What is with all these applications available for Facebook? I keep getting invitations from friends to take quizzes and answer questionnaires and send plants and all kinds of things. Do I have to do these?
A: No, you certainly don t, and I just ignore most of them, because I find them to be a waste of time, but if you have got time, some people find them fun, and some of them actually have a philanthropic benefit (e.g., a tiny amount may be donated to something worthwhile if you participate).

If an application (they are called apps on Facebook) helps my functionality, however, then I take a more serious look at it. I ll mention some interesting and helpful apps below.

Should I put my picture on Facebook? If so, do you have any suggestions about the photo quality or type?

A. Since the purpose of participating in Facebook is to build community, having your picture makes you seem more real and more human. This can be especially important if you are trying to build your online brand or reputation. Many experts recommend getting a very good, business-casual, warm/friendly photo taken and use the same picture on all your social media sites so that you will become easily recognizable. Mari Smith, the Pied Piper of Facebook recommends taking your picture against a light background so that your hair does not fade into the background (especially if you are blond). Do not wear sunglasses, because your eyes help people get a feel for your personality. Crop out other people, pets and things, unless they are an important part of your image.

It is okay to change your picture, but do not do it too often if you are building a business. Remember that even if you are only using Facebook for friends and family, if you have an online business, prospects and clients WILL look you up on Facebook, so your image there will be important too, like it or not.

I write a blog and I d like to import it automatically into my Facebook. How do I do this?

A: Go to the default Notes app here. Click on the import blog link. You can only import one blog using this app, so if you have more than one blog, you ll have to select your favorite. Do not forget to import your blog to your Fan Page too, if you have one. Once this is done, every time you post to your blog, it will appear on your Facebook page, where your Facebook friends can comment and spread information about your blog out through their own networks...Read more in International Association of Home Business Enterpreneurs (IAHBE).

What kinds of things should I post in my Status Update Box (the one that says - What is On Your Mind?)? Some people seem to put such trivial things there.

A: You have made an excellent observation. For anyone trying to build an online reputation or brand, this status box is one of the most powerful resources that Facebook offers, because anything you put there goes out to all your friends News Feeds. Therefore, you want to give thought to what you send out, and try to make it either meaningful or valuable, and preferably related to the area of expertise you are trying to establish. It is fine to alternate personal and business entries, since it helps people feel like they are getting to know you. Use a URL shortening tool such as http://bit.ly (which also provides tracking) when you include links in your messages. Try to avoid the extremes of boring trivia at one extreme and blatant self-promoting hype at the other. Be yourself always.

Should I take time to comment on the things that other people post on Facebook?

A: Well, it depends…think about how you feel if someone validates a comment you have made (on Facebook or elsewhere). It feels good. It lets you know that other person is paying attention to you, listening to you, and values whatever you have said. It is a way to let them know that they are on your radar screen and that you care enough about them to have noticed their entry.

Having said that, if your comment would be negative, I d be careful. When you can not look someone in the eye while delivering a sarcastic or critical message, it sounds even harsher than you might mean for it to, so avoid this if possible.

I ve got so many Facebook friends. How can I possibly keep up with all their posts so that I can comment on them?

A: I just learned this great tip from -guess who-Mari Smith again. Put your Friends in different categories by creating Lists. When you click on the Friends tab at the top of Facebook, look on the page for Lists and then Create or Create a List. You can also create new lists by clicking on Friends in the left side of the page to pull up all your Friends, and after each one, there is a List column that tells you if they are already in a List and gives you the option of putting them in more than one list or not. For instance, I have a Family List, a Church List, a Close Friends List, a Business List and a Followed Contacts list. Some people are on more than one list.

Now, here is the tip - when you click on your Home page, these lists will show up on the left side of the page. You can drag and drop them into whatever order, but if you drag the Followed Contacts one to the very top, above the News Feed, then every time you open Facebook, their entries will become your default view, so you can peruse them and make comments if you wish without having to browse through the news feeds of all your friends. At any time, you can click on any list (i.e., Family) to see what is going on with the people in that list....Read more in International Association of Home Business Enterpreneurs (IAHBE).

© 2009 Elizabeth H. Cottrell. All rights reserved worldwide.

Elizabeth H. Cottrell is a home-based entrepreneur, freelance technical writer, and owner of Riverwood Technologies, a desktop publishing company in Maurertown, Virginia. She is currently a staff writer and editor for International Association of Home Business Enterpreneurs (IAHBE).

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