chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in How I Manage Facebook

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Steroids Blog — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:36:12 -0000

Excelent article . I completely agree with that.
A good site. My appreciation to you for you good efforts.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Laugh O. Loud — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:30:16 -0000

Don't you love the dumb people who flood your comments with so obvious attempts to get traffic? This guy doesn't even know who you are or that you've had this blog for years... I know, this is 6 months ago (and the article is years ago), but couldn't resist poking fun at the genius and hope he gets an update by email to see if he learns something... cheap SEO... geez!

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Facebook Apps Developer — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:01:27 -0000

Your article is very informative and the use of graphics adds to understanding the process. I think some of your sentences are toolong, and a few minor commas are missing. You did very well for your first blog. When I write my first blog, I hope it is as readable asyours.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Joan Stewart — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:52:31 -0000

Chris, I just left you a comment about my Facebook problem that should appear under this post. I think it may accidentally appear under a later post you wrote today about distractions.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Cowboyclaws — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:35:11 -0000

I found your website and this article about facebook, when I was searching for a way to solve my FB problem. I'm so glad that you asked the question," how are you using FB". I am signed into a new FB account that I created soley to go through the photos of the FB friends that are public so that I can find any clues that might help me figure out which picture belongs to which of 5 choices I have for FB friends that I had recent activity with.

Then I get to try to gain access to my FB account by taking a multiple choice quizz, guessing the name out of a list of 5 names that a random picture from their acount belongs to. I have 5 questions and have to get them all right before I can get into my FB account. This is because they think there was a security breach and I might not be myself. The address for the program is facebook.com/ROADBLOCK so it's pretty obvious they'd like me to take these multiple choice quizes as my only use of FB. And I'd LOVE to have the ear of any FB person- like you mentioned- but there is no way to contact a live person at FB, Everything is robots!!

So the picture that I'm shown might be what someone had for dinner back in 2003. I just added the person as a friend based on the cat picture they have as their profile picture. All I used to do before I became a multiple choice quiz lozer, is get 50 thousand wall posts of pictures of rare pedigreed cats from all over the world. And I would post pictures of my rare and unusual pedigreed cats about once every six months when I got on FB. Then I would usually get in trouble for being to active when I let the new cat profile picture people be my friend and I'd have to stay off for awhile.

Another picture FB has shown me for my quiz has been the game pieces for Farmville. I have to figure out which friends the Farmville carrot picture belongs to. One picture FB wanted me to identify was a cat judge with a cat on her shoulder that is on multiple friend pages.

You probably wonder why I don't just use the new account I added and forget about trying to get into my own account. The answer is that I wouldn't be able to add all my old FB friends because that would be too much activity and I would be kicked off!! AND I can't add another Cowboy Claws like most people can do with their names- just add their name again with a different email address. I'm blocked from that too. So I added myself as Cowgirl Cats, which is me also but nobody knows me as Cowgirl Cats.

What am I doing on Facebook that caused the security breach? I think it was because I tried to import my videos from youtube. I wanted to put them on my video page but not post it to my wall. So I couldn't find any directions on FB naturally and I ended up experimenting which meant I posted and reposted the video a few times. That gets you kicked off for too much repetitive activity. Finally I found the instruction on how to import my videos the way I wanted without it posting to the wall- on my One True Media account. I grabbed my phone because at that point my Dell was on fire practically, to import my videos and that gets you kicked off too.

How do they know I'm on a cell phone if they say they can't even recognize the computer I've used all these years as being mine?

If I were a cyber bully trying to get some teenager to commit suicide with my FB account, I could understand the ROADBLOCK to keep me out. But I'm an old cat lady looking at pictures of cats from people all over the world. We just pass cat pictures around. We don't even tell each other that the cats look bad.

So how I use FB, is taking multiple choice test, with no other option available but this visual test, to try to prove I am who I say I am. Then I personally talk to all my friends on the phone, by email, or in person about my FB experience and how bad it is. If the robots think an old lady looking at cats is a security breach, and it can't be resolved, the old cat lady must be roadblocked, FB will probably find a massive exit when a competitor finally arrives.

I will also say that Twitter has asked me to participate in some study to make the experience there better. I'm thinking I will have a better chance of getting Twitter to make positive changes.

I bet you couldn't identify the FB friend who took a picture of a brick wall back in 2003. I'm sure you have some FB friends who play the stupid games like Farmville and I bet you can't guess which one has the carrot picture on his account. I know you wouldn't be able to identify the FB Account for the guy who took a picture of his banana split he was eating back in 2005. Or who took a picture of a bunch of kids on a street corner?

I think it's bizarre that FB is requiring a vision test like this before you can get back into your FB account and they are designing it so incredibly obviously for failure as indicated by the name of the program - ROADBLOCK.

What would I change? I would get rid of the arrogant people who came up with this roadblock program. I would hire some real people for a contact person at facebook because the robots are stupid. They obviously are blocking the wrong people and they are preventing people from doing what the website was designed for - social networking. FB is making tons of people rich off the advertising so they can afford to give a small amount of customer service.

I'm just an average person and if this is happening to me, and frustrating me this way, it's happening to thousands of people. There are thousands of angry, frustrated, mistreated FB customers just waiting for some competitor to take your place. You still have the cyber bully on FB who is going to make someone commit suicide, but you aren't going to let someone back in who approved cat friend requests too quickly or who asked to be friends with too many of the possible friends that FB presented to you (unasked for) right on your own page? Either the robots need to be adjusted or someone with a brain needs to be employed by FB.

If I had the ear of any team member on FB, I would probably cuss him out!! haha!!

I'm Cowboy Claws Cattery. My email address is cowboyclaws@aol.com. Go look me up on Facebook and see what kind of security problem I would be that I need to be ROADBLOCKED! How rude to just throw it in your customer's faces that you are just playing games with them and aren't going to let them back into their account no matter what. FB gets rich and they forget- we are the reason you are rich. If you treat us badly, we may make someone else rich instead.

And if you know someone on the team who needs an earful, have them contact me!!

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Neil Quadros — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:48:35 -0000

I was wanted, since you've deleted your fan.. do you direct your blog visitors to your FB profile? If so, do your unknown visitors go on a customized list? I read an article that said that if you want to get more attention and readers, its good to have a FB page yadda yadda.

So, how do you handle friend requests, especially from those who've added you after seeing your blog?

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Tomi Lyn Bowling — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:48:30 -0000

Thanks for this Chris. I enjoyed seeing another's perspective. I often wonder if others see it the way I do or ? I am on Twitter, Linkedin, Myspace and some others I don't even remember the names of. I kind of signed up for all of them at the same time. I was focusing on myspace at first and then something, I can't even say for sure, made me migrate to facebook. I think it was the ease of use. I understood what I was expected to do to set up my profile. It took me a little while to get it on myspace and on twitter I never did get it. In fact every time I tried to post a comment it would not let me. I gave up after four or five goes at Twitter. It might even be that my account was not functioning but even that should be simpler to resolve. So I was outa there. I kept coming to facebook. Then I found people I knew and the friends grew and grew. I found people talking to me. I like talking. I was hooked. Then the Station Fire happened. I suddenly found myself using facebook to tell people what was going on. People from our foothills were not getting any news locally, the authorities were absent, the media for the first week was absent. It was really bizarre, like they were on holiday. So people from all over the place were going to my wall to find out what was going on. I connected myself up with some key officials and between that and the info I could gather from a local blog, my own visibility made the news on facebook very important to people. They were reaching for it and I could put it there for them. It was an awful time for a lot of people and they needed to know what was going on, every minute. So I posted it for them every minute, every change, the wind direction, the fire department updates, the smoke, everything. I have actually removed most of it but there is still some of it on my wall if you keep clicking older posts. So for me facebook opened up a whole new world. I really like it. I have gotten some new clients from it but that was never my purpose originally. It just made connections to people possible. I am a people person. I really like it.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Nasim Rizvi — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:19:39 -0000

For facebook administrator can U please update Your system uploading pics or anything ETC please do it know B-coz its too BAD ???

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Overlord — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:54:38 -0000

I don't even use my real name on Facebook such is my concern about Facebook's business model and privacy policy.

I signed up for Facebook orignally to get access to some tech forums that required a Facebook account to gain access but don't understand the facination with posting inane crap at any given moment about your day/life for other people to here. (to the point where it will be a few months go by that I realise there is an outstanding friend request).

I agree with you on the apps and the apps/presents/gifts.
i.e Some one has given me a "chicky hug" or a virtual chocolate sundae
Am I going to eat it (virtually as well) <rolls eyes="">
If there was a way to block everything on the wall except comments that directly relate to me I might use it.

Until I can do that in facebook I'd much prefer to keep in touch with people via the phone/SMS etc.

I'm just not that interested in something a common friend has said about someone else.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Overlord — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:52:18 -0000

I don't even use my real name on facebook.
I signed up for Facebook orignally to get access to some tech forums that required a Facebook account to gain access but don't understand the facination with posting inane crap at any given moment about your day/life for other people to here. (to the point where it will be a few months go by that I realise there is an outstanding friend request).

Until I can do that in facebook I'd much prefer to keep in touch with people via the phone/SMS etc.

I'm just not that interested in something a common friend has said about someone else.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Hans Schiefelbein — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:13:12 -0000

Thanks for your time and attention Chris. It makes sense and I've worked the two items into my Facebook strategy.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Timberland shoes — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:14:14 -0000

I like what you said.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Brian Gryth — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:04:49 -0000

Chris,

Thanks for this post. I know it is a couple of days old, but I'm sifting through 1000+ post in my Google Reader. I just wanted to reaffirm your adoption of lists. It made my life better as well. I have my "top peeps" who post great content, but some not that often. It helps me keep track of these important people. Also thanks for the birthday suggestion. I used to post on peoples walls, but I going to follow your advice.

Be well, Brian

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Egyptian Marketplace — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:33:00 -0000

I recently discovered the "list" feature and love it. It's a great way for me to check updates from 1) customers 2) friends 3) vendors/other business and 4) everyone else. I really wish Twitter would let you do this easily. Seesmic & Tweetdeck are nice, but impossible to manage if you have multi-accounts since none of their tabs roll up or otherwise compact. Would like to see facebook list style buttons in them and a common window.

I have found fan pages are a great way to reach new customers and promote certain products. Since I run so many niche stores, I have different fan pages for the different segments. I'm still working on the best way to brand/utilize them, but find they are getting some traffic and fans and am enjoying them. We'll see if they really do lead to more sales.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

jimcalabrese — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:42:45 -0000

Chris, I had invested hundreds of hours on Facebook, only to have them disable my profile for having too many friends that shared "a similar physical characteristic" ???

I thought about creating a new profile, but I have moved on. Their ToS are nebulous and their appeals/customer service is nothing more that auto-responders. Now I spend my time on Twitter. I'd love to see some Facebook-like features added to Twitter, but I don't miss the inane quizes and gifts.

What I really would like to see is social network interoperability. I think Google has the best chance of providing us with an open SN, where users own their data and can take it with them where ever they choose.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Web Hosting Reviews — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:06:24 -0000

I really love facebook and I'm happy to have this article that was posted in here. This seems to be relevant because this shares more relevant topics on hot\w to be a good user on this.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

michaelsorg — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:32:26 -0000

I certainly see Facebook as a an extension of my other activities. It's the place where I can bridge the gap to family and friends that haven't gotten on board with the Twitter and Blogging to reach out to find what I'm doing where I'm doing it.

I also invite the use of facebook as a sort of "comment system" for my twitter activity. It's nice to get some responses on Twitter, and maybe have a conversation there, but have a whole other stream of responses from the FB crew.

I've pushed groups and events for my own podcasts, and some clients (most notably, with IWC Wrestling). It's something to quantify the people who are actively looking at us and coming to our events, but that's about all. Conversations are still happening on the age old message boards for this line of users.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

leyla_a — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:23:37 -0000

I tried facebook ads as well. I tried them in several different ways - 1. to increase sign ups for my FB Fan Page and 2. that went directly to my client's site for a price promotion. Neither worked well. I did get many impressions but not enough clicks.

I would consider creating an application. That is in the works for the future.

I do use FB both for business and personal. I have MANY more lists than 3. I like to use lists as "mailing lists" so I only add 20 people per list (if i am going to bulk mail them) because FB doesn't allow you to email more than 20 ppl at a time.

I also have a "personal" group. The Leyla Group. This is where I tell people about events I am hosting and any promotions that my clients are running. I never try to email people more than once a month. I HATE when people load up my inbox so i refuse to do it to them :)

Re: How I Manage Facebook

asquaredgroup — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:33:48 -0000

I love how Facebook has evolved and offers more ways to be efficient with one's information. Long gone are the days when communiques were all about adding fish to your sea or plants to your garden. Thankfully.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

stevensreeves — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:08:26 -0000

I'd really like to see Facebook improve the software. There are things that too often don't work - today it's adding links to pages. So much of the valuable stuff is hidden, or at least hard to find.

The other thing I'd like to see is a proper section for business, maybe more like LinkedIn. If I could have one site to replace Twitter, Friendfeed, LinkedIn, Facebook profile, Facebook Page, Tumblr, Posterous and Google Reader I'd get a lot more work done.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Ed Justen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:29:10 -0000

I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with people about the usefulness (or lack there-of) of Facebook. Fan pages, list management and privacy settings are only a few of possible capabilities, yet most mainstream users are clueless about their existence. As most computer users utilize less than 5% of their CPU's capabilities, I'm sure it's the same percentage rate for most Facebook users. I'm only using Facebook for personal connections for now. I've enjoyed getting in touch with past friends, and being connected to distant family members.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Susanna Speier — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:59:23 -0000

If it weren't fer FB my entire Politiku column on Huffpo <http: www.huffingtonpost.com="" susanna-speier=""> couldn'ta happened. Seriously. And I'm not saying that my loyal Politiku contributors aren't sending in submissions via email or website commentary. It's how I keep track of everyone's state o mind, tho. If someone posts that they're blocked working on a book or something then I go ahead and immediately IM them inviting them to submit a political haiku on whatever the given topic may be and whammo, its there. Could it happen on Twitter also, yes I suppose-ie. But, as you say, FB is more about nurturing relationships you already have, rather than obtaining a following (hope I'm not taking what you seem to be saying outta context here. follow you online from time to time but haven't read your book yet). And my Politiku contributors tend to be people I know and/or people whose work I'm familiar with. Speaking of which----might I convince you to Politiku about Twitter?

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Susanna Speier — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:49:08 -0000

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Chris Brogan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:20:29 -0000

I don't really care much about the ToS yet, but then, I've yet to be burned by them. I am a Flickr guy, so my FB photos are often also stored on FB, but just for sharing purposes.

Great points to consider.

Re: How I Manage Facebook

Chris Brogan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:17:11 -0000

Go to Home. Then Newsfeed (upper left area). Then click "more" if you have a lot of stuff. Then look at the bottom of it all. See: "Create New List". Do that.

That's how I did it. Make sense?

The blog automatically imported via FB notes, I think, but I also use Simplaris Blogcast from the FB app gallery.