Are you updating your Facebook Page with useless stuff?

facebook logo Are you updating your Facebook Page with useless stuff?

Last year, Facebook revamped Facebook Pages to look very much like Profiles. The simple reason for this was to allow brands and organizations to make it easier for users to interact with their Page.

But even though a Page looks like a Profile, brands haven’t caught up with the idea that users want to connect with brands on a more personal level too – not unlike how they connect with their friends.

Status update versus stuff update

Marketing folks generally don’t understand how users perceive Facebook status updates. Mostly, they treat that little window on their Page as the place to post “stuff”. The Facebook admins get directives from marketing to post “stuff” based on a predetermined “stuff” schedule.

But you and I don’t just post stuff to our status update. And we certainly don’t follow a schedule!

  • We update our friends about personal news
  • We share frustrations and victories
  • We comment on events that everyone is watching. Like the World Cup.
  • We tell jokes and cause trouble
  • We play the “let’s see how many people comment on this update” game
  • We tag our friends in updates
  • We may even tag the occasional Page
  • Oh, and we share videos and photos

The status update field is noone’s property

You and I also post updates on each others wall. I don’t think of my wall as my “property”, and you don’t think the same of your wall.

You post on my wall and I post on yours. It’s all good, as they say.

Brands generally don’t think of their Page as a space for their fans to call their home.

But their status update window is technically always up for grabs.

Or didn’t they get the memo?

Rehydrate your inbox here. Send hate mail here.

  • http://echimarketing.com/ Eureka Janet

    OH NO~! I most definitely save the worthless crap for my Profile~! *wink~! Wanna read about my breakfast? Or the big blister on my foot? Ha~!

    • http://www.johnhaydon.com John Haydon

      Classic stuff, Janet. Classic. ;-)

  • http://www.goldenpractices.com/ Michelle Golden

    John, this is a very thought-provoking post. I hadn't considered the “ownership” tendencies in those terms but you are exactly right…it's a mistaken approach. The way Coke handled their fan-created FB page was a terrific example of acknowledging that fans/buyers/public share control of a brand. Glad my friend turned me on to your blog!!

  • http://twitter.com/MissLynn13 Lynn Morton

    You make a great point about “stuff.” Unfortunately I find that there is still a fair amount of fear with regards to posting other than “stuff.”

    “Stuff” is comfortable because we send out “stuff” via all of our communications channels, and if it works for one, it must work for all right? ;)

  • http://twitter.com/MissLynn13 Lynn Morton

    You make a great point about “stuff.” Unfortunately I find that there is still a fair amount of fear with regards to posting other than “stuff.”

    “Stuff” is comfortable because we send out “stuff” via all of our communications channels, and if it works for one, it must work for all right? ;)

  • http://www.thesocialmediahandyman.com Paul Chaney

    We're all just learning how brands and FB can work in concert, and you have educated us yet again John. Personally, I would love to get your take on “social commerce.” That's outside the non-profit focus of your posts perhaps, but your insights would be appreciated.

  • Alisonchilla

    It's hard to be one of the faces behind an organization when literally you are not allowed to post under your own face on a Page in Facebook. So, while I WANT to add in my own personal comments about what I am doing for our organization, I can only speak in the corporate voice. It's terribly annoying, because I don't want my opinions to be confused with the official stance of the association I work for. As a result, all my posts to the Page end up being marketing-speak.

    • Alisonchilla

      whoops, make that: “…when literally you are not allowed to post under your own face on a Page in Facebook if you are an admin of that same page.”

  • AprilTara

    “We tell jokes and cause trouble”

    Some of us more than others, huh John? ;)

    • http://www.johnhaydon.com John Haydon

      For sure, April!

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  • http://www.billyburgwick.org toonmonk

    I'm kinda confused by the article. Besides pointing out what brands don't do and what you do in individual accounts what are you saying? I mean we all know there is a disconnect for some people using Fan Pages but why not point out an example of one page that does things right?
    At this point your article seems half finished..

    • http://johnhaydon.com John Haydon

      What I'm saying is that brands should look to how individuals use Facebook. Besides not including an example – which I agree might be useful – what are you confused by?