The Info on your Personal Facebook Profile is more Important than you Realize.
This past week as I was out walking my dogs, I saw in the middle of an intersection, something I thought was trash. Then I noticed a credit card sticking out from under it and as I took a closer look, I realized it was a wallet. A wallet filled with cards, ID, a blank cheque, pictures, lotto tickets and more.
Of course the first thing I did was look through to see if there was ID with an address. There was, but not for our city, it was another town in Nova Scotia. The blank cheque had a phone number and I called and left a message, but the voice mail had no name so I was vague on why I was calling and left a message (after all I didn’t want someone who was not the owner claiming the wallet).
So, next try – I went to Facebook. Looked up the person’s name and found a matching profile. I was able to see where she was from – and it matched the small town on the cheque. Next I looked at some pics on her wall and found one of a little girl, same one as in the pictures in the wallet. I KNEW I found the right person.
Next step… is there any info in her about section on Facebook that will help me find her? I keep looking and YES! Success! Her employer was listed. So back to the phone again and I make another call (Why am I so determined you wonder? Having once lost my wallet, I know the panic it can cause). I get through to reception and finally she is on the phone.
She was very excited I found the wallet (she actually hadn’t realized it was missing) and being in the good mood I was, I offered to drop it off to her, since I was driving one of the kids to a friend’s near her workplace. I did, she got it back and even had two home baked chocolate chip cookies for me as a thank you (She worked at a catering company that support the Easter Seals – so they were warm and fresh baked – and delicious!).
If it weren’t for the info she had entered on her Facebook profile, I probably would not have found her. Since she didn’t even know it was missing, she wasn’t even looking for it. (We actually surmise someone picked it up somehow (legal or not) and when there was nothing helpful in it – they threw it on the street.)
I have run into situations like this before … where I can’t find the person I am looking for. Whether I met someone one at an event, but no business cards exchanged and wanted to get in touch later. Sometimes I have tried to reach people to give away a prize (when I was part of the IVAA Board of Directors, this happened several times). I have had contests of my own on Facebook etc. and same thing – no way to reach people because there is no good contact info on their profile.
Now, I know, some of you are shaking your head saying, “Kathy I am NOT sharing my entire life online, and definitely not on Facebook.”
I hear you, I do. And I am not saying lay it all out there – but your Facebook profile with basic and current info is very helpful as a piece of your digital footprint that allows people to find you when needed… and sometimes that ‘needed’ time could be situations that will benefit you.
What are the basics you should add to your Facebook Profile?
Definitely NONE OF THIS – No home address, nor full birthdate, nor cell phone. None of this. Identity thieves like this info.
Current or Home City/Town is good – this can help confirm you are the right person.
Current Employer – enter this info for sure. Even better, make sure to Like that employer’s Facebook page first, then enter it in the about area by tagging it (add the @symbol and start typing the page name). This way the about area links to the Facebook Page for your Employer and makes it easy for people to click the link and go there. Most of these pages have contact info and someone can reach out via that website or phone.
NOTE: As a small business owner this Employer step is VITAL, I repeat, VITAL for you. It is an easy way for people to click and find your business – a very important piece of networking and having your information online.
Website and Phone – For Small Biz owners, you also want to enter your website in the about area of your personal profile… this is another piece of that footprint that has the info online to help people reach you when the need arises.
These are the essential areas to fill in your Facebook Personal profile that will help benefit your business, but sometimes also you the person!
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