[by Jim Cavanaugh]
Facebook has grown to be one of my most important business resources. Once you move beyond Farmville, horoscopes and what your long lost high school friend had for lunch, there can be a wealth of information and the ability to reach out to and build relationships with current and prospective clients.
If you are like me, many of your facebook friends are likely other professional photographers. A good number of these photographers will post links to blogs, technology news, industry information and promote local and regional events of interest. This is an effective tool for you to become more informed because they have already reviewed the information and deemed it important enough to share. You should make sure you are doing the same.
If your clients or prospective clients are friends on facebook it can help build a personal connection between you. They will learn more about you and you will be able to get a better insight into them on a personal level.
It is critical that you, as a business person, use prudence in what you post on your personal site. Use the same care in replying to others posts. Remember, that reply is being seen by an even broader audience. A separate Business site is also a must.
This facebook presence should be limited to business related information only. News about your business, selected examples of your work, behind the scene views, client highlights and links to your blog, videos and e-newsletters. Make the posts about the projects and your clients.
A story with general interest to a broader audience is more likely to be shared.