Facebook's Graph Search will allow people to search their own Internet & makes the world smaller. Discover what that really means for users and marketers!
Facebook's Graph Search might be unsafe?
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Mark Zuckerberg Explains Facebook Graph Search - image credit: CNET[/caption]
Well, not exactly. Not if you prepare...
Facebook Graph - Background Search
As of January 15, 2013, Facebook users will be able to search their social web. This function will gradually roll out to all users.
Why is this important?
Instead of searching the Internet with search results vast and broad, you can search your social circles for details personalized to you.
Example Searches:
- "Friends that like coffee."
- "Pages liked by people who like Idea Girl Media."
- "Which of my friends work in Washington, DC?"
- "Photos of friends at Inauguration 2013."
This allows you to utilize your social network, and makes the world seem a little smaller.
What will be searchable?
- People.
- Photos.
- Places.
- Interests.
For now. There are waves of development planned, so stay tuned. Mark Zuckerberg has promised users the ability to search music and restaurants (Chicago Tribune).
The CEO of Zynga stated during a live broadcast, "I think it's a shame that we don't have a platform that knows you are at the airport, checks you in, finds that your flight has been cancelled, and recommends places for you to eat, games you can play, and books you can buy to read while you wait."
Got your wheels spinning?
Watch:
Facebook's Graph Search announcement recorded live at their Online Newsroom.
Computers Are As Good As Their Programmers
Not to spoil the party, but all of this groovy Facebook search stuff is dependent on what YOU make available for people to find.
Stated another way: You decide how people can find you on Facebook.
...It's all in your settings. ;)
Facebook Search For You And Me
This is the perfect excuse to get your personal "Facebook House" in order. In doing so, be thinking of accuracy and safety for yourself and your friends.
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Facebook Timeline Cover Area - Access & Edit Settings[/caption]
Your Facebook Info Inventory - A Checklist
Personal - Update & edit:
- Contact Information
- Employment
- Education
- Relationship Status & Family Members
- Pages (That you own)
- Events on your Timeline
- Photos
- Likes
Your Friends - Are your lists as you want them? Would it be best to make a few lists (family, close friends, co-workers, etc.)? Clean it up and be comfortable. If you have Subscribers (Followers) turned on, check this list as well as those you subscribe to. Re-arrange if needed.
Your Photos - Take a tour through your albums. Add descriptions where you feel appropriate, check the tags in each photo to be accurate and kind, and un-tag yourself in any photos you do not wish to be found for.
Your Likes - Are there pages you do not visit anymore due to changed interest? Edit to fit your preference.
Your Facebook Timeline - Take a tour by year. Yes, go through each year and check details of important milestones and events, see that posts are listed as you wish, and that if someone were to find your profile, you would not be afraid of what they see.
Very importantly, check to see if you have a private messages or "messages sent to you" box in each year beginning with the year you logged onto Facebook. This may include private messages exchanged, and you will probably want to hide that box from your Timeline while you're there.
Your Facebook Apps Inventory - A Checklist
All the fun stuff!
What's connected - Update & edit:
- Notes (do a TMI check)
- Events
- Map
- Music
- Readers
- Games
- Foursquare
- Others
What do you want people to find? Check your settings on these, and consider how you connect with your mobile phone. Are you comfortable?
NOTE: When you get to your personal settings lists, go through all of your apps and disconnect apps you have not used in 4-6 months and more. Also check settings for each app you will continue to use. If you do not want applications to post in the news feed for you, choose the setting "only me," to continue to use as you have been, but prevent your friends seeing that you use a specific application and/or see their marketing messages.
Your Personal Settings - A Checklist
- Who can see my stuff?
- Who can contact me?
- How do I stop someone from bothering me?
Click on those panels at the upper right and edit as you will - This is a "quick fix." Here, you can choose who can see or find your details in these categories:
- Public.
- Friends.
- Friends except acquaintances.
- Only me.
- Custom.
Your personalized contact lists will also be there.
I recommend clicking the "See more settings," word link, and going through each category of settings on the left to decide who can see what for each item.
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Facebook Privacy Settings & Tools - Check Them All![/caption]
As stated above, pay special attention to your apps section, and be sure you are comfortable with which you keep, and the settings for each.
Keep in mind that Facebook Graph Search will head to mobile. Be ready by preparing your settings and plans to interact now.
What smartphone apps will you use or not use? How will you choose to connect with Facebook?
While you're getting your Facebook House in order, visit your Inbox and delete old messages, and clear out that "Other" folder.
For Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners
Hey, all you Page Admins, stand up and clap your hands! Facebook Graph Search will eventually be quite advantageous for you.
You will be able to search fans of your Page, fans of other Pages, and people that like multiple pages when thinking of targeting demographics. And that's just scratching the surface!
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Facebook and App Partners[/caption]
Facebook and partners of Facebook are working on development of apps that will be attractive for entrepreneurs and small business owners in reaching their fans and followers.
Remember the example I gave above about being delayed at the airport? How about being on the suggested list to grab a cup of coffee? Or that book to purchase comes from your business?
Think about it: The heads of these technologies want possibilities just like you do, and their imaginations are driving to get these capabilities to YOU.
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Target your key words in all text sections on your Facebook Page![/caption]
The Facebook Page Admin Checklist
You'll follow the checklists above, but from the Page Admin perspective...
- About - Is this key word rich?
- Likes - Is your brand connected strategically?
- Timeline - Are your milestones & events noted correctly?
- Photos - Do they all have descriptions & appropriate tags?
- Apps - Too many? Not enough? How are your settings?
- Facebook Ads - Brush up on how to write ad copy!
You want to focus on key words and what Facebook users will eventually search for in their terms.
Facebook Advertising has historically been cost-friendly with the ability to drill down into demographics like no other advertising program.
If you have not done any advertising on Facebook, now is the time to observe the pros, watch your competitors, and experiment with a few ads yourself. The ability to reach people with Facebook Graph Search should be amazing, even though it is dependent on what information people make available.
Read:
Help People Discover Your Business
Final Steps To Prepare For Facebook's Graph Search
After you've considered the above points, and made your edits and adjustments, do another "self-check." Ask yourself, "Am I safely, yet optimally, connectible on Facebook?"
Consider that question as both a Facebook user, and as a Facebook Page Admin.
Want in on the fun?
Click:
Put Your Name On The Waiting List
Will you use Facebook Graph Search?
What concerns do you have about being found or not found?
Please share your questions and concerns in the comments box below... :)
26 Replies
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Remember when Facebook was simply a popular social media website? If it isn’t broken, DON’T FIX IT! Facebook needs to take a page from Google and diversify OUTSIDE of the Facebook domain.
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Was Facebook ever just a simple social media site? It seems like there has always been something going on behind the scenes or something new to do there! I’m also of the opinion that Facebook is always sort of continuously broken. Because they’re always working on something, there are glitches on one feature or another each and every day. Sometimes I think they just spin a wheel to decide what won’t work today. Where I do agree with you is that there does need to be a line of what differentiates it from any other thing. Is diversification outside the domain what is necessary? I don’t know. I know I don’t want Facebook to be like Google. I’m actually intrigued with the possibilities of what Graph Search will lead us to. Have you taken it for a spin? Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri Thanks for your comment
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and again…great post! New feature by Facebook, I can’t wait to check it. I have just a question: how often ppl are going to use? Is it something that can replace Google Search in the future? I’m not so sure. Thank you Keri for sharing all details and info!
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Klaudia, Thank you for your kind words! Hopefully at this time you have use of the Graph Search. If not, I’m sure it will be *very* soon. I think people will use Facebook Graph Search — The whole base of Facebook is social, and users talk about where they are going, what they are doing, and photos are ever the popular post. All of these things will be searchable. And, people are, by nature, a bit lazy. Rather than having to go to Google for information, this new search option lets information come to people. To the user (no extra batteries or assembly required). We’ll have to compare notes once you’ve had a chance to use the search options. I’m also optimistic we will see builds and phases from where we are now. Hope that’s helpful to you! ~Keri
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Pingback: Facebook Search Graph
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thanks for this great article – have just sorted out my pinterest platform – think facebook will have to be next 🙂
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Anna, Glad you found this post helpful! I’ve been cleaning up my Facebook anyway, so I feel like it will all be for good. My Pinterest is okay, but probably could use some tweaking too. Keep me posted on how things go for you. Thanks for your comment, ~Keri
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ok Keri – so have just been sorting out my facebook account – but I can’t see how you sort out your friends lists as you mention – think that would be great to have different sets – friends, business associates, overseas mates etc – as my friends list is a right old mish mash – but how do you do it? – sorry coudn’t see how anywhere…
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Anna, Thank you for posting your question. It is great you want to get a jump start on your settings. You should be able to go to your home screen, and in the left column, you will see a category, “friends,” toward the bottom of the list(s). Click on FRIENDS, and you will be taken to a screen where you can edit. In the upper right you will see “edit.” Click that, and you will be able to create lists, and also edit them in the future. Facebook will suggest list types for you. But you can also make your own customized lists – Co-workers, bowling buddies, Fun Trip With Friends, etc. Be sure to save your list before exiting a screen where you created. Hope that helps. If you have additional questions, please feel free to post here, or tweet me at @connectyou. Keep me posted! 🙂 ~Keri
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Excellent post, Keri – very thorough!!
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Mari, I appreciate your taking a look, and offering your insight! Thank you for your comment! 🙂 ~Keri
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Hi Keri, a very useful post! Search has been one of Facebook’s least user-friendly features. I’m excited about the changes, but at the same time, a little anxious about what is/will be visible on my personal profile. Will be taking your hint and doing a big cleanup!
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Mi, I agree – Facebook Search has left a lot to be desired. We are on the same page – I am both excited yet anxious. We’ll all have to use the button “view profile as public” as we tweak and prepare. Please let me know if you have future questions. Thanks for reading, and for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
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I liked the article. You gave a lot of great information. There is really a lot to learn in this process. Do you focus on one platform like facebook or use many?
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Darleana, Glad you like the article and that you find the information resourceful. I do tend to spend a lot of time on Facebook, but also like Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. Others as well. Please feel free to submit your questions as you have them – I’ll be happy to answer. Thanks for your comment! ~Keri
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Love your new branded site Keri and will definitely be sharing this well thought out post with my followers and fans!
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Emma, Thanks for your complimentary words regarding my site. I have amazing support behind all of that! I appreciate your stopping by to read, and for your positive words and sharing with your circles. Looking forward to seeing what happens from here… ~Keri
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Awesome content! Thanks so much for making this seemingly daunting task simple and precise!
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Meretta, Thank you for reading, and for sharing your thoughts. Hopefully this new search function will make a big difference and we’ll all have smooth sailing once we’ve tweaked our settings and put our Facebook house in order. ~Keri
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Super overview Keri and as timely as ever, sharing this! 🙂
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Sadie, Thank you for your enthusiastic comments! I appreciate your vote of confidence to share!! Great being connected – Thanks for your comment, ~Keri
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