I feel no inclination to network on Facebook. Loads of business and professional people are supposedly doing so now. But what job will it get done better for me?
I’m hugely in favour of using social software tools to do useful jobs. But we’re caught up in a frenzy of interest in “huge massively multi-user public networks” such as Facebook. I recognise that in a large law firm or organisation a Facebook group offers an efficient way for colleagues to interact and collaborate, though I suspect its main function is to replace the water cooler, ie for social rather than business interaction between colleagues and, of course, beyond that (lunchtimes only, please).
But I run a small business and my interaction with colleagues is by talking to them face-to-face. And to develop my business and professional contacts, do I want or need to be a member of a global network open to all-comers of all interests? Wouldn’t something more focussed suit me better? I think so. So for developing business contacts LinkedIn has more appeal. Sure you can’t do much on it, but you are consequently less distracted, more focussed on the job in hand.
Interest in the global social networks will wane as more specialist networks develop. Facebook rules for now, but most of us won’t want to be constrained by its formats and rules. We like to do our own thing and networks that serve our particular interests and to which we can relate better will win through. In fact, though no longer flavour of the month, blogging is a far more productive form of networking. You have to work a bit harder, actually to post something of interest to others, but you readily gain meaningful new contacts and converse with them; you develop new insights in your field; you build up your reputation. And you own it. Why twitter on on Facebook?
And finally, why live in hoc to Facebook Inc? I have read the evangelists: people who manage their lives on Facebook, who couldn’t live without it. Have they not read the FB terms of service?
The Company may terminate your membership, delete your profile and any content or information that you have posted on the Site or through any Platform Application and/or prohibit you from using or accessing the Service or the Site or any Platform Application (or any portion, aspect or feature of the Service or the Site or any Platform Application) for any reason, or no reason, at any time in its sole discretion, with or without notice
Nick, lots of good points – closed network, lack of ownership, mild on the business usage. But the big factor in FB’s favour at this point is adoption rate. The numbers are huge, and a big part of the population signing up aren’t signing up for anything else.
As you know, you can put as much or as little effort as you choose with any of these tools. You could create a minimal presence and shut down notifications entirely. Even if you were checking in bi-weekly, I’m sure you’d see people popping out of the woodwork that you haven’t talked to in years.
Also, don’t discount automation. You can pipe in your blog posts and any other content you’re creating on the public web. In many ways, FB should be viewed as content destination, rather than a creation tool. Like you, I see way more value to blogging.
My take is that it all comes down to 1) exposure and 2) documentation of contacts that might not get documented otherwise. Is it going to be a great networking tool for business? Maybe/maybe not. But no harm in putting it in mix.
Steve
Thanks for the input. I agree that there is “no harm in putting it in the mix” and exposure / organising contacts are the main benefits for the “business” user. But I don’t see a compelling value proposition at present. I will, of course, experiment further, but I’m sure that more specialised networks will grow to be more important in time. I mentioned LinkedIn because it is big league, but wouldn’t you agree that smaller services such as LibraryThing (reading lists) and Sermo (physicians) – to give just two examples – have way more to offer in their particular fields. The WSJ has an interesting piece, Social Networking Goes Professional, at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118825239984310205.html
Yes, I do. SN is about to go granular. :-)