see how you could have incorporated it into this post without making the post too long. I also understand why you use the word 'family' in the way you do for the sake of this post, and your strategy - and I don't disagree with it. I just had to get my preach on for a moment! :-) "At least at a theological level" is precisely the problem. Too many of us relegate truths about the Christian life to theological discussion and don't put them into practice.

I don't really see how you could have incorporated it into this post without making the post too long. I also understand why you use the word 'family' in the way you do for the sake of this post, and your strategy – and I don't disagree with it. I just had to get my preach on for a moment!

:-)

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