Categories: Communications

Businesses: Why I Won’t Be Your Friend on Facebook

It happened again just a moment ago. A local restaurant sent me a friend request on Facebook. This, one of dozens I’ve ignored, put me right over the edge.

Friends celebrate your birthday. Friends check up on you when you’re sick. Friends call you and invite you to go out.

It’s one of my pet peeves, I guess, people deciding their business needs to be on Facebook but, because they haven’t taken the time to learn how to do it right, they’re setting up profiles and sending friend requests to everyone in the community.

I will “like” your Facebook page but I WILL NOT BE YOUR FRIEND (and let’s face it, you’re not going to be mine, either.)

You’re Doing it Wrong!

In case you’re one of these offenders, realize this: if you are using Facebook as the representative of a business (I mostly see restaurants doing this) then what you want to do is set up an official business page. You will do this from YOUR profile — the one you set up with your name as a human being.

Profiles are for humans.

Pages are for businesses.

If you’re accepting friend requests from businesses you’re not doing them any favors – they will be limited by having a Facebook profile instead of a page. So turn them down, and if you have an extra second or two, let them know that what they want is a PAGE, not a profile.

Marijean

Marijean Oldham (Jaggers), a social media specialist and public relations professional, is president and CEO of Jaggers Communications LLC, a strategic communications firm based in Charlottesville, Va.

Recent Posts

What Is PR, Really? How Ethical Public Relations Actually Grows Your Business

Public relations has a reputation problem. When most people think of PR, they picture crisis…

6 months ago

The Hidden Cost of Familiarity: Why Fresh Eyes Catch the Errors Your Team Misses

Every communications professional has a version of this story. A client told us about a…

8 months ago

Marketers: Be Mindful of Mother’s Day

There's an opportunity to earn respect and brand recognition through offering NOT to contact customers…

4 years ago

2021 in Review: From a Beer Brewed to Pair with Duke’s Mayo to Leadership Changes

As we begin the eleventh year of business for Jaggers Communications, I can't help but…

5 years ago

When Should Your Organization Conduct a Marketing Audit?

There are a few key stages in which a marketing audit can best benefit your…

5 years ago

In Crisis Communications, Transparency is Key

The worst messages in a crisis are those that are vague, provide incomplete information, and…

6 years ago