I Noticed your Facebook Profile…
Posted by Anthony LaFauce on January 31st, 2008 11:29 AMIn case some of you out there were wondering the, “I noticed your….” is the PR flack’s standard opening line in an email or phone call. I personally have never used that pitch, lie, since it is usually the mark of a junior PR person just reaching out for anyone. I mention this because I just finished reading Tom Foremski’s article on PR pitching through Facebook.
In Tom’s article he complains (boasts?) that he has 37,366 unread emails in his Gmail account and he typically avoids his email account because of the stress seeing all those unread emails cause him. I can understand Tom’s apprehension for avoiding his email account, this is the same reason I avoid spending time my kitchen.
Tom also says he is more likely to respond to an email through his Facebook account than he is through is traditional email account. This brings up an interesting dilemma for PR professionals and Facebook users in general. Do you add people to your Facebook account who you A: know are going to try and sell you on something, and B: do you create a separate account for dealing with professionals?
I would have to say no on the separate account and yes for adding people who might try to sell you something. Let me explain, I never was one to shy away from someone trying to sell me something. I simply do not have enough time to research everything on my own and sometimes I find the information they are providing me with useful.
As for creating a separate account I say that is just trying to hide the truth. Everyone one has a personal life, that is fine, most people have a professional life. Don’t try to hide either part from one another. I am not suggesting you send business contacts pictures of your latest kegger, but at the same time don’t lie and show me pictures of you at bible study.
Tom’s insight that he is more likely to respond to an email through Facebook is intriguing but it fails to address the problem. We are all overloaded with communication tools today. While it is easy to switch channels for a less burdensome one, the problem will migrate with you. Using Facebook to manage contacts is an interesting concept, but eventually it to will have too many messages and you will be forced to switch again.
Do you think Tom is right, should we abandon all hope on email and start managing communications through the social networks? Let me know. Also if you have a solution for dealing with communication overload let me know that too. Sorry I have to go twitter that I am about to answer my phone after I respond to this email.
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January 31st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
My Facebook profile is generally composed of people that I know in person. Very rarely, if ever, do I feel the need to add someone I may not know. Therefore I can share personal pictures, phone number, and email with my friends without worry. With this said, I am just as likely to respond to emails sent to Facebook as my personal email account. However, emails sent to my other accounts are triaged according to priority within Microsoft Outlook via rules. I don't feel there is any information load because I took the time to separate my contacts and enact strict filters (both electronic and mental) for how I attack my to do list. With that said, Facebook would do wonders if they added a bit more power features to their messaging platform–IMAP being my most desired request.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
My Facebook profile is generally composed of people that I know in person. Very rarely, if ever, do I feel the need to add someone I may not know. Therefore I can share personal pictures, phone number, and email with my friends without worry. With this said, I am just as likely to respond to emails sent to Facebook as my personal email account. However, emails sent to my other accounts are triaged according to priority within Microsoft Outlook via rules. I don’t feel there is any information load because I took the time to separate my contacts and enact strict filters (both electronic and mental) for how I attack my to do list. With that said, Facebook would do wonders if they added a bit more power features to their messaging platform–IMAP being my most desired request.