Lately, several people have asked me if they need to be on Facebook, LinkedIn, or both. Certainly each provides the opportunity to build an on-brand, online identity, as well as the ability to connect with others. Yet, for me, there is another important difference: the more personal level of shared experience on Facebook.
I’m on LinkedIn and nearly everyone in my business network is there too – and so are members of their networks. In fact, with yet a third level of relationships, I’m currently connected to 1.9 million “trusted professionals” – who I don’t know! Of course, the real magic of LinkedIn is that if I discover I need to know one of these folks, there is someone I do know, among my first-degree contacts, who can help me connect.
While LinkedIn is a great tool for sharing business information and connections, Facebook is a site where business people can connect to friends and share life experiences that support a richer sense of community. Since opening my account in January, I’ve enjoyed getting friends’ updates, seeing their photos, learning about things they like, and getting news of their online activities. I also appreciate the level of informality and immediacy on Facebook where I can simply “poke” someone if I want to say “Hi.”
So, should you be on LinkedIn, Facebook, or both? Personally, I think if enriching your relationships online is important to you, then the answer is both.
Cross-posted at The Personal Branding Blog
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