Facebook: From Timewaster to Relationship-Builder

To some, Facebook is rightly blocked by workplaces, consisting only of zombies, vampires and compromising pictures.

Photo by Per Ola Wiberg

But Facebook has become one of my most important sources of news, as well as an important way to keep in touch with friends, family and workmates.

Here's why:

1. Facebook gives me a personalised news feed. Building a community is as much about listening as talking, but there's a lot of information out there. Facebook acts as a kind of filter, as my friends (actual and virtual) around the world update their status, giving me a unique view of how life's going for them personally, as well as their take on world events (recent elections in the USA and New Zealand being a great example). You can also put a link in your status update, linking to a blog post you've written, one you're reading, a news story, or a video.
2. Facebook lets me customise the kind of information I receive. If I just want the bare facts, I can choose to only view status updates from my friend. If I want a more visual, immersive experience I can choose to see photos and videos that my friends post. It's a tremendously efficient way to stay in touch with a lot of people.
3. Facebook has groups I can join, and makes it easy for me to start a group. There are groups on just about any subject, from the trivial (fans of a TV show) to the humourous ("I secretly want to punch slow-walking people in the back of the head") to businesses, social movements or causes you feel passionate about. You can also start a "cause" on Facebook, which is similar to a group and also allows you to collect donations.
4. (This is my favourite part) Facebook acts as a focal point for all my other social networking activity (or my ecosystem). I can feed my blog posts automatically into my Facebook feed using the Blogcast Facebook App. I can automatically send my Twitter updates (that's a whole other blog post) to Facebook using the Twitter Facebook App.
5. (I don't use this personally, but you may want to!) You can set up a cause on Facebook to raise awareness - and even funds - for any 501(c) nonprofit organisation in the US or Canada.

If you're new to social media, Facebook is a great way to find your feet. You can keep your involvement minimal, or you can explore the many, many, many ways of enhancing the Facebook experience. It's a microcosm of all the tools out there, tools for building individual relationships as well as building A Bigger Voice for yourself.