Anyone using Facebook professionally?

[toilltoft]

A client recommended I look into Facebook for networking/marketing. I thought this was something only used by teenagers to chat and throw virtual sheep at each other (or something like that—this is what I've heard!)

Have you used Facebook? Useful at all? What was your experience?

 

[Xtreme Poetess]

My understanding is MySpace is the teen one - well, started that way, but many have become adults and kept their accounts and their sheep-throwing there. FaceBook has a much, much better rep. That said, no, I don't use it professionally.

 

[A.V.R.]

I thought this was something only used by teenagers to chat and throw virtual sheep at each other (or something like that—this is what I've heard!)

t044

I do have both myspace and facebook for personal use, I don't use them professionally... I'm not sure how much that would help. But I do see alot of massage businesses that do use them as such. don't know if this helps at all, but that sheep thing just had me laughing so hard, I had to say so.

 

[Abeachbabe]

I too, have a myspace and facebook account, that I use for personal networking, but they both have my massage website link on them. I don't expect anything to come of them, though. (Edit: be careful what you put on these, a client of mine found me on facebook, luckily she's a very good weekly client and has a great sense of humor so I'm not worried about what she may see )

However, I have joined http://www.LinkedIn.com which is a professional networking site. It is geared towards getting people in touch with others who may provide a needed service or helping locate positions and such. Through your own contacts you can be "introduced" to others. You can view my profile at http://www.linkedin.com/pub/6/702/795

t006

PS- I love throwing sheep, though I'm not a teen
And my sister "trout-slapped" me once, I have yet to figure what that means :?

 

[blue ribbon]

A good networking community geared toward the "living consciously" adult is gaia dot com/community

 

[LiarLiarPantiesOnFire]

I realized at some point today how ageist my comment was... I must be feeling superior having survived to nearly 30 ;-) The truth is, the people who told me about the sheep thing are older than me!

I don't see the value of LinkedIn at all. What am I missing? It seems like people sign up and never look at it again.

I would love to create a *good* social networking site for holistic practitioners. So not enough time to do it on my own though.

 

[Luv2Cosplay]

I've heard a lot of claims about what networking sites can do for someone... but they usually center around a band/artist who develops an online fanbase. Never have I heard of a health/wellness business developing much of a following via such sites.

It may be possible for a massage business to succeed on such a site, but an unusually high concentration of site users located in a small geographic area near the business would have to somehow find the page, and that page would somehow have to inspire them to share it with others in that area... and then some of them would have to actually go to the business in person to experience the work, and then go back online to say stuff like "OMG... you guyz ROKC!"

Bands have it easy because you can download and appreciate their music without leaving the computer. But businesses that are by nature hands-on will always be at a disadvaneforum.xxxe on such sites. There is a lot of opportunity for promoting one's business online, but it will take more thought and effort than simply throwing up a profile and waiting for the world to come knocking.

 

[Bec]

: Ego,

I don't see the value of LinkedIn at all. What am I missing? It seems like people sign up and never look at it again.

That's exactly what I did!

I am on Facebook ( and I am long past 30, and 40, and...enough of that) and also have my website listed, but it is primarily for personal contacts. I have heard that links back to your website do help boost your website ratings.

I did attend a health/wellness marketing seminar that used Facebook to promote itself and for handling the invitations. However, would you want to invite clients - everyone can see who is attending and who has not replied yet. Not sure I liked that.

Marion

 

[Finnegan Vegan Again]

I've not signed up for facebook - I'm just not comfortable with the idea of it. I know you control the info that you put on your page and who you let become a friend but it's not for me.

I can't work out how MySpace works. I only registered so I could log onto the MySpace page of some singers whose music I like. As far as I can see people just keep saying, "thank you for adding me to your site". I thought myspace was more for people promoting their music.

After saying all the above I did see an arricle in the July/August Massage & Bodywork magazine about a My Space style set up for therapists. I think it may have been menitoned on this forum before. The web address is http://www.massagespace.net I guess this site would be more for therapists to network together rather than reaching out for new clients.

 

[Arturo B]

I only utilize our website and if there are positive comments floating on some of the search engine, then those would be out there for us too.

No facebook or myspace, here.


Edited for typo's... 07/07/08

 

[David G]

Social networking if done right can help you build your practice and make connections.

I have written an article about it on my website at:

http://www.thebodyworker.com/websites_social_networking.htm


I think what is most important is that we all sign up to each others networks and keep the networks professional and it will get more visibility and create professionalism.

Julie

 

[Frizz]

I only utilize our website and if there are positive comments floating on some of the search engine, then those would be out there for us too.

No facebook or myspace, here.


Edited for typo's... 07/07/08

I have crossed the line! I now have a business facebook page and have found it to be useful. I only have a mere 10 followers right now, but it's slowly growing and I am using the page to give out handy info-bits as they come past me. Some are massage related, others health related and yet others are just helpful.

I also saw this facebook page (I-need-a-Massage) recently which could sure use some help from the professional massage therapists realm. We've got a ton of MT's on our forum and maybe it would help if more of "us" posted there.

I've posted a professional looking post and it does add one more link to your name, out in cyberspace. Maybe others would like to do the same?

Update: I just found out that rather your parameters are set or not, it seems your comment on the I-Want-A-Massage page will be visible to all (this according to someone who saw my little ad). I thought I'd add that, as originally I thought it was only visitble within the parameters we set for our personal pages.

03/25/10: Edited to read a little better and added an "updated" comment as I was incorrect about a little something...

 

[Aarif Ameen]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

I use facebook. Have i gotten any cients off of it, no. but it keeps people informed of what i'm doing. I also do a daily massage fact. I also list my specials on it too. I figure it helps when someone searchs for me through google or yahoo it is another link to my name and what i do.

 

[Lust for Lola]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

There was an interesting analysis written up in Harvard Business Review about the value of Facebook fans.

Not surprisingly, only about 2 -3% of customers became fans of the businesses (local restaurants, with thousands of customers in their email database) became fans. Penetration about the same as a good direct mail campaign.

What they did find was that fans were much more frequent customers, though did not spend substantially more than average customers. They also spent a higher % of their eating out budget with the restaurants of which they were fans, and recommended the massageplanete more often than non-fans and non-facebook users.

You can read more at: http://hbr.org/2010/03/one-massageplanete-chains-facebook-experiment/ar/1

Full disclosure -- the authors are not restaurateurs, so their ability to provide thoughtful analysis and commentary on the restaurant business may be suspect.

 

[Jessica J]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

We have a FB page, one of the girls I work with started it. We post specials, notices about last minute openings, discounts, etc. We have a lot of clients that have become fans of it, as well as all of us, our family members and some people have seen 'Robert became a fan of...' and followed the link to see our page, which has brought us some more attention, appointments, phone calls etc. Whatever works, it's free, not time consuming and even if it only gets one or two people in the door, it's worth it.

I finally broke down and joined FB when we were snowed in. It has been FUN and awesome! I am able to keep updated on what far-flung cousins are doing (and their kids) every day or so, so I feel so much more in touch with them than exchanging the monthly email. I have reconnected with people I went to school with, and found a few long-time-lost friends that I've always wondered 'whatever happened to....after she moved?' Also people I used to work with, and the group we ride motorcycles with on weekends. There are 8 of us and it used to be a huge PITA to make all these phone calls and try to coordinate everyone. Now we'll post a message 'How about 9am Sat, meet at our place. Annapolis?' and get everyone organized with one simple post. I'm not addicted to it, but it has definitely reconnected me with a lot of people and I'm lovin' it.

 

[FPB]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

Recently started using FB for business. The thing is that some folks don't realize is that if the fan isn't your friend (or anyone else's friend on your page) than you can't see their personal info. I have several fans who aren't friends on my social FB page and I can't see their info. Although I haven't yet gotten clients from it, I've had fans tell me that their friends have been curious about my work since my posts pop up on their wall and their friends see it. I really enjoy it because I can pass on articles written for the client population about massage and also post photos and stretching/breathing type stuff. Eventually I'm going to post videos when I have the time to create them. I think it's a lot of fun!

Here's my page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/San-Diego-CA/Therapeutic-Massage-by-Rajam-Roose-HHP/200430530739

 

[Katy M]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

I'm actually addicted to it. It's unfortunate. Maybe. :undecided:
I am putting together a page for my business currently, and have admired some of the ideas others have used on their business pages. I'm looking forward to having a blog-type web presence as I figure out ways to talk about my work which is transitioning out of bodywork, yet still includes bodywork.

And pueppi, I saw your FB business page and I am so impressed! You did such a great job in providing lots information right there, yet keeping it organized and clean. I liked not having to follow the link to your website(s) to get all the pertinent information. Good Job!

 

[rocker_254]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

The thing is that some folks don't realize is that if the fan isn't your friend (or anyone else's friend on your page) than you can't see their personal info. I have several fans who aren't friends on my social FB page and I can't see their info.

I really like this aspect of it and have been telling people just that.

I recently wrote a short info blurb to include that information for my fans/clients. I think the wording came out nice. I'll try to add it to this thread when I get time, so that others can use it too, if they like.

 

[Raquel]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

And pueppi, I saw your FB business page and I am so impressed! You did such a great job in providing lots information right there, yet keeping it organized and clean. I liked not having to follow the link to your website(s) to get all the pertinent information. Good Job!

Thanks! OK, that was an interesting feat. I saw that someone who had a different kind of page than me (not a "fan" page) somehow was able to add info about the business. I still don't know what they did to make that work.... and I got to playing around with "Oh, how can I add more info on that "Info" button?" I came up with adding the dashed lines where it says "Public Transit" since I couldn't make it go away and then just started adding all my information below. After multiple tweaks, it seems to have come out pretty nice.

Hope that helps you figure out how to do it. It took me a little while to make the discovery. No need for you to go through the learning curve if you don't have to.


And, if anyone knows how to add some sort of tab for a "links" list.... something that can hold an "order of itemized links with multiple pages for sections", I would be forever appreciative!!!!!!!

 

[Vanessa]

Anyone using Facebook professionally?

I too have a fan page. It is just another way for me to keep in touch with people. I am also doing a PPC ad with facebook