Facebook is rapidly becoming part of the fabric of our culture. It is a beneficial communication tool for individuals and non-profits. We recommend Non-Profits take advantages of Facebook Causes application, but it is a good idea to start with a personal Facebook page and learning the in’s and out’s of the application first. Learning to navigate and communicate what you want and to whom on Facebook can be challenging at the beginning. So to help you get your feet wet, here are a few tips to help you understand the four basic means of communicating on Facebook.
1 . Status box – The Status box is the main communication tool used on Facebook. It is where you ‘post’ what you are doing. Your status will show up in your friends Newsfeed area and as your Status in their Friend window. The Status box is the box on your Home and Profile tab that is at the top of the page and is labeled “What’s on your mind?”. What should you write there? It is up to you. The box will only hold a sentence or two. Typically people write a sentence that describes what they are doing, getting ready to do or have been doing. The point is to give your friends a glimpse of what is going on your life or what’s on your mind: new baby, new car, going to a concert, ballgame, taking the trip of a lifetime, just lost a friend, sick, in a snowstorm, the options are endless.
2. Wall – Your wall is located your Profile tab. If someone has written on your wall, you will find it here. When you click on a Friends name, you go to their Profile Page and automatically to their wall. If you are not sure of whose wall you are on, just look at the picture and the name at the top of the page. To write on someone else’s wall, go to their page and write in the box at the top of the page that says “Write Something”. To respond to something on your wall, click the comment button and write in the comment window. The important thing to remember is that you can not respond to someone who has written on your wall by typing in the box at the top of your profile page .. that is your Status box.
3. Private Messages – To a send a private message to a Friend from their Profile. The “Send a Message” button on the top left of the page under the profile picture box. This will open a new window that will allow you to send a private message, kind of like an email. Only you and the person that you sent it to can view this message.
4. Chat – The Chat application is located at the bottom right of the Facebook window. It says “Chat” with a dot the left of it and symbol of a head next to that. If the dot is green, it means that you are online and available to chat. When the dot is green, a number will show up in parentheses next to the word “Chat”. This is the number of friends that are also online and available to chat. Clicking on “Chat” opens a new window, where you can select the person you would like to Chat with. This will open a Chat box. Type your message in the box and be sure to hit your ‘enter’ button to send the message. You can look at other things in Facebook while you are waiting for a response. A red number will pop up on the chat window when they have responded. You can change your chat status to ‘offline’ if you are not in a chatting mood.
Things to remember
• When replying to a post on your wall, remember to click the comment button below that post to reply or to click on their name, go their wall and reply. Do not use the Status “What’s on your mind” box to reply.
• Comments on a persons status should pertain to the status topic. If a persons’ status is “My car just died” the comments below that should pertain to that situation. If you want to know if that person wants two tickets to a play next week .. you would write that on their wall and not as a status comment.
• If you want to say something privately, use the Send Message or Chat feature.
• Post your status. This is a communication tool. Not posting your status is like sitting silently on the phone. People are interested in you. Communication is a two way street on Facebook just as it is face to face. Do your part.
This is a brief overview of the four basic ways to communicate on Facebook. Hopefully it clarifies a few things for you. The best way to learn is to log on and try it out. Dynamic Change, LLC can help you use Social Media to further your organizations mission.
1 . Status box – The Status box is the main communication tool used on Facebook. It is where you ‘post’ what you are doing. Your status will show up in your friends Newsfeed area and as your Status in their Friend window. The Status box is the box on your Home and Profile tab that is at the top of the page and is labeled “What’s on your mind?”. What should you write there? It is up to you. The box will only hold a sentence or two. Typically people write a sentence that describes what they are doing, getting ready to do or have been doing. The point is to give your friends a glimpse of what is going on your life or what’s on your mind: new baby, new car, going to a concert, ballgame, taking the trip of a lifetime, just lost a friend, sick, in a snowstorm, the options are endless.
2. Wall – Your wall is located your Profile tab. If someone has written on your wall, you will find it here. When you click on a Friends name, you go to their Profile Page and automatically to their wall. If you are not sure of whose wall you are on, just look at the picture and the name at the top of the page. To write on someone else’s wall, go to their page and write in the box at the top of the page that says “Write Something”. To respond to something on your wall, click the comment button and write in the comment window. The important thing to remember is that you can not respond to someone who has written on your wall by typing in the box at the top of your profile page .. that is your Status box.
3. Private Messages – To a send a private message to a Friend from their Profile. The “Send a Message” button on the top left of the page under the profile picture box. This will open a new window that will allow you to send a private message, kind of like an email. Only you and the person that you sent it to can view this message.
4. Chat – The Chat application is located at the bottom right of the Facebook window. It says “Chat” with a dot the left of it and symbol of a head next to that. If the dot is green, it means that you are online and available to chat. When the dot is green, a number will show up in parentheses next to the word “Chat”. This is the number of friends that are also online and available to chat. Clicking on “Chat” opens a new window, where you can select the person you would like to Chat with. This will open a Chat box. Type your message in the box and be sure to hit your ‘enter’ button to send the message. You can look at other things in Facebook while you are waiting for a response. A red number will pop up on the chat window when they have responded. You can change your chat status to ‘offline’ if you are not in a chatting mood.
Things to remember
• When replying to a post on your wall, remember to click the comment button below that post to reply or to click on their name, go their wall and reply. Do not use the Status “What’s on your mind” box to reply.
• Comments on a persons status should pertain to the status topic. If a persons’ status is “My car just died” the comments below that should pertain to that situation. If you want to know if that person wants two tickets to a play next week .. you would write that on their wall and not as a status comment.
• If you want to say something privately, use the Send Message or Chat feature.
• Post your status. This is a communication tool. Not posting your status is like sitting silently on the phone. People are interested in you. Communication is a two way street on Facebook just as it is face to face. Do your part.
This is a brief overview of the four basic ways to communicate on Facebook. Hopefully it clarifies a few things for you. The best way to learn is to log on and try it out. Dynamic Change, LLC can help you use Social Media to further your organizations mission.
