It’s Not You, … It’s Me

by Paul Colligan on August 17, 2009

So, here’s the note that I’m having my assistant send to everyone on Facebook before they are unfriended. It’s what I mentioned in the previous post.

Watcha think? Does it “work?” Will you fan me on Facebook?

    Short version:

    Moving to a “Fan Page” model at Facebook to make more sense of things. Would love you as a “Fan” here –

    http://budurl.com/paulfanpage

    Long version:

    It’s not you, it’s me …

    REALLY

    When I joined Facebook, I didn’t think it all the way through.

    And now I have to do something drastic …

    (and it’s going to take a couple of weeks)

    By mixing business and personal in the same account, here on Facebook. I was no good to anybody. Here’s a few highlights:

    * Personal friends and family who weren’t interested in my business found themselves with lots of marketing messages. I’m amazed at anyone who ’stayed a friend” – but that’s another note all together.

    * Business partners, associates, etc., got a bunch of confusing personal updates when they were trying to get work done. So much for “Market to Message Match.”

    * I couldn’t “use” Facebook like a normal person (with 4000+ “friends”) and here I am trying to figure out what Facebook means and how normal people use it …

    So, here’s what I’ve done about it:

    * I’ve asked my assistant to unfriend EVERYBODY in Facebook and send them this note. The best man in my wedding is on this list – so please don’t feel offended.

    (I did figure I wouldn’t unfriend Heidi – too many implications there)

    * I’ve sent you all this note.

    * I plan on “refriending” my friends and engaging in active business dialog at the “page” discussed below – I think it will turn out to be the best of both worlds.

    You have three options:

    Option 1-
    I’ve set up a “page” at Facebook where I’ll be focussing on the “Business” and “New Media” side of Paul. You can see it here (please click to become a “Fan”). It should be a fun place to meet up and chat.

    http://budurl.com/paulfanpage

    To encourage others to become a Fan, I’m hosting a special Webinar on Facebook for free where I’ll walk through every stop of this process and share what I’ve learned along the way.

    Details will be emailed to everyone who has “fanned” me on that page through a Facebook update.

    This will be the most appropriate action for most of you.

    Here’s the link one more time –

    http://budurl.com/paulfanpage

    Option 2 -
    If we really are friends (i.e., you know my kid’s names) feel free to friend me again on Facebook – I’ll respond shortly.

    Also know that I’ll be seeking to replenish my friends list very soon anyway, and I’ll eventually find everyone again – but feel free to speed up the process.

    Option 3 -
    I’m sure this move will offend a few. Please understand it is certainly a drastic move – but one I needed to take.

    Didn’t mean to offend – sorry if I did.

    +++

    Yup, wacky …

    This social media stuff is fascinating. I look forward to (and, I’ll be honest, equally as much) using Facebook like “everyone else” and sharing with those interested what I learned along the way.

    Thanks for understanding.

    Paul

Please leave your thoughts below:

  • dude, sweet! i think i will follow suit and do the same.

    hey shoot me an email paul
  • paulcolligan
    Email shot - and it works surprisingly well.
  • Yup. I get it. I'm ready to do the same thing.

    Thanks for the guidance.

    Best,
    Shecky
  • paulcolligan
    Glad I could help!
  • OK can I also use your copy? Makes total sense to me...and yes it has been a dog's err Cats breakfast mixing up
    business and personal ...and yes I just returned from a family vacation where major topic of conversation was how jumbled my Facebook was to family and friends..so yes Paul...looks good to me! I'd like to be your friend too-we've known each other for a few years now..yet the new media and travel stuff is very valuable to me...keep some of the personal stuff in your FAN page too please!
  • Makes total sense my friend . Actually I like it a lot I may have to duplicate the model . thanks for being a leader.
    God Bless Real
  • jimmiller
    I like it. In fact I may have to do the same thing so as not to combine my Facebook where are my Law School friends are and my start of online marketing.

    THis is my first visit to your blog and it will not be the last
  • Got the idea from Ed. Actually really excited about it.

    Paul
  • You and Ed Dale. I like this strategy. It fits with how real people use facebook. I say Do it.
  • Clever. Inspired me to do a form letter, as I was just starting to build it out, and I'm still getting countless friend requests from people that I either don't know, don't want to know, and or not in any sort of loop that resembles sanity.

    We'll see how this plays out!
  • I"m writing another letter on how I respond to them. I'll post that as well.

    Paul
  • This is the one I did. Consider it a bonus for all the free webinars I've sat through:)

    Facebook is soon to change their TOS.

    business through status updates is about to become reason to cancel an account.

    From now on it's reported to me that networking, and Business will be done through fan pages.

    I just started a new one. It is here: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/openjonathancom/133527983867

    I am definitely inclined to reciprocate to for this kind of thing.

    So, with the new strategy, I am not taking on anymore facebook friends. That is an area just for people I know.

    Cheers-


    I designed the upper case, and lower case caps to be in consistent with "business," and also I lower cased -facebook- and -friends.- To make it look like I rushed through it. Like how you would write to a friend. (Been doing a fair amount of network marketing lately)

    I'm hoping it says, "At this point in my life, the way to get to know me is through facebook, via my fan page; we might get to be friends through that."

    My first attempt omitted the - I'm not taking on any facebook friends part, but then i found the more aggressive ones would just try to facebook friend me over and over again. (I know, I know, quality problems, what are you gonna do?)

    LOL

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