Help please. I don't understand Facebook.

[internetheaven]

I'm a dinosaur of this industry. I'm getting out as fast as I can because I just don't "get" Facebook, Apps and Cloud computing.

One question though that keeps coming up in discussions - what should the focus be on?

Getting "likes" for your Facebook page?
Getting "likes" for you actual website?
Or should you be spending an equal amount of time pushing for both?

[tangor]

Both. :)

[isaaclloyd]

Here is a list of Social Plugins for Facebook:

[developers.facebook.com ]

I would suggest adding the "Like Button", as well as the "Subscribe Button" (or an Image/Link to your Facebook page) on your Website. You want to show the world that people like your Website, as well as show all the people on Facebook that your Profile/Page is liked as well.

[edited by: tedster at 8:47 am (utc) on Mar 18, 2012]
[edit reason] fix link [/edit]

[Alex_TJ]

It helps to think of your Facebook page as a more interactive version of your mailing list, but with information going in both directions and various community bits. Instead of signing up with their email address, people sign up by liking you, and sometimes add their 2 cents to your posts.

[incrediBILL]

I'm a dinosaur of this industry. I'm getting out as fast as I can because I just don't "get" Facebook, Apps and Cloud computing.

From one dinosaur to another:
Facebook is the current AOL, the Compuserve or Prodigy for today's crowd.

Nothing ever changes except the name to confuse old dinosaurs.

[internetheaven]

Facebook is the current AOL

Glad to hear someone else say it. When I say Facebook will probably not last, people look at me like I'm insane. But yes, similar models have become dinosaurs too. It's all great until there are shareholders.

The problem I'm having with my Facebook page is that is does NOT work like an interactive mailing list. With email, people only asked me things or sent in comments when it was important - therefore, a real discussion could be had. With Facebook, I can't keep up! It is so hard to actually answer a question or get a feel for customer mood/opinion because the board (wall?) gets filled up with crap and nonsense. I just don't get it. And using their messaging system seems like extra work over just sending emails?

Is this really good for business? Is thousands of people talking about nonsense with a few seconds of real interaction a day going to help anything? The "X amount of people like this" looks good on my website, but I've removed the discussion box at it just was ramblings. I now have a twitter box with notifications about the type of service I'm in. It's not perfect, but I'm trying to get in to the social thing for the sake of my sliding rankings.

[BillyS]

Let's see now, we have facebook, twitter, pininterest, google plus and maybe even addthis just to be safe.

That's a good half meg in fancy javascript add ins (none of which validate).
Google wants our sites to be fast...
Google wants our sites to be social...

Which one do we give up?

I took the middle ground and tried for both (leaning more toward fast).

[Alex_TJ]

I know what you mean about all the 'noise' and chatter. However, that's the sound of people making an emotional connection with your business (note I deliberately avoided saying site).
That emotional connection is the real meaning of branding for your company, which works over a very long (but sustainable) arc of time.
Too often we don't see the people - just a visitor that hopefully becomes a customer, maybe added to a ML later. Previously we treated them at arm's length, and they did the same to us. That human connection takes time, and is messy, but is the key to a strong brand, and not just a website.

[Digmen1]

I watch a group of working tourists
They get to use the companies computer at lunch time.
They spend all their time on Facebook
Asian versions and Europeans.

Its not going away anytime soon.

Facebook does something that new sites like Pinterest does not do. That is allow people to catch up with the friends and send news and photos.

[internetheaven]

Facebook does something that new sites like Pinterest does not do. That is allow people to catch up with the friends and send news and photos.

You see, that doesn't make sense to me. Email and contact lists accomplish that without encouraging 100+ extra pages of "I've just eaten a sausage. It was okay. I've had better."

It only seems to be popular with people who are interested in what their friends are doing every second and in hearing ... (or more likely in 'sharing'), every single thought they ever have.

I can see where bribing teens to tell friends about products is a good marketing scam on Facebook. I can see how conning people in to playing pointless online games where they blow cash for 'upgrades' is a great idea too. I don't get how allowing people to spout nonsense on a page with your brand name on it accomplishes anything pound-for-pound vs using your time and money on other marketing schemes.

It seems that people could spend hours chatting on Facebook without ever accomplishing anything or ever really discussing anything or even really having a conversation with anyone? It's more like an interactive diary for people with loud thoughts.

[Digmen1]

I am in my 60's,
But I can see some of you are Luddites.
let alone dinasaurs

@internetheaven
Yes email does accomplish what you say.
But younger people don't use email much now.
They say "I will Facebook you"

You and others may not like Facebook or think that it is useful.
But you should be aware that that is where most younger people and a growing percentage of older people spend their time.
They like keeping up with their friends.
They used to spend their lunch hour on ebay, now its Facebook.

[incrediBILL]

But younger people don't use email much now.
They say "I will Facebook you"

Which is exactly why Mom will never see photos of her great grandkids ever again.

My Daughter won't print them, or email them, she uploads them all to Facebook.

My Mom refuses to join Facebook.

I told them leave me out of it, not my problem, the pictures are there if Mom wants to see them bad enough. She goes "I don't want Facebook to know who I am!" to which I reply "Then LIE when you sign up! Use a fake name and email address!" sheesh. Besides, I keep telling Mom that Facebook only learns what you tell it so as long as you don't tell it anything it won't know anything about you. Couple of years later, she's still not on Facebook and still asking about pictures to which I still point out are just sitting there waiting for her if she'll get a name and password.

Don't look at me, someone will eventually cave, probably Mom, certainly not me and most likely not my stubborn Facebook using Daughter either.

[internetheaven]

Which is exactly why Mom will never see photos of her great grandkids ever again.

My Daughter won't print them, or email them, she uploads them all to Facebook.

Don't get me started on this!

(whole post deleted)

[Hoople]

Don't look at me, someone will eventually cave, probably Mom, certainly not me and most likely not my stubborn Facebook using Daughter either.

Strongly suggest to your daughter to gift Mom a digital picture frame loaded with pics. It solves both issues and Mom can show it around like prints.

[Habtom]

digital picture frame loaded with pics

++1