Facebook in 15 Minutes a Day

Social networking can be very time-consuming. How can you get any work done in your business while social networking? You can actually handle most of your Facebook tasks in as little as 15 minutes per day.

Written Jan 02, 2009, read 1865 times since then.

I've often said that social networking can take up your entire day, if you allow it. You sit down at your desk in the morning, and you see several Facebook event invites and friend requests. As you log into your account, someone's Facebook status update catches your eye, and before you know it, 3 hours have passed while you're reading and responding to social networking messages. How can you possibly get any work done in your business or for your clients at this rate?

Facebook doesn't have to be a time hog. As a matter of fact, you can actually handle most of your Facebook tasks in as little as 15 minutes per day. Here's what I do when I log into my account each morning (thanks for wonderful training I've received from Facebook guru Mari Smith, who inspired this process):

1. Update your status. This is the first section that you'll see on your homepage when you log into Facebook. While you can do this from your Facebook account, I prefer to update my status in Ping.fm, as this service will update my status in all of my social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and MySpace. However, if you're using only Facebook for social networking, then go ahead and use the status update there.

2. Review your news feeds. This is the first tab on the right on your home page. In this review, you're seeking stories on which you can share your expertise and on which you can comment. Some of your comments may be personal in nature, but this is a great opportunity to showcase your experience in your field and industry.

3. Review news feeds of your friends. This feature is available from the home page as the down arrow on the far right of the home page tabs and permits you to view the feeds of your Friends Lists. Friend Lists allow you to create private groupings of friends based on your personal preferences. I've got my lists created by industry, i.e. Coaches, Virtual Assistants, Marketing Professionals, People to Watch, etc. Pick one list and comment on those feeds just as you would your own.

If you have no Friends Lists, here's how to create them: Click Friends at the top of any Facebook page. From the following page, click "Make a new list" on the left. After typing in the title of your list, you can add friends to your list by typing your friend's name into the "Add to List" field. You can also click "Select Multiple Friends" to the right of the field, which will allow you to select many friends from your entire list. After making your selections, click "Save List" to store your changes.

4. Review status updates. Take a quick moment to breeze through the status updates of your friends, and click on those on which you feel compelled to comment. Many people feed their blog posts into their status updates, so this is a great way to get out and comment on the blogs of others without having to search out relevant blog posts. In this case, I comment on the blog itself rather than the Facebook status update. I usually only go through one page of these to ensure I remain within my time constraints.

5. Acknowledge birthdays. These are listed under Events and Birthdays on the right side of your homepage. When you click on the birthday person's name, you'll be sent to their wall, where you can write your personalized birthday greeting (make more effort that just simply saying "Happy Birthday!"). I also take this opportunity to find out a bit more about the friends on my list by clicking the "Info" tab on their home page and quickly scanning their profile. This helps me start to put names and faces together and get better acquainted with my network of friends, And, I take this opportunity to add people to Friends List as appropriate.

6. Review friend requests. Add friends as you see fit, or according to any guidelines you have set for yourself. Facebook guru Mari Smith suggests setting up a "Friending Request Policy" in which you write down the conditions under which you'll accept friends (i.e. picture must be on profile, have to have other friends in common, must submit a personal note with the friend request, etc.) to help you in your decision-making.

7. Respond to event invitations. Your friends will be sending a myriad of invites to various events (most of my invites are to teleclasses), so take a few moments to scroll through those and see if any are of interest to you, or if you have further questions about them.

8. Respond to group invitations. Most of these I ignore, but occasionally I'll join a private group, usually related to a program in which I'm enrolled. Or, if it's a group run by someone with whom I want to connect or from whom I want to learn, I'll accept the invite to the group. If I have time, I'll also visit one of the groups to see what's going on and respond to any messages here.

9. Add friends. Facebook does an amazing job of suggesting people I actually know to add to my friends list in their "People You May Know" section on my home page. If I happen to see such a suggestion, I send out a request to add that person as a friend. When requesting to add a friend, I ALWAYS send a personalize request, letting them know how I know about them.

10. Review notifications. The notifications icon is on the lower right side of your home page and lists what's going on in your account (friend requests accepted, notes on your wall, etc.). This is a good prompt for you to write on someone's wall when they accept your friend request or to respond to posts on your own wall.

11. Eyeball your own profile. Make sure your profile appears as it should, and take the opportunity to catch up on anything you may have missed with your other steps.

12. Check your inbox. Many of the emails in your inbox are duplications of event and group invites or group emails. When I look at this, I'm seeking out any personal 1:1 emails that I might have received from someone on my list. I've discovered that many people I want to contact respond better to their Facebook emails than through emails sent to them (or an assistant) via their website, so I often email them through Facebook, instead.

If you devote 15 minutes per day, or at least 15 minutes 3 times a week, to updating Facebook, you'll begin to see results from your social networking before you know it!

Learn more about the author, Donna Gunter.

Posted by Chrystal Bougon, San Jose, California | Jan 07, 2009

I plan to share this with alot of friends who are super afraid and worried about the WORK social networking creates for them. Great ideas.
Posted by Naomi Whitmore, Yakima, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Fantastic article! I use Facebook primarily for personal networking, but I'm considering using it for business as well. I also recently started using Twitter, and I'm shocked at how much I LOVE it! It can become a time-hog though. I find I want to log into Twitter first thing, before I even check my email. But, I'm learning how to moderate my use and make Twitter work for me and my business.

If you're interested in a social networking site like Twitter or Friendfeed or Facebook but you're afraid it will take over your life, just give it a try. There are so many great tips out there (like this article) about how to moderate and how to make social networking/marketing work FOR you!
Posted by Kelly Totten, Portland, Oregon | Jan 07, 2009

Great article. I have a Facebook account, but I haven't done much with it. I like the suggestion of guidelines for accepting friends as well as how to add friends. No more excuses... I'll have to jump in. Thanks.
Posted by Kate Phillips, Seattle, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Another great article, Donna.

I've developed a "no applications" policy, except perhaps receiving "good karma". (Who would turn down good karma!?)

I've noticed the FB applications are endless (and call me a killjoy, but largely pointless) and if you start "playing" them then it only encourages people. (Am I a grinch, or do other people feel the same way I do about receiving invitations to race imaginary cars and such?)

A month into facebook it was taking a huge amount of time, largely because of the applications and extra emails they generated. I decided that I joined FB to connect with people, and I'd rather have an update on someone's life than an online SuperHug.

So I turned off all email notifications (notifying me of group invites, applications, the delivery of a virtual beer or cupcake) except for personal messages on my wall or inbox.

So if someone is in FB application hell, there is a way out!

Sorry Donna, that was a bit of a tangent... but hopefully related!
Posted by Naomi Whitmore, Yakima, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Good point Kate. I barely use FB apps (although I have to admit I can't resist that good karma either :). I think the apps are a big part of the time-wasting aspect of FB. If you just use it to connect, it's possible to keep up with it.
Posted by Donna Gunter, Orange, Texas | Jan 07, 2009

I agree with your stand about FB apps, Naomi and Kate. They drive me nuts and I simply don't use any of them. Nothing is more annoying than having to go ignore 20 notices that I've been sent a flower or drink or whatever nonsense someone has sent me. I appreciate the thought, but would rather have an email that they're thinking of me -- that would be more personal..LOL
Posted by Steve MacDonald, Phoenix, Arizona | Jan 07, 2009

This is a great overview for how people can use facebook, not only to reconnect with friends, but to actually use it as a business tool. If you have extra tips along the way, please keep us all included. there are such scattered tips across the Web that is it is really nice to have somebody put it all together concisely.

Steve
Posted by Rebecca Wood, Lynnwood, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

I also have a facebook account ..originally for family only... Then I started linking up with people in my industry which is great. I hate all the apps and find them pointless so I ignore them.

Admittedly I still do not do much with facebook although with this post I may explore it just a bit more!

I found it confusing in the beginning as it seems like there is so much there.
Posted by Beth Hemmila, Reno, Nevada | Jan 07, 2009

Loved this article, and now I learned how to make a Friend List!
Posted by Elizabeth Rightor MA MEd, Seattle, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Donna,

I am going to come back to this article and make sure to follow your tips. I love the suggestion to update your status in just one place. I also appreciated your encouragement to post on someone's actual blog and not on the Facebook status.

Thank you for sharing.

Elizabeth
Posted by Donna Gunter, Orange, Texas | Jan 07, 2009

Hi Elizabeth--

Gotta love those time saving tips. As entrepreneurs, our time is one of our most valuable assets..;)
Posted by sage k. saskill, seattle, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Wow, thanks Donna! I appreciate the tips. My wife Amanda got me into this and I'm worried about the time soak, so I will try your methods.... I don't want it to become "crackbook" as my friend Mylinda calls it. I also agree w/ Kate Phillips and HAD TO turn off all of the various FB notices to my email acct. AND, I haven't yet succumbed to any of the games nor accepted the good karma offer (hmmmm, now i'm wondering about that one).
Posted by Kate Phillips, Seattle, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Oh good, I'm not the only "Grinch"!

Maybe this is a Biztalk topic, but does anyone else find a strange dichotomy on FB between "friends" and "business friends?"

I feel torn... I started using FB just to connect w/ friends, on MySpace I have a music page. I'd like to Focus Twitter more on my coaching biz... gets hard to "ping" when Twitter pals could care less about my gigs, and old friends on FB from church or college or another past life have no interest in wealth coaching or business topics. I see some people using soc media as a business platform only, but that doesn't feel like "me".
Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Jan 07, 2009

Also an anti-apps person. Although there's one person I will poke back. Don't know why; just get a charge out of it.

Thanks for a great starter reference kit, Donna. I'm passing it along to a few people who've been pestering me for insight into the effective use of FB; this is one of those "101" articles it's always handy to have a link to.

@Kate, I think you're smart to keep your Twitter and FB unbuckled if you want to use Twitter for your coaching biz. There aren't any hard and fast rules with this stuff, except for one: do your damnedest to be useful and excellent, not annoying.

It sounds like you using universal pinging agents would move you from the former category to the latter. You can still be transparent--you're not trying to hide your business side. You're just not foisting it on people.

Translating truth into various media since 1961
Posted by Lynn Baldwin-Rhoades, Seattle, Washington | Jan 07, 2009

Excellent article, Donna.

I'm getting more and more into social networking, because it's such a terrific way to gain visibility.

I'm also knee-deep in books and blogs on marketing to women.

Interestingly enough, if you have a business that targets women, you may want to amp up your social networking efforts. Turns out that women are on social networks like Facebook more than men, says a study by Rapleaf on more than 30 million people.

Great opportunity to reach your market!
Posted by Kevin McLallen, Covington, Washington | Jan 08, 2009

Some people believe you can't utilize Facebook as a business tool but these are great ways to build both your personal and professional networks. It allows you to keep the line of communication open.

Kevin
Posted by Rick Itzkowich, La Jolla, California | Jan 08, 2009

Donna,

As someone who works with SN newbies, I can truly appreciate the value of what you wrote here. Facebook is one of those sites that I really haven't "gotten." I find it too busy and complicated and yet know that it would be very benficial for me to learn it and use it. Thanks to your article, I've been able to better understand some of the features and how to use them. Well done.
Posted by Rachel Rausch Johnson, Portland, Oregon | Jan 08, 2009

Cool! I'm signing up for the ping.fm app right way!
Posted by Karen Jackson, Renton, Washington | Jan 08, 2009

I am newer to the social networking sites. This helps a lot as they can be overwhelming. I do not have all day to sit and chat. This is a step by step way for me to show my presence and get results. Thanks.
Posted by Sue Scheff, Weston, Florida | Jan 08, 2009

Great article - and tips. Like many, it is hard to find time to keep up with the social networking sites - FB seems to be one of the more user friendly ones. I never heard of ping.fm - have to check that out - thanks!
Posted by Michelle Ulrich, Carmichael, California | Jan 08, 2009

Hi Donna,

Great job on the article. Glad you are getting some really good feedback. The discussion thread is really interesting.

I thought I was kind of a 'Grinch' too, but I see others here share my sentiments that it's a waste of time, besides, I have better things to do than send someone a flower and I can save the world however I choose besides sending someone a virtual tree or something. In fact, I could actually plant a real one...what a concept! : )

Kate, I use FB to share both business and personal. It's funny; I post business stuff and get a few responses, but when I post a poem or vent about a particular client who hasn't paid me (recent post), the discussions begin and so does the possibility for business connections.

Take care, Michelle
Posted by Cheryl Nee-Gieringer, Hillsboro, Oregon | Jan 08, 2009

Donna, Excellent practical advice that I'll be passing along. Best, Cheryl
Posted by Katy Tafoya, Burbank, California | Jan 08, 2009

Donna, great article. I love the idea of being able to make lists since I use FB for both personal and business.

I joined FB a while back and just got overwhelmed by all the applications. Since ignoring those apps, I've learned it can be a very useful business networking platform.

I'll definitely be sharing some of your tips with my clients. Thanks for the article!

~Katy
Posted by Iyabo Asani, Duluth, Georgia | Jan 08, 2009

Wonderful!

They say when the student is ready the teacher will show up.

I recently wrote a blog post about Twitter culture vs. Facebook culture on my blog at http://www.authenticchangecoach.com/twitter-culture-vs-facebook-culture/

When I wrote this I realized that I had not given Facebook a chance. So one of the outcomes of turning on the spotlight for me on my blog post was to learn more about Facebook and I found this article this morning.

I also looked at a Mari Smith video on youtube and she echos the same thing. Great, Great information. I shared it with my mastermind group.

Thanks

Iyabo
Posted by Lisa Crunick, Seattle, Washington | Jan 08, 2009

Hi Donna,

Thank you for this update.

The information is good, and you have obviously hit an emotional topic. The task of figuring out how different social networks WORK, and then deciding on a course of " how this works for me" takes time.........aahh!!!

You have just saved me some......

Lisa Crunick
Posted by Mark Walters, Bellevue, Washington | Jan 09, 2009

This is a fantastic article. I use FB for work and personal use. I love the friends lists tip too and I'm going to give Ping.fm a try. Thanks, Donna.

Mark Walters
Posted by Naomi Whitmore, Yakima, Washington | Jan 09, 2009

Great post about Twitter culture vs. Facebook cluture, Iyabo!

That made me think of a really interesting link I found a while back that has lots of data comparing the usership of various social networking sites. Very interesting! You may be surprised at what you find.

http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/2008-social-network-analysis-report/
Posted by sage k. saskill, seattle, Washington | Jan 27, 2009

Hey Donna, Thanks 2x I just reread this and took some notes [social networking 101]

sage [boomer]