Facebook Tips for Lawyers
If Facebook were a country, its population would be more than double that of the United States. Yet despite the presence on Facebook of their parents, children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, and clients, lawyers have traditionally been wary of entering the Facebook world professionally. But with so many clients on Facebook, more and more lawyers are beginning to think they need to establish a presence there, too.
Some lawyers are concerned about using Facebook because they are concerned about what others will be able to access or learn about them; they are worried about privacy and security. Others simply don’t understand how Facebook can be used to help them develop business relationships, or they are confused about separating their personal and professional presence on Facebook. Still others don’t realize all of the features Facebook offers to deal with these issues and more.
For example, did you know that:
- You can control who sees the posts you originate on Facebook, and that that post setting is carried through when others share your post?
- You can specifically exclude individuals so they can’t see particular posts?
- You can create a separate Facebook Page for you law firm?
- You can create lists which will allow you to segregate your posts so that different people see different posts on your Timeline or in their News Feed?
- You can set up your Facebook account to allow others to subscribe to your Public updates so they will see the messages you want them to see without actually having to become “Friends” on Facebook?
- You can send and receive private messages on Facebook?
If you want to know more about these tips or find out how to use Facebook to connect and communicate as a professional, and how to establish a responsible Facebook presence for your practice, join me and Dennis Kennedy for the Facebook for Lawyers webinar this Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern – and keep an eye out for our forthcoming book, Facebook in One Hour for Lawyers, anticipated to be published by the ABA Law Practice Management Section later this year.
UPDATE: Facebook in One Hour for Lawyers is available in both paperback and e-book form.