I don’t mean that to be sarcastic, I mean it literally. Facebook redesigned, as we all know and now it’s introducing more changes in response to user feedback. Great. Here’s my concern – entrepreneurs, marketers, and businesses are micromanaging their presence on Facebook, taking them away from the real uses for Facebook.
Are You Missing the Point?
Let me explain. If you’re interested in the visibility you can get on the highlights wall, planning your actions based on that knowledge — you’re missing the darn point. It’s likely your still pushing a message, in tiny little, annoying baby steps. Systematically publishing your message, your content, your pitch — all day, everyday. If you’re monitoring the stream, only seeking for points of injecture — you’re definitely missing the point. Are you tagging people in videos, most of them partners or JVs or conference buddies, all of you having a conversation about how cool you and your products are — you’re likely totally dazed and confused.
Pretty soon, your overall message becomes contrived, diluted, and annoying. Quantity is useless, quality creates impact. Quality connections, quality contributions to the community you’re serving (not marketing). This is what you need to focus on, this is what you should consider when keeping tabs on changes in platforms and technology.
With That Said…
Here’s my thoughts on the recent changes:
Users still have control. What they see, what others see and everything in between is or will be controlled by your audience. Streams can be controlled, application access to stream can be controlled, it will all be controlled. Connection is not permission, let this guide everything you do.
It’s all live. Be proactive and be responsive, information moves fast and so does your audience. You’ll never be successful if all you do is use it as another broadcast channel.
Yes, you have more opportunity. But please use it wisely. I cringed at the notice of tags in photos going into the stream. Yuck, you mean more partners and JVs and other parties of interest tagging each other? More companies and spammers loading lame images to get into the stream?
Do What Makes Sense
And nothing more.
Here’s what others are saying and reporting about the changes…
Facebook’s Original Post Response
Inside Facebook Resports on Response
Mashable’s Report on Facebook’s Response
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… looking forward to connecting with you!
Maria 
About the Author...
Maria Reyes-McDavis is a colossal geek brainiac, certified genius IQ with university degrees in Finance, Economics, Business Management and an MBA. Maria has served over 300 pro-level, digital marketing clients as founder of online marketing firm Digital Peas & Carrots. Maria is Founder and Editor of Hyphenated Americans, a conservative politics blog and Proverbs 31 Project an online women's ministry. Most importantly, Maria is a wife to her king, mother of 3, lover of basketball (Go Lakers & Clippers!), classic cars and is currently training for professional women's roller derby!
