How To use Facebook – New User Guide

Facebook is a Social Networking Service which has gained more and more popularity since 2006.  The site originally began as a networking site for students at Harvard university but quickly gained financial backing and is now run and owned by Facebook Incorporated.  This section explains how to use Facebook and the benefits and advantages of using this service to Bloggers and Small Business.

Facebook Why the Fuss?

It seems incredible to imagine that Facebook is less than 10 years old, this service has become the  social media tool for online users. According to Nielsen by June 2009 Facebook usage had increased 700 percent and in December 2009 the average time spent on Social Networking sites in The United States and the United Kingdom was 6 hours and 9 minutes and 6 hours and 8 minutes, respectively.

We can gather from this data that people are very interested in the social networking sites and that people use the sites for long periods, with Facebook the most popular of these.  Hitwise report in March 2010 that Facebook is now the most popular US Website

What does Facebook do?

The prime function of Facebook is to share information and Facebook allows people to share information quite easily using computers or mobile internet devices.  Depending on the privacy settings the members data can be viewed only by friends, certain groups or everyone including search engines.

• Photographs and Images – Members can create photo albums
• Write about Personal Interests and join like-minded groups
• Upload videos from a webcam, mobile phone or camera – Facebook has become the third most popular Social Media site for watching video.
• Chat through a Messenger Online or on your friends wall – Possible to chat for free (everyone is given a wall where they write updates and contacts can leave messages).
• Update your Status – (Similar to a Tweet on Twitter) Write a short message that is sent to your contacts
• Play interactive games – there are 100′s of fun games
• Vote on discussions or interesting topics
• Promote a social event
• See what people are doing – See whats going on Socially with Friends
• Block People -  you can restrict who you share with.

As you can see there are lots of options once you become a member.  Don’t worry you don’t have to use all the functions just whatever suits your needs as an individual, Blogger or Small Business.

Don’t be intimidated by social networking services they can seem very complicated but try to remember when you first used e-mail and how it became easier and easier to use, these services are no different.

Facebook – Getting started

Initially you will want to sign up and get an account Facebook Register. Remember to read the terms and conditions before joining and also you have to be over 13 yrs old, it is free to join.  At present the only charges are for Facebook Ads and certain applications (e.g. Mobile phone and or business applications).

An account without any contacts or friends won’t get you very far, luckily Facebook has some handy little tools to get you started like the friend finder, classmate, co-workers and name search.

1. Content is needed to brighten up our profile, you should have a photo (avatar) in your profile and a website, (or blog you like) and some information about yourself.These are displays of trust and you will find it easier to make friends the more information you upload (don’t forget to adjust the privacy settings according to who you want to view your content).
2. Adding Photos will help to brighten up your profile and if you tag the photos (put a friends name in) they will be notified that there is a photo of them online.  A great point to talk about.  As Facebook is so popular most photo sharing sites have applications that connect and upload you photos to Facebook.To add Photos >>  Click Photos in the left hand menu >> then click upload photos (grey button near the top of the page) >> create an album to put them in and upload. Additional Instruction.
3. Adding Videos >> Facebook is becoming extremely popular with video viewing and the process is very similar to adding a photo.  Click Video in the left hand menu >> then upload video (grey button, next to photo button) >> then upload your video.  Additional instructions .
4. Once you feel you have enough content to make your personal page interesting, Write some status Updates so your wall is not blank and begin to join some groups. Type a search in the search bar at the top of the page and anything related to that search will appear people or groups.Look at your friends pages see what groups they are in, Get Involved!  Try not to get confused by the search results at the base of the page they are from the search engine Bing.
5. Add content and regularly interact with your contacts

This additional information the beginner’s guide to Facebook article on hub pages helps to visualise and explain in more depth the main sections of a Facebook page.

Facebook For Advanced Users Bloggers and Business

Once you have mastered the basics of Facebook you can begin to use additional functionality like applications, begin your own Facebook Business Pages plus advertise and promote your blog or business see Facebook for Bloggers and Business

The Facebook Song

For a bit of fun here is The FaceBook Song which can help show the advantages (and disadvantages) of using Facebook. Enjoy!!!