Monday, December 9, 2013

Social Media Monday—Add a FOLLOW Button to Your Personal Profile on Facebook

by Edie Melson

NOTE: Facebook has updated the interface since I wrote this post. The information is accurate, but the screens will look slightly different.

There’s a movement away from the necessity of having a professional Facebook page. For those of you who have growing and active professional pages, this post does NOT affect you. Keep doing what works. But for those of us who haven’t had much success migrating our professional connections over from our personal profile it’s a gift from Heaven!

Facebook now allows personal profiles to have FOLLOWERS as well as FRIENDS. This means we can utilize the success on our personal profiles in the professional world.

It’s easy to set this up and here’s how:

  • Click on the Cog icon on the blue FB bar.
  • Click on Account settings. (see screenshot below)

Once you’re there, on the left column, click on FOLLOWERS.
From the menu that appears, check the box for TURN ON FOLLOWERS.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You will NOT be able to see the follow box on your own profile. I know it’s stupid, but it just doesn’t appear. If you’re worried it’s not there, email a friend and ask them to double check. But as long as that box is checked you will have the follower option on your personal profile.

How it works: People will now have the option of sending you a FRIEND REQUEST or FOLLOWING you.

If someone sends you a friend request, and you don’t want to accept them as a friend you don’t have to do anything. Once you have the follower option enabled they will automatically become a follower. You don’t have to do anything.

SECOND IMPORTANT NOTE: Your followers will ONLY have access to the posts that you designate as public, not anything you share privately.

Changes You May Want to Consider
If you’re going to use your personal profile professionally, I recommend you designate your posts as public as the default setting. Here’s how to do that:
  • Again click on the cog icon and Account settings.
  • Once there, click on PRIVACY.
  • Under WHO CAN SEE MY STUFF?, click on EDIT and choose PUBLIC. (see screenshot below)

You always have the option to designate individual FB updates as PRIVATE.
To do that, go to your timeline and compose an update. Click on the small arrow on the bottom of the update window and choose who you want to see the update. (see screenshot below)

People who are following you will be able to comment on your public posts, but they CANNOT post on your wall. Only your friends can post on your wall. If someone is following you and you don’t want them to, you’ll have to BLOCK them. I only do that with creepers and scary people.

Now it’s your turn. If you have any questions about Facebook, post them in the comments section below.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,

Edie

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14 comments:

  1. Ok, I understand the that follower can't post on your wall, only friends can. Thanks for that distinction. Why do you want to have followers and friends though? Does it boost your ranking on a list somewhere? Is this about marketing so thhat people will get to know your name and brand?

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    1. Ellen, if you're using your profile personally as well as professionally, there may be times you want to post things that only close family and friends can view. That's why the distinction. Hope this helps! Blessings, E

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  2. Edie, thanks for this post. You don't have to let this message go public. I just want to tell you that I think the term is "cog" and not "clog." I thought it was a typo the first time, but I see it twice in the article above. Some people call it a "gear"---which, I guess, is what it really is.

    Thanks for your timely articles. I blog once a week at Blog4Writers.com.

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    1. Emily, thank you for your sharp eye! I always welcome help with typos, well actually spelling errors. I love your blog, too. Blessings, E

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  3. Wow, that's cool. Thanks for the info!!!

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    1. Connie, you're welcome - thanks for stopping by! Blessings, E

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  4. Thanks! Always enjoy learning new things from you :)

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  5. Jennifer, so glad you found tho helpful! Blessings, E

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  6. As always, Edie, helpful information! Thanks!

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  7. Edie, Thanks for that very useful info!

    If I already have a "professional page," can I bring my followers over to my personal profile page?

    Would you suggest making an announcement on my professional page that I'm taking it down, and that they can now follow my personal profile, or just let my professional page linger alone in neverland and focus on my personal profile?

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  8. I don't see a button for Turn On Follow. It gives me a plug-in code to copy and paste but I have no clue where I'm supposed to paste it.

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  9. My experience is the same as Mary's above. I'd really like to have the follow button but couldn't find a place to plug in the code.

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    1. Go to settings. Click on FOLLOWERS. Then across from WHO CAN FOLLOW, choose EVERYONE. There isn't a plug in. Thats all you have to do.

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  10. fantastic blog - thank you! Was wondering, if you have a follower (not a friend) can you add them to closed groups without actually befriending them? thanks so much
    Steph

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